The Commanding Heights of Juvenile Institutions

In his critique of the structures of capitalism, V.I. Lenin hypothesized that a socialist state could better serve the masses by controlling the "commanding heights" of the economy. The economic pillars that served as the infrastructure for the commanding heights at that time were steel, railroads, coal and heavy industry.

Our examination of the "commanding heights" for large institutions that house young people includes pillars that support our nation's addiction to incarceration. Those pillars include the use of bond measures, correctional officers unions, lack of systemic accountability, public misconceptions about youth crime and rehabilitation, media distortions and a general disdain for youth of color in trouble with the law.

The CJNY has convened Youth Policy Forums (YPF) to bring together young adult scholars, practitioners, formerly incarcerated youth and activists to examine topics including this nation's reliance on the large institutional model as an instrument of social control. We examined the question of why this failed model continues to be used by governments and what alternatives should be promoted in campaigns around the country.

We compiled a Youth Policy Forum Research Packet that contains a wealth of information assembled specifically for the YPF including research and data detailing the costs of incarceration, recidivism rates and incidents of brutality. Additionally, we require all CJNY network members to submit a two-page essay of their reflections on the current state of incarceration and its impact on young people, their families and communities.