Do youth face danger while being held in confinement facilities?
Yes. Youth held in both juvenile and adult facilities can face risks. Juvenile facilities are often understaffed with overworked employees. Many juveniles are exposed to youth who have committed more serious crimes, fostering the potential for more serious criminal behavior in the future. In adult facilities, youth are at an even greater risk. Research conducted by Jeffrey Fagan of Columbia Law School shows that juveniles in adult confinement are five times more likely to be sexually assaulted, eight times more likely to commit suicide, and twice as likely to be assaulted by staff.
