Case Explained:This article breaks down the legal background, charges, and implications of Case Explained: New law requires Mayor to fix over crowding in DC youth detention centers – Legal Perspective
WASHINGTON (7News) — 7News has been reporting for years about issues inside D.C.’s youth detention center. One of the safety concerns was the overcrowding inside, but new legislation in D.C. Council could provide a solution.
The legislation puts responsibility on the Mayor. It requires Mayor Muriel Bowser to come up with a plan to deal with the overcrowding inside the facilities.
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It also requires the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) to provide more information to the community about the juveniles inside. That includes reporting how many juveniles commit another crime after leaving the rehabilitation center and how many are arrested again within a year. Facilities would also have to give parents and the council more information. They would be required to notify parents when their kids are moved or when there’s a medical emergency.
Councilman Zachary Parker has oversight over youth affairs in D.C. and says this is urgent.
“Making more transparent of the outreach efforts the agency is having with families and parents,” Parker said. “One of the things we hear routinely from parents is that ‘I don’t ever hear from DYRS while my young person is in detention’, and now we’re requiring them to not only keep a log of that, but to make that available to the council, as well as parents, when the young person is transferred in terms of their placement where they have a medical emergency. This is part of our ongoing oversight of the agency to improve functions, and it’s working.”
Under the law, the mayor’s plan will have to specify how the department will permanently reduce the juvenile population at the detention center.
Overall, Parker said it’s about prevention.
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A plan to reduce the number of juveniles who commit crimes, which then reduces the number of kids who end up locked up. The mayor has four months to complete the required plan under the law.