Juvenile Assessment Center

The developmental differences between young people and adults, as well as the societal injustices implicated in the incarceration system can lead to escalated interactions with law enforcement, making it critical that officers are trained both to understand and respond appropriately to young people’s behavior. Youth who are arrested often face long wait times and potentially traumatizing conditions. By changing the ways officers and youth interact, there is tremendous potential to reduce unnecessary escalation and establish trusting relationships that can lead to improved community safety. The proposed Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC) will offer a centralized, developmentally appropriate processing location to local police districts across the city. Since 2018, the SJI has served as a "thought partner" with JAC towards improving interactions between youth, police, and social service organizations in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Dr. Bailey began this work with Graduate Assistants Qádriyyah Major-Gray and Isabel Lee, and then continued with Court Simmons, Gwenn Prinbeck, and Sarah Spath.