Data Brief: Reducing Room Confinement in Juvenile Detention

This data brief examines the complex and often harmful practice of room confinement in juvenile justice settings, particularly as it affects youth with histories of trauma and mental health challenges. While room confinement is used with the intention of maintaining safety, it can have serious negative consequences, including increased risk of self-harm, suicidal ideation, and deterioration of mental health. This underscores the need for alternative approaches that prioritize the well-being of youth and the stability of facility environments.

The brief highlights strategies that have shown promise in reducing reliance on room confinement. These include integrating trauma-informed training models such as the Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education and Therapy (TARGET), enhancing onsite mental health services, and establishing specialized staff roles (e.g., Mental Health Services Managers and Gang Intervention Specialists) that both alleviate pressure on frontline staff and improve care for youth. Facility leadership also played a crucial role in initiating policy changes that reflect a deeper understanding of staff and youth needs, informed by ongoing feedback loops.

Additionally, the brief explores how organizational culture shifts such as amplifying staff voice, prioritizing mental wellness, and expanding de-escalation skills can contribute to a safer and more supportive environment. The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on adolescent development further heightened the urgency to address youth behavior with greater nuance, flexibility, and continuity of care.

Ultimately, the brief emphasizes that reducing room confinement requires a holistic, data-informed approach centered on youth development and staff support. Key recommendations include investing in mental health infrastructure, ensuring staff input shapes decision-making, and tracking outcomes to continuously improve. As juvenile justice systems seek to align safety with healing, these strategies offer a replicable model for fostering resilience while maintaining safety in detention environments.