Improving the system

The flaws in juvenile justice are being addressed by new policy recommendations and revisions to the system, which have become more apparent in recent years. Most of these reforms suggest a more forgiving and supportive environment for detained children and teens. 

“I’m working locally with restorative justice as a facilitator so that a person or a kid or whoever, if they do something stupid, like shoplifting, being drunk in public, things like that, they’re not necessarily sent to a lockdown facility, but they have an alternative to make things right,” Ross said.

According to Vafa, this reform will have a particularly positive effect on girls but could improve the system for all justice-involved youth.

“One of the things that we argue for boys and girls is that they are offered services and treatment in the community, instead of being criminalized and detained in a prison-like atmosphere,” Vafa said. “For girls, this almost always makes sense because the vast majority who come into contact with the justice system are nonviolent, and they’re there because of innocuous behaviors like running away and truancy.”

Despite these positive prospects, the plight of girls in the juvenile justice system is still hidden behind cinder block walls, stereotypes, and societal norms.

“I think one of the things that we have to recognize is that the abuse to prison pipeline is still happening, and it’s really important that we continue to collect the data and pay attention to the experiences of girls,” Vafa said. “There’s a lot that we have to do to support not just women and girls, but all those who have suffered violence and exploitation.”