The Providence Journal reports on Rhode Island's family court truancy programs, which have sent many students into the juvenile corrections system  for "not answering [magistrates'] questions, swearing, slamming a door on their way out of the room or otherwise showing 'total disregard for authority,' according to court documents and interviews."

The story quotes Annie Salsich, director of Vera's Center on Youth Justice: 

“These are often young people who are in crisis, and they do need assistance and support and, often, services,” she said. “The judges often feel exasperated, like their hands are tied, with parents who are often exhausted and at the end of their ropes and asking for help. And the judges feel like they need to do something.”

But research shows that locking up these youths isn’t the answer, she said, and may even create new problems.

“Mixing kids who are low risk with the kids who really do pose a risk to public safety,” Salsich said –– “they learn skills we don’t want them to be learning.”