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Articles, information and additional online resources. |
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Voices from the Trenches
Jason,* 16, is currently in custody at San Francisco's Youth Guidance Center.
Jason on life inside the juvenile justice system:
"I started getting in trouble in middle school, when I was 12, 13 years old. I started hanging out with older people than me, running with them and trying to get money the easy way. Growing up in Bayview Hunter's Point, I saw people getting money, riding in cars. I wanted the same thing. That was the type of stuff I looked up to. My first charge was attempted burglary, and ever since I have had 21 contacts [with the system], and I've been in and out of here and group homes, mostly for violating probation and running away from group homes.
"When you first get here, you are stressed out. Now I'm used to it. Some days get to me. Reality hits me. I want to be home. I want to be out. I don't want anyone telling me what to do. The hardest part about being in here is wearing this stuff, a uniform and other people's underwear, and having to take showers in front of other people. There ain't nothing cute about life in here. I don't want to be here. This ain't the road to take.
"I want to go to school, play football. I want to be around my family, get into a good trade, go to college, and maybe even come back and be a counselor here. They call me junior staff around here, because I know all the staff. I'm a trustee. They trust me. Instead of me being locked up into my room, I want to ... well, I don't want to lock anyone up, but I want to show them I made nothing into something."
*Jason's name has been changed to protect his identity.
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