September 27, 2021
Responding to Assault Charge at Youth Prison, Institute Renews Call for Closure and Community-Based Programming for Youth People
Prison Guard Charged with Breaking Wrist of Handcuffed Youth Without Cause
NEWARK – In response to charges of physical violence by a youth prison guard against an incarcerated young person, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice condemned the abuse and renewed its call for the closure of New Jersey’s three youth prisons: Jamesburg, Hayes and the Juvenile Medium Security Facility (JMSF), where the incident occurred.
“Violence against incarcerated youth is abhorrent and unacceptable,” stated Yannick Wood, Director of the Criminal Justice Reform Program at the Institute. “It reflects the broken condition of New Jersey’s overfunded and antiquated youth prisons, which are plagued by structural racism, emotional harm and even physical violence.”