Blog Posts
Exoneration Leads to Call for More Openness in Juv. Justice
dcogcadmin | April 26, 2010
The Washington Post editorial board used the occasion of the exoneration of one suspect in last month’s quadruple slayings in Southeast Washington to highlight the problems caused by excessive confidentiality regarding youth offender programs in the District. While noting that the initial charges against the suspect drew a great deal of attention to problems faced by the city’s juvenile justice system, the editorial observed that even with the dropping of the charges, problems remain:
The Washington Post editorial board used the occasion of the exoneration of one suspect in last month’s quadruple slayings in Southeast Washington to highlight the problems caused by excessive confidentiality regarding youth offender programs in the District. While noting that the initial charges against the suspect drew a great deal of attention to problems faced by the city’s juvenile justice system, the editorial observed that even with the dropping of the charges, problems remain:
While previous reforms should not be abandoned, there are legitimate concerns about how young offenders who may pose continuing threats to the community are treated. Strict confidentiality laws are a bar to an understanding of the issues and, as such, undermine public confidence in the department and the youth it serves.
