I spoke to an administrator and teacher at the juvenile detention center where I’ve been collecting data for nearly two years and learned that youth are still “going to school” but rather than having students move to different classrooms each unit has a designated classroom.

Students and teachers are expected to proceed “business as usual” for the time being. All other programming, except school, has been cancelled in an effort to avoid outside visitors. No grief counselors, no therapy dogs, no psychologists, and no family contact visits. While there

Are efforts to decrease the number of youth held in custody, counties are still detaining those charged with class x felonies. Further placements have stopped taking youth, even those who were already approved, because of COVID-19 meaning they’ll remain in custody until further

Notice. Since most of the prison discourse pertaining to COVID-19 has focused on incarcerated adults, I thought I would update folks on the current state of one juvenile detention center in the Midwest. Also, they need hand sanitizer! #COVID19 #IncarceratedYouth #JuvenileJustice