In today’s episode, Sam and Abram chat with Vinny Schiraldi, who oversaw radical changes running Juvenile Corrective Services in Washington, DC. Listen to Vinny explain how, guided by his approach of “acting incrementally while dreaming boldly,” he vastly cut down on institutionalization, abuse, and corruption. The story includes a steady stream of trauma and a lot of patient collaboration.

Topics of conversation include the advocates and bureaucrats with whom Vinny painstakingly reformed the system; how to work with staff who are traumatized by, but also propagate, a toxic status quo; myths and facts about juvenile justice; and how an institution that is a site of abuse and violence can become a place of healing. Vinnie also shares how he went from working at a group home to running a major juvenile justice system – and how he arrived at his conclusion that “mass incarceration is going to end.”

Content warning: This episode may not be suitable for children, and includes some brief descriptions of violence and abuse (including sexual violence) in juvenile justice settings.

Additional Reading:

Beyond the Bars Conference, Center for Justice at Columbia University

Florida should shut down youth-detention centers where ‘fight clubs’ thrive by Candice Jones, Patrick McCarthy and Vincent Schiraldi (October 18, 2017)

How New York City Has Shown that “Less is More” When It Comes to Probation Supervision, by Vincent Schiraldi, HuffPost (October 10, 2017)

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: 2017 NTCOSS Conference; Darwin, NT, Australia (September 28, 2017)

“Juvenile Prisons: It’s Time to Close ‘Factories of Failure,’” by Vincent Schiraldi on The Crime Report (September 26, 2017)

FB Live discussion between Vincent Schiraldi and CSSW Interim Dean Irwin Garfinkel on youth criminal justice (November 15, 2017)

Show notes by Hannah E. Brown; “Aquarela” do Brasil by Ary Barroso, Performed by Peter Markowski, Luke Maurer, and Abram Guerra; Thanks to Chris Martinie for logo and all of you for your love and support.