On September 10, the Dallas Black Clergy held an emergency press conference at the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center to address alarming conditions at the Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center.
The gathering followed the release of an Executive Summary from the Office of the Inspector General, which confirmed reports of inhumane treatment of juveniles at the facility.
The report highlighted several distressing issues, including the unjust use of a “special needs unit” where children were confined to cells for up to five days, frequent confinement of juveniles that amounted to system neglect, and staff falsifying records and observation reports.
“Today, we’re standing for righteousness, we’re standing for justice, and we’re speaking up for our children,” said Rev. Dr. Phea Kennedy, Founding Member of the Dallas Black Clergy for Safety, Equity and Justice.
During the press conference, the Dallas Black Clergy, joined by community leaders, made several critical demands aimed at reforming the juvenile justice system.
Their demands included:
- An independent third-party review to offer recommendations on Best Practices for the Juvenile Justice Center.
- Ensuring that the community has a seat at the table in selecting the next Executive Director for the Juvenile Justice Center.
- Swift accountability for every adult in the system who has harmed the children and violated their civil and human rights.
- Another request for a meeting with each member of the Dallas County Juvenile Board—only two members have met with the clergy to date.
