The Problem
Our nation has a long history of unjust application of the law…
Be it structural inequalities, the ramifications of over-policing, or even inherently racist policy, the flaws in our criminal justice system are deep-rooted and pervasive.
Unfortunately, It is minority youth, the most underrepresented and under-protected members of our justice system, who must bear the burden of our broken legal system. In our state of Ohio, this issue is abundantly evident.
In 2018, 81 percent of the warrants issued by the Hamilton County Justice Center (HCJC) were issued to African American children despite the fact that only 30.3 percent of youth were Black in Hamilton County Ohio. In total, seventy-five (75) percent of the children admitted to the Hamilton County Detention Center are black (City Beat, Nick Swartsell, September 18, 2019).
Our Solution
Youth Enrichment Services (YES) is a preventative program for Ohio’s at-risk youth. Our goal is to ensure that no child is left without the tools they need to stay out of the criminal justice system. We hope to achieve this by providing unique, comprehensive programming with a variety of services including:
- Mental Health Assessment
- Occupational Assessment (YES I & IA)
- Transportation to and from
- Meals
- Provide supervision
- Build Confidence
- Academic Tutoring
- Mentorship
- Directional planning
- Field Trips
The YES program prioritizes daily involvement with youth. The program provides transportation, extensive resources, and a strong sense of direction. For more specific information, please visit the “Programs” page.
YES Is Cost-Effective
Not only is youth detention often detrimental in its application, but it is also expensive. The average state cost for the secure confinement of a child is now $588 per day, or $214,620 per year, a 44 percent increase from 2014. These cost figures over a six-year period represent the growing economic impact of incarcerating youth. Even worse, the long-term impact of these policies extends well beyond the fiscal cost. Extensive research reveals that secure youth incarceration increases the likelihood of recidivism and harms educational attainment, lifetime wages, and future health outcomes for children.
https://justicepolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Sticker_Shock_2020.pdf.
https://justicepolicyinstitute.box.com/s/i830t7hw58t6h7tj02qu4fdp8a755w2u
This research shines a light on the need for effective preventative measures such as YES. Youth Enrichment preventative and enhancement measures cost less than $12,000 per child/per year as opposed to $214,620 per child/per year to the house in secure confinement.
Ohio Youth Enrichment Services 