The Debate Over How and Whether to Jail Kids in Austin Is Just Getting Started

On Nov. 23, 1996, high school sophomore Bill Wallace was involved in a dispute between two groups of men near Rundberg Lane in North Austin. Both groups drew guns and shot. A 32-year-old man lost his life. Wallace was arrested six weeks later, taken to the Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center, and held on suspicion of murder.

To this day, Wallace is grateful for Johnson and Gilford. “I’m Black, I’m African American, and those two Black guys really impacted my life,” he said. “They treated me as a human being, just as a person, at a time when I was very vulnerable. And I love them for that. I’m indebted to them. I don’t know how that happened, how the universe allowed that to happen.”

Wallace is familiar with the plans and the reasoning behind them. But he has no faith that the new building would be different from the ones in which he spent half of his life. “I think these buildings strip young people of their identity and try to turn them all into the same thing, which just prepares them for prison,” he said. “It’s systemic. It’s in the rules and regulations. It’s in the structure and code. It’s in DNA. It’s in the walls.

“The ISC is for kids who have been adjudicated and ordered to be placed in the ISC by the court. They also wear uniforms, but the uniforms the ISC kids wear are not like prison uniforms. They are closer to street clothes, but they’re still uniforms. Their day is very structured. They have different units. And when they go to bed at night they’re locked in, like jail.”

“Travis County doesn’t typically send away our kids,” Hoard said. “That’s why we have the ISC. We keep them here with us on probation, working to provide education and vocational services and treatment for them and their families, while preparing for their reentry into the community. We really don’t want to send kids away from their families because we’ve come to understand the importance of family work and addressing needs at that level. Those are needs we can address.

“I had been accused of a crime but then they had recanted and I had to stay there while CPS found a placement for me,” Carroll said. “And I’m not saying this about any one particular facility, but none of them are supposed to be warm and comforting. As a whole, there’s a lot of abuse that goes on. And the abuse is not always physical or sexual abuse. It’s turning kids against each other, favoritism, playing on food insecurity. For me, reading was an escape.

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

DeSantis and Haley Clash in Republican DebateFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley participate in a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by CNN. The debate highlights their battle for second place ahead of the Iowa caucuses.
Source: washingtonpost - 🏆 95. / 72 Read more »

Texas politicians debate new border dealThe deal would also provide money to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, another priority for many Texas lawmakers.
Source: TexasTribune - 🏆 441. / 53 Read more »

Ukrainian-born Miss Japan relinquishes crown following alleged affairModel Karolina Shiino, who sparked debate in Japan by winning a national beauty pageant, has relinquished her title just two weeks after being crowned.
Source: cnnbrk - 🏆 393. / 55 Read more »

Socrates Announces Launch of Pioneer Pen, Upgrading SBT Pens to NFTsSocrates, the first SocialFi Debate-to-Earn platform, announces a transformative upgrade with the launch of the Pioneer Pen on January 11th, 2024. This significant development shifts existing ERC-1155 SBT Pens to the ERC-721 Pioneer Pens, bringing the uniqueness and tradability of NFTs to the forefront, which are now tradable on the in-app trading marketplace. This initiative is part of Socrates’ strategy to create a comprehensive 360° instant rewards ecosystem, encouraging active user engagement through various platform interactions and participation in the ongoing SOC airdrop competition.
Source: Crypto_Potato - 🏆 568. / 51 Read more »

Cleveland City Council Debates Ceasefire Resolution Amidst Hamas-Israel ConflictThe war between Hamas and Israel has sparked a debate in Cleveland, with Palestinian activists calling for a ceasefire resolution and the Jewish federation asking for a hold-off. Palestinian protesters have been urging city council to adopt the resolution to ensure the safety and protection of Palestinians in the city. In response, the Jewish Federation has requested certain stipulations to be included before any action is taken.
Source: WEWS - 🏆 323. / 59 Read more »

Tax Return Prep Fees, Car Safety Inspections, and Grocery Shopping HacksWhy you may not have to pay any prep fees to file your tax return this year. Safety inspections for your car end a year from now, why you'll still pay that fee, and why it could cost you more in the long run. A famous chef’s “6 to 1” grocery shopping hack is going viral. Can it save you money? Are ATM’s that offer cash for old cell phones incentivizing thieves? And the hot debate over compensation for student athletes. How it could change the playing field. Harris County is ready to uplift low-income households with $500 a month to spend how you see fit. Are you up to your neck in debt? We've got easy solutions to help. And the do-it-yourself home maintenance that can save you serious moola.
Source: FOX26Houston - 🏆 448. / 53 Read more »