Report on Institutional Failures and SDG Violations in D.C. Juvenile Justice Facilities

Executive Summary

A lawsuit filed against the District of Columbia’s Department of Youth and Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) has brought to light severe allegations of violence, sexual abuse, and systemic negligence within its juvenile justice facilities. These events represent significant failures to uphold key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning justice, child protection, gender equality, and health. This report details the allegations and analyzes their direct contradiction to the principles of the SDGs.

Legal Action and Core Allegations

Civil rights attorneys E Paige White and Bernadette Armand have initiated a lawsuit following the criminal conviction of Kelvin Powell, a former guard at the Youth Services Center (YSC), for the repeated sexual abuse of a 17-year-old girl in his care. The lawsuit targets the District, DYRS, its director, and the convicted guard.

Key Allegations Against DYRS

• Failure of Oversight: The lawsuit alleges that DYRS failed to monitor surveillance video, which would have shown the guard violating policy by repeatedly entering the victim’s cell and taking her off the unit.
• Negligence of Prior History: The suit claims Powell had a pre-existing history of sexual abuse at the agency that was not acted upon.
• Lack of Institutional Accountability: Despite official statements committing to “accountability, transparency, and the well-being of young people,” DYRS has reportedly declined multiple requests for interviews and has not addressed the specific allegations, indicating a lack of transparency.

Broader Pattern of Violence and Endangerment

The lawsuit is contextualized by other recent incidents of violence at the YSC, suggesting a systemic issue rather than an isolated event. These include:

1. An assault by other residents that left a male youth with a broken nose and a damaged eye socket.
2. An assault on a transgender girl, who was housed in the boys’ unit, resulting in a broken jaw.

The attorneys are now representing the family of the transgender youth and have issued a public call for other victims of violence within D.C. juvenile facilities to come forward, anticipating that more cases will be uncovered.

Violations of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The reported events demonstrate a profound failure to meet international standards for human rights and sustainable development as outlined in the SDGs.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  • Target 16.2 (End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children): The sexual abuse and physical assaults on minors in state custody are a direct and severe violation of this target.
  • Target 16.6 (Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions): The alleged failure to monitor staff, ignore prior misconduct, and refuse to answer specific questions from the press points to an institution that is failing in its duty to be accountable and transparent.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  • Target 5.2 (Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls): The sexual assault of a female minor by a male authority figure represents a critical failure to protect girls from gender-based violence.
  • Target 5.1 (End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls): The assault on a transgender girl, whose safety was compromised by being housed in a male unit, highlights institutional failure to protect individuals from harm based on gender identity.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  • The severe physical injuries and undoubted psychological trauma inflicted upon the youth directly undermine the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all, especially for vulnerable populations.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  • Target 10.2 (Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, etc.): The failure to protect incarcerated youth, who are by definition a marginalized group, perpetuates and deepens societal inequality.
  • Target 10.3 (Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome): The system’s inability to provide a basic level of safety for all youth, including transgender individuals, demonstrates a failure to ensure equal protection and outcomes.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This is the most relevant SDG as the article’s central theme is the failure of a justice institution (D.C.’s Department of Youth and Rehabilitation Services – DYRS) to protect children in its care. It discusses violence, abuse, lack of accountability, and the pursuit of justice through legal action.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This goal is relevant due to the specific instances of violence against girls mentioned. The article details the repeated sexual abuse of a 17-year-old girl by a male guard and an assault on a transgender girl, highlighting their vulnerability and the gendered nature of the violence.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The physical and psychological harm suffered by the youth connects to this SDG. The article explicitly mentions severe injuries like a broken nose, a damaged eye socket, and a broken jaw, which directly impact the victims’ physical health. The trauma from sexual and physical assault also affects their mental health and well-being.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Targets under SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.” The article is replete with examples of violence, including sexual assault and physical fights resulting in serious injury within the Youth Services Center (YSC).
   • Target 16.2: “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.” The core issue is violence and abuse against children in a state-run facility, as exemplified by the guard sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl and other residents assaulting their peers.
   • Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law… and ensure equal access to justice for all.” The civil rights attorneys filing a lawsuit against the District and DYRS on behalf of the victims is a direct attempt to use the legal system to achieve justice.
   • Target 16.6: “Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.” The article heavily criticizes DYRS for its lack of accountability and transparency, citing allegations that it failed to monitor surveillance video and its refusal to grant interview requests to the I-Team.

2. Targets under SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres…” The case of the guard, Kelvin Powell, being convicted for “repeatedly sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl” directly relates to this target. The assault on the transgender girl, who was housed in the boys’ unit, also falls under the umbrella of gender-based violence.

3. Targets under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.4: “…promote mental health and well-being.” The article highlights the fundamental need for safety, with an attorney stating D.C. owes children “safety, a basic level of safety.” The physical assaults (broken nose, broken jaw) and sexual abuse described are profoundly detrimental to the victims’ mental and physical well-being.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Incidence of violence in juvenile facilities: The article provides specific cases of violence—one girl sexually abused, one boy with a broken nose and damaged eye socket, and one transgender girl with a broken jaw. A reduction in the number of such reported incidents would be a key indicator of progress towards Targets 16.1, 16.2, and 5.2. The attorneys’ belief that there are “many, many more” victims suggests this is a measurable problem.
• Institutional accountability measures: The alleged failure to “monitor surveillance video” is a specific failure of institutional process. An indicator of progress for Target 16.6 would be the implementation and documented adherence to policies that ensure monitoring and oversight to prevent abuse.
• Access to and outcomes of justice: The conviction of the former guard, Kelvin Powell, and the filing of a new lawsuit are indicators of the justice system being utilized (Target 16.3). The number of cases filed, convictions secured, and civil damages awarded to victims would serve as quantitative indicators of progress.
• Institutional transparency: The article notes that DYRS “turned down repeated interview requests from the I-Team” despite claiming it is “committed to transparency and accountability.” An indicator of progress for Target 16.6 would be an increase in the agency’s responsiveness to public and media inquiries.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nbcwashington.com