Youth with Disabilities in Juvenile Corrections (Part 2): Transition and Reentry to School and Community
Challenge
View the movie below and then proceed to the Initial Thoughts section (time: 1:46).
Transcript: Challenge
For a second time, 16-year-old Carlos has been incarcerated at the Maple Hill Juvenile Corrections Facility, this time for approximately nine months. Carlos understands that if he continues on his current path, his future will probably look much like his father’s: in and out of jail in an unbroken cycle. Carlos wants to turn his life around and knows that this might be his last chance. Unfortunately, however, he has few positive influences in his life, and when he is released from Maple Hill he’ll not even have a safe place to live. Carlos believes that his home environment is unlikely to change, and he is beginning to fear that his future will not change, either. Additionally, Carlos has a learning disability, is far behind in school, and lacks formal work experience. Because of these factors, Carlos will need lots of support if he is to successfully transition back to his community and life following incarceration. Giving Carlos the best chance of success will require extensive planning before he leaves Maple Hill.
Here is your Challenge:
- What is transition planning and why is it important?
- How might transition planning evolve during incarceration?
- What are some emerging findings regarding successful transition?
Note: Carlos and others portrayed in this module’s Challenge and throughout the Perspectives & Resources pages are fictional characters used for illustrative and instructional purposes only. No resemblance to specific individuals is intended.
