Why Does The U.S. Imprison More Children Than Any Nation?

The United States leads the world in imprisoning children; the Child Rights Foundation was founded this year to advocate on their behalf.

We currently hold approximately half a million minors in juvenile detention centers. Most of these "lawbreakers" lack resources to post bail; many are awaiting trial.

Many will be tried in courts authorized to sentence them to decades behind bars.

Many were never arrested – cops simply didn't know what to do with them.

Many were homeless, on the streets, mentally ill, and locked up because they had nowhere to go.

Many will become adults in jail or prison. They will join the 2 million adults in the U.S. prison system, a booming "industry" that has increased over sevenfold since the early 1970s. (As an aside, the U.S. has less than 5% of the world's population and 20% of the world's prisoners.)

How did we get here? How do we respond? We must ask foundational questions. Then we must raise awareness of this human rights crisis.

First, who decided the child should be locked up in prison instead of a holding facility focused on trauma therapy, health and wellness, life skills, and self-esteem building?

Second, why was it not considered a human rights abuse to imprison a child?

Third, why is the U.S. the only nation that did not join the rest of the world in ratifying the 1992 U.N. Convention on the Right of the Child (UNCRC), where child imprisonment was forbidden?

Finally, is it a coincidence that the only nation in the world that failed to take a stand against imprisoning children is the nation with the highest population of children in prison?

These are tough questions. Opponents of UNCRC worry about an international treaty limiting parental rights and weakening the constitution.

They are misguided.

As a "non-self-executing treaty," UNCRC does not grant any international body enforcement authority over member nations or their citizens. Instead, it obligates governments to submit periodic reports on how the treaty's provisions are being met. In a word, accountability.

At the Child Rights Foundation, we believe children should be protected. From abuse. From neglect. And, yes, from prison. Please join our newsletter to learn more about how you can help us help children.