Young people deserve to feel safe and to be respected and loved. They have a right to a childhood and adolescence in which they are cared for, enjoy opportunities to explore the world, and grow with self-determination. They have a right to access support and healing in their communities and to live free from discrimination, harm, and fear. When young people are incarcerated, it is an indication of a societal failure to support them, and we must work toward ending this injustice.
Punitive approaches have a long legacy, and they have become deeply ingrained in policies and culture across our child-serving systems. Eliminating custody is not enough, especially if it comes with the expansion of other punitive measures, like increased electronic monitoring or community supervision. California cannot end girls’ incarceration for good until it moves away from this punishment paradigm and institutes seismic shifts to fully realize young people’s rights; invest in their communities; and address the racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia that contribute to the criminalization of girls and gender-expansive youth, particularly those of color.
We can get there together, and we can get there quickly. We can work across systems to collect and share necessary data and solutions, center the voices and leadership of those most directly impacted, and build holistic supports to end the incarceration of girls and gender-expansive youth and advance their freedom. Thanks to the tireless work of grassroots organizers, advocates, and many government leaders who have diligently pursued reform, California is already well on its way to achieving this goal. Indeed, ending girls’ incarceration is well within reach for any county that prioritizes it.
Imagine what California could look like if instead of investing in girls’ incarceration, we invested in their freedom. If instead of telling girls and gender-expansive youth what they need, we listened to what they said they wanted. If instead of supporting a system that views girls as if they were somehow “broken,” we worked to dismantle broken systems.
Together, we can end girls' incarceration in California.
Acknowledgments and Credits
The authors would like to thank Cindy Reed, Léon Digard, Maris Mapolski, Laura Longhine, and Lizzie Allen for their editorial support; Chris Henrichson and Selina Ho for their work on the data visualizations; Jessie Knuth for design; and Megan Diamondstein, Karen Ball, and the team at Blue State for digital production and support. Thank you also to Sarah Derrigan, Asia Bowman, Allison Colucci, Yannie Hoàng, and Zainab Nasar who pitched in where needed, including cleaning and updating data, and checking citations.
Vera and YWFC would also like to thank the following people who contributed to the analysis and writing of this report:
Qualitative and Collaborative Research Collection, Design, and Analysis: Alezandra Zaragoza Melendrez
Quantitative Research Collection, Design, and Analysis: Shaina Mackin and Craig Carpenter
Thought Partnership and Strategic Development: Jessica Nowlan, Julia Arroyo, and Nicole Brown
Text Box on Commercial Sexual Exploitation: Mae Ackerman-Brimberg and Kate Walker Brown
Youth Community Expert Advisory Council Coordination and Facilitation: Talia Beaulieu-Hains and Morgan Booker
Community Expert Advisory Council (CEAC) Members: Jessica Nowlan, Morning Star Gali, Holly Joshi, Ucedrah Osby, Abbe Land, Julie Posadas Guzman, Niki Martinez, Marlene Sanchez, and Tia Martinez
Youth Community Expert Advisory Council (YCEAC) Members: Juju Pikes-Prince, Camila Chanchavac, Adanely Duenas, Mia Nieves, Jennifer Santos, Tenaya Jones, Darlene Mejia, Teonni Ester, Vaneszah Mejia, Vaneszah Mejia, Keomi Branch, Evelyn**, and Blanca**
**Last name not provided