Advancing Economic Justice for Youth Justice Action Month

It's Youth Justice Action Month, and the challenge this year is to A.C.T. (Awaken, Confront, Transform) to end racism. However, we can’t address structural racism in the criminal justice system without addressing how it blocks economic opportunities for youth and young adults of color. In order to truly realize youth justice, we must advance economic justice for those affected by the justice system. 

The criminal justice system reflects a gross failure in making meaningful investments in public education, workforce development, and behavioral and mental health. Thirty percent of incarcerated individuals lack a high-school credential, and only 6 percent have a postsecondary credential. People with a mental illness are 2.5 times more likely to be arrested than those without one. We must work toward a society that prioritizes vital community systems—such as quality education, employment, and health care—that ensure incarceration isn’t a response to underinvestment.

We must also begin to repair and rebuild communities most harmed by mass incarceration through systemic investments in employment, education, and health and wellbeing of youth and young adults of color. Some initial steps to advancing economic justice include: 

• Reinvesting revenues from decarceration, closing prisons, and legalizing cannabis in communities most harmed by the justice system; 

• Creating education and workforce training pathways from incarceration to reentry; and 

• Eliminating collateral consequences. 

CLASP is committed to partnering with young people, government officials, and advocates in fighting against racism and promoting economic justice for youth and young adults of color to transform and reimagine an equitable justice system.

Please consider using this sample Tweet to help share our new blog on advancing youth economic justice:

It’s Youth Justice Action Month! To truly address structural racism in the criminal justice system, we must address how racism blocks economic opportunities for youth & young adults of color. Read #YJAM blog by @DPhamK of @CLASP_DC: http://bit.ly/2JtoEXd #ActToEndRacism