Locked Down, Locked Out (31 page)

Authors: Maya Schenwar

BOOK: Locked Down, Locked Out

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The names of several people have been changed in this book to protect privacy where necessary. These names are marked with an asterisk on first mention.

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A notable exception is the nursery program at Bedford Hills prison in New York, which has existed continuously since 1901 and allows some babies to remain with their mothers until they’re eighteen months old.

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Many restorative justice programs begin with youth, especially if they operate within dominant society; it’s simply less controversial as public policy. Hopefully, restorative justice leaders tell me, the youth program will model the ways in which the process can function, which will be useful for an expansion of adult-based efforts down the line. Also, youth crime comprises a significant chunk of crime, and it’s important to address that behavior early: Most ex-prisoners under forty years old recidivate, most over fifty-five don’t. Also, after they reach twenty-five, we see a steep drop in offenses. Still, Father David Kelly hopes that restorative efforts will soon expand to include older people. He explains to me that after working with thousands of children and adults bound up in the criminal “justice” system, he’s always struck by the fact that the adults are, well, more
mature
, more likely to concede when they’re not thinking right, less likely to act out during the process. “Anyone can change,” he says.