Huy Opposes Youth Solitary Confinement in King County

Read Huy's letter to the King County Council and County Executive Dow Constantine here.  An excerpt:

Native American youth are 30 percent more likely than Caucasian youth to be referred to juvenile court than have charges dropped, which results in their early entry into the system— perhaps without return. In our experience, local Native youth are infrequently offered opportunities for diversion.Solitary confinement can have a devastating impact on an already vulnerable population, like our local Native youth. Studies have shown that solitary confinement exacerbates existing mental illnesses in those who are confined, leading to depression, alienation, withdrawal and the potential for violent behavior. These byproducts will only serve to ensure that our youth return to the corrections system time and time again.