Organizing for Residents at Cook County Juvenile Detention Center

Concerned Youth are confronting the city on the neglect of Residents at County Temporary Juvenile Detention Center, which are between 11 and 20 years old.

On July 31st, youth from around Chicago held a press conference and rally demanding that Cook County Board President Todd Stroger respect the dignity of Children residing at the Cook County Temporary Juvenile Detention Center (Audy Home). Residents of the Audy Home, which are mainly children of color, are being neglected: reports described that there had not been janitors in over 9 weeks, clean undergarments were not being supplied, sanitary and food conditions were horrid and the center did not have qualified corrections officers.

Federal courts have since appointed a new Temporary Administrator to the Detention Center, and on October 29th, at Marquette Community School, SWYC Youth worked again with city groups to hold a teach-in rally about the state of conditions. With Earl Dunlap, the new administrator in attendance, students spoke out for immediate humane conditions, a restorative, community-based alternative to the Detention Center, and a re-direction of city funds into schools, employment, and youth services. Nurses and lawyers from the Detention Center were interviewed by SWYC youth, who also performed skits, original songs, and poetry about the Detention Center to educate and inspire attending youth and families to action.

Youth are asking that the Human Rights of Audy Home residents are respected by addressing sanitation, treatment and mental health care issues. They are demanding accountability for improvement mandates that have not been upheld.

The Audi Home has been plagued with mismanagement for decades. A recent report by the John Howard Association confirmed that chronic mismanagement and dangerous and abusive conditions persist for the children at the Audi Home.

Carrie Morris, 15, feels that "it is a big problem and that it has a big effect on the community." Youth are calling on the community to get together to pressure Stroger and the Cook County Board to make these changes and create a more stable and dignified rehabilitation center.

*Partnered Organizations:* Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP), Fearless Leading by the Youth (FLY), Southwest Youth Collaborative, Generation Y, Critical Resistance, Kenwood Oakland Community Organization (KOKO), and Metropolitan Area Group Igniting Civilization(MAGIC).

From Chicago Defender:

"Teens Press for Changes at Audy Home"

Video by Generation Y: