Historical Context

Injustices in Juvenile law centers have a very long and intense history, which dates back to the first juvenile justice system in the United States. Established back in the late 19th, and early 20th centuries, the goal of these systems was to rehabilitate and reform juveniles instead of punishing them with adults. Nevertheless, the system started to become afflicted with problems, sending children to harsh facilities where they faced physical and mental abuse, among other things. Lots of these facilities were overcrowded and understaffed, which led to improper supervision for the juveniles.

More recently, there has been more concerned citizens about how the juveniles in these systems are being treated, which include reports of physical abuse, unequal access to education and mental health resources, and the harsh use of solitary confinement as a main disciplinary measure. These concerns have lead to calls for a reform of the juvenile justice system, in order to make sure that juveniles are treated equal and given the resources and support they need.