Double Charged: A Special Investigation

Follow the paper trail and explore our interactive resources as Youth Radio goes behind the scenes, uncovering the true cost of the changing juvenile justice system.

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Reporting

Each year, almost 1.5 million teens, many of them low-income, are arrested in the United States. Compared to ten years ago, fewer of these young people end up incarcerated due to cost-saving measures at the county level, but what impact do those measures have on minors and their families? In a yearlong investigation, Youth Radio tracked three new trends – teen GPS ankle monitoring, victim restitution and making parents pay for their kids’ jail time and probation. Why Lawmakers Are Ending Court Fees For Kids [aired on Marketplace] By: Myles Bess In some California counties for instance, it can cost as much as $30 per-day for room and board for parents whose children are locked up inside juvenile hall.     Double Charged: The True Co$t Of Juvenile Justice  [aired on Marketplace & KALW] By: Myles Bess You might think the cost of juvenile incarceration and rehabilitation is covered by taxpayers and state budgets. But increasingly, a portion of those costs is being passed on to families.   Double Charged: Teens on House Arrest on GPS [aired on Marketplace & KALW] By: Sayre Quevedo There’s a national trend in juvenile justice to stop locking up young people as much as we used to -- some are calling it de-carceration. And one of the ways it’s being done, is through GPS monitoring as an alternative to jail.   Double Charged: Does Paying Back Victims Cost Kids Their Futures  [Aired on Marketplace & KALW] By: Sayre Quevedo  Juvenile restitution is a process that wrestles with two competing philosophies around the idea of justice: justice for victims who have the right to be paid for their losses even when the offender spends time in jail. And justice for juvenile offenders, who need to be held accountable but also allowed to move on from their crimes and from the system.   Some Kids Get Charged Twice For One Crime  [published on TheAtlantic.com] By: Nishat Kurwa A report on how cash-squeezed counties offset the costs of youth incarceration by charging parents -- including one mother who's on the hook for more than $7,500 in fees, even though her child has passed away.    The Fashion Accessory No Teen Really Wants  [Published on Buzz Feed] By: Noah Nelson Who says crime doesn't pay? It pays governments like Alameda County real well!   return to top 

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Infographics

The Cost of Court Involvement by Youth Radio/ Teresa Chin

Check out our infographic that walks you through the cost of court involvement, highlighting fees for everything from a public defender to the per night cost in juvenile detention, based on original data collected from Alameda County, California.

Take a look at our map based on a Youth Radio survey of all 58 counties in California, displaying which counties charge fees to minors and their families for court involvement. By: Jenny Lei Bolario          

                       

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video

Video

Teens On House Arrest On GPS: Fifteen-year-old Cameron Lopes has been on GPS monitoring for the past 60 days. In this video, Lopes explains how much his life has changed since he was put on probation, and the restrictions imposed by GPS monitoring. This video is a part of Youth Radio's special coverage, Double Charged: The True Cost of Juvenile Justice, a year-long investigation into the U.S. juvenile justice system and its impact on low-income youth and their families. Life On GPS: In this video commentary, 16-year-old Manuel Velazquez shares the experience of a day in court, waiting to find out if he will get his GPS monitor taken off. This video is a part of Youth Radio's special coverage, Double Charged: The True Cost of Juvenile Justice, a year-long investigation into the U.S. juvenile justice system and its impact on low-income youth and their families.   return to top 

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Source Documents

 Youth Radio is open sourcing our primary documents and original reporting. Follow the paper trail and dig into our annotated documents return to top 

Extras

Extras

Extended interviews: Listen to interviews that didn't make it on air. The opinions expressed in these interviews are those of the interviewees, not Youth Radio.   Curriculum Resources Interns at Youth Radio created a series of activities and discussion questions to help teachers use these stories and media assets in their classrooms. Classroom Debate, By Joi Smith Personal Budgeting Activity, By Scott Lau and Sophie Varon Courtroom Simulation, By Dani Tarver Designing Advertisements, By Cassandra Gutierrez Discussion Questions, By Eli Arbreton, Kiera Robinson, Dani Tarver, Sophie Varon, Scott Lau, Cassandra Gutierrez, Rafael Johns, Joi Smith   return to top    Additional Resources:  Juvenile Justice Bill Tracking Database, National Conference of State Legislatures   Mapping Juvenile Justice, The W. Haywood Burns Institute Interactive Map: Rates of Adult and Juvenile Incarceration in California, California Sentencing Institute Parental Support Obligations Of Institutionalized Delinquents, National Center For Juvenile Justice Article detailing the history of Fines and Fees Issued to Criminals, by Beth Colgan, California Law Review   return to top    Credits: Meet the reporters: 19-year-old Myles Bess is a student at Laney College in Oakland, California. Bess has reported juvenile justice and education issues for Youth Radio for the past six months. He also produces video content that has been featured on National Geographic, Huffington Post and GOOD Magazine.        21-year-old Sayre Quevedo is a college student at The New School in New York. He's reported on juvenile justice issues for Youth Radio for the past three years. His work has been recognized by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, and Public Radio News Directors Incorporated.     Series Production Credits:   

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Youth Radio's Juvenile Justice coverage is funded in part by the Public Welfare Foundation.     return to top