The North Carolina prison system announced that they will put an end to solitary confinement for juvenile offenders in the prison system. Historically, youth were placed in solitary confinement if they seriously violated prison rules.
By this September, the N.C. Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice will launch a Youthful Offender Program that will provide education, mental and behavioral health counseling, life skills classes, and family and community reunification services. Through these programs, the state hopes to develop the estimated 70 juvenile offenders into contributing citizens to their local communities.
The new policy for youth who violate prison rules will include the loss of privileges and, if serious enough, placement in modified housing. This modified housing will still have programs for treatment, education, visitation, and telephone privileges, but some of the additional privileges will be withheld.
North Carolina plans to do this in order to heal and restore, rather than aggravate and worsen, children who have broken the law in hopes of assisting them in developing into contributing adults.
Youth are commonly known to have a greater capacity to grow and change than adults. By providing additional treatment and recreation, the state hopes to assist them in that journey.
Through Bible studies, mentoring, leadership training, in-prison publications, and many other programs, Prison Fellowship is assisting in the development of both youth and adults who have made mistakes in their past.
If you would like to be a part of helping another individual begin their path to restoration, learn more about our in-prison ministry here.