Voices of Youth Justice: Here's What Young People and Research Tell Us
By Emily Gerofsky, MPH; The Social Changery Director of ProgramsVoices of Youth Justice: Here’s What Young People and Research Tell Us
It should not take an arrest for us to invest in the safety and success of our youth. However, when we spoke to young people across California, a powerful pattern emerged: real support and services often only came after they entered the court system.
“When I was younger and getting in trouble, it felt like no one cared for me. I thought I would have to navigate the world by myself.” — Jamie G.
The prevalence of mental health challenges among children and youth in the justice system indicates a substantial gap in prevention and treatment prior to involvement.1 Up to 70% of young people in the juvenile justice system have at least one diagnosable mental health condition—more than three times the rate of their peers in the general population.1 About 30% meet the criteria for PTSD.2
These challenges are real, but they are not insurmountable. Adolescence is a time of immense brain development and change—a period of what scientists call “neuroplasticity.”3 That means it’s also a critical window of opportunity. With the right support, young people can not only recover, but grow, heal, and thrive.
“I grew up witnessing a lot of violence. I was raised in a dysfunctional family, but I want to break that cycle. I want to learn how to be a good parent, and part of that is learning how to express emotions in a healthy way instead of violence.” — Aaron W.
Why Co-Creation Matters
When youth are offered the support and resources that have been missing in their lives, most do not reenter the court system.4 But providing services alone isn’t enough. For support to work, it must reflect the realities of a young person’s life—their needs, goals, and identity.
“Every time I try to speak, they say let’s evaluate you. I don’t want to be evaluated. I’m telling you what is wrong with me. What is wrong with me is that I have nobody. What is wrong with me is that I have no food. What is wrong with me is that I have to make all this money, and I have to do all these things, and I have to be an adult at 12 years old.” — Alexis J.
Many of the youth we heard from said they felt excluded from decisions about their own treatment or rehabilitation. They often didn’t understand what was being decided or why. But when they were invited to co-create their own plans, they felt more ownership and were more motivated to engage. Research backs this up: when young people help shape their care, outcomes improve. Co-creation builds trust, fosters responsibility, and makes services more effective.5
“Youth need to be the lead in creating their plan, or they’re not going to follow through on it. They’re not going to want to do it.” — Young Women’s Freedom Center
The Power of Trust and Lived Experience
Who delivers support matters just as much as what is delivered. Youth repeatedly shared that credible messengers—mentors with shared lived experience—made a profound difference. These trusted adults could connect in ways others couldn’t. With them, youth felt safe opening up, expressing needs, and accepting help.
“The most important factor in any young person being receptive to change and growth and healing is somebody that they can relate to, somebody that has had similar experiences as them.” — OYCR Youth Advisory Board
That trust must extend across the system. Trauma-informed providers who understand the lived experiences of system-involved youth, ideally coming from similar communities, help reduce resistance and build stronger connections.
Healing Spaces and Environments
When diversion isn’t possible and youth must enter a facility, the design of that environment has a major impact. Youth described how living spaces influenced their mental and physical health. They asked for spaces that felt calming and safe, with access to nature, opportunities for physical activity, and creative outlets. These aren’t luxuries—research shows they are essential to healing.6
“I wish I had access to other forms of therapy and other forms of expression along with mentorship. That would have been helpful.” — Jamie G.
Continuity of Care and Reentry
Support shouldn’t begin at the facility door—and it shouldn’t end there either. Continuity is critical. If a young person begins treatment while in a facility, it must continue when they return to their community. Gaps in care put youth at higher risk of reoffending.
“You’re less likely to commit crimes when you have family stability and have your needs met. I hope when other youth get let out they can find the support to remain in a positive environment. It will help them not come back into the system.” — Andre S.
That’s why California’s recent move to offer MediCal services to incarcerated youth 90 days before release is so important. The Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative establishes pre-release MediCal enrollment to create a coordinated reentry process. This initiative assists youth reentering the community in getting connected with community-based physical and behavioral health services, including prescription medications, they need prior to release. This coordinated effort ensures the continuity of care, creating a smoother transition and keeping young people connected to the help they need.
Community Partnership Is Prevention
Community partnerships play a vital role in making this all work. Courts and probation teams can collaborate with local organizations to find providers who treat youth as whole people with strengths and potential. These partnerships also allow individuals with lived experience to support youth in community settings, less restrictive programs, and facilities.
Establishing partnerships grounded in mutual respect and trust ensures that youth get short- and long-term support that works while remaining connected to their communities.
“I know it is cliche to say, but I literally don’t even know where I’d be if I had not been connected with this organization.” — Parker F., speaking about Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY). FLY connects young people who have been impacted by the justice system with mentors and supports them to become leaders among their peers and in their communities.
These moments—when a young person is at a crossroads—can shape their entire future. Judges, probation officers, law enforcement, educators, and community members all have a role to play. By meeting young people’s needs early, listening to their voices, and giving them real opportunities to lead their own paths forward, we’re not just helping them succeed.
We’re building stronger, safer communities for everyone.
Learn more about how OYCR is helping communities across the state ensure the youth in the justice system receive the support, services, and care that lead to successful diversion and reentry in Please Don’t Give Up on Us: Stories From Children and Youth Incarcerated in California. The report explores youth justice through the perspectives of young people who are or have been incarcerated, and outlines insights and recommendations to ensure youth receive the support, stability, and understanding necessary to reach their full potential. By incorporating firsthand accounts, research, and system analysis, Please Don’t Give Up on Us illustrates the power of a healing-centered approach to youth justice.
The report was commissioned by the California Health & Human Services Agency’s Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR) and prepared by The Social Changery, with contributions from the OYCR Youth Advisory Board.
References:
- Teplin, Linda A., et al. “Psychiatric Disorders in Youth in Juvenile Detention.” Archives of General Psychiatry, vol. 59, no. 12, 2002, pp. 1133-1143.
- Blakemore, S. J. (2012). Development of the social brain in adolescence .Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 105(3), 111-116.
- Steinberg, L. (2014).Age of opportunity: Lessons from the new science of adolescence. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
- Mendel, R. (2018). Transforming juvenile probation: A vision for getting it right. Annie E. Casey Foundation.
- California Health and Human Services (n.d.). Youth at the center: Calls-to-action for a reimagined behavioral health ecosystem for children, youth, and families across California.