Democratizing Youth Voices about Juvenile Justice System: A Photovoice Study

Background and Purpose: Youth of color are not only starkly overrepresented but also face harsher sentences in the juvenile justice system (JJS). Being incarcerated has a myriad of negative impacts on youths’ lives, including the increased likelihood of being incarcerated in adulthood. To find solutions that prevent such high recidivism rates, involving affected populations in the process is crucial, e.g., through youth participatory action research (YPAR). While there is YPAR in the context of the JJS, it focuses on system-involved youth to improve policies and services within the JJS, for example, through a trauma-informed approach or to better address the mental health needs of incarcerated youth. There is a dearth of research around preventative factors from youths’ perspectives not involved with the JJS. This study aims to understand the risk, promotive, and protective mechanisms of youth interactions with the juvenile justice system from the perspective of African-American/Black youth. The research explores factors that hinder youth success, prevent them from engaging in the criminal/legal system, and their recommendation for adults in power and their peers.

Methods: This study utilizes the Photovoice methodology, an empowerment method in participatory research based on photo documentaries with a narrative visually representing the subjects’ stories and lived experiences. Twelve youth of African-American/Black background was recruited in one of the neighborhood youth centers in the Midwest. Age ranges from 9-18; 4 male and 8 female. The researchers met with the participants six times over six weeks. Youths were instructed to take photos regarding the study purpose described above. A community photo exhibit was held at the virtual summit with over 100 stakeholders, including schools, juvenile justice services, police, and youth. The data were thematically analyzed and compared with the results of participatory analysis done by youth.

Results: All data was coded in three themes, including actions to address individual, school, and community-level factors. Here are some of the most prominent recommendations that these presenters will discuss based on youth photos and stories.

• Providing the sources of care alternative/complimentary to the parental care
• Helping youth learn how to empathize, communicate, and share feelings

• Creating youth spaces to support one another for those who have been through similar experiences in the juvenile/legal system.
• Providing youth with specialized opportunities for education
• Offering opportunities for community sports and activities
• Creating safe neighborhoods for youth
• Changing the narrative around the youth of color within the community by providing opportunities to feature their achievement
• Giving youth a voice and listening to them

Conclusion: This project demonstrates that if given a voice, youth are able to contribute to the discussion on prevention. Youth consensus is that no one tool fits all and that action should be taken on multiple levels.