Closure Convenings

In partnership with the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR), we have launched a national Closure Convenings. This unique initiative brings together leaders who are actively working to shut down youth detention centers to identify proven strategies for closure, share critical lessons learned, and create a practical toolkit to guide future efforts nationwide. Beyond the technical process, the collaborative serves as a vital community for leaders to build momentum and mutual support, ensuring that closed facilities stay closed for good.

This project builds off an important study AHSHAY published in the American Journal of Public Health in early 2025. The study, which looked at efforts to close youth detention facilities across 33 states between 2010 and 2023, debunks the perception that closing youth incarceration facilities is unfeasible or that such closures would result in increased crime rates.