Kazeem’s juvenile detention facility reform legislation approved by PA House Child & Youth Committee
Southeast Delegation June 20, 2025 | 2:28 PM
HARRISBURG, June 20 – Legislation (H.R. 142) sponsored by State Rep. Carol Kazeem, D-Delaware, would direct the General Assembly’s bipartisan and bicameral research agency to conduct a study of Pennsylvania’s juvenile detention centers was approved by the House Children & Youth Committee this week.
The legislation is in response to the December 2022 PA Attorney General’s Grand Jury Report, which found that the now-closed Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center failed to provide safe and secure accommodations to juveniles in its care. The report called the DCJDC a “kid jail” where the DCJDC staff exploited their power, cursing, bullying, physically abusing and sexually harassing the children, aged 10-18, in their care.
The staff’s unprofessionalism was permitted by a “hands off” director, a video surveillance system characterized by “blind spots” and non-functioning equipment, a lack of oversight from county and judicial officials, and inadequate staff training, the report said.
“As a state representative, I take seriously my job as a public servant to use my voice to protect the most vulnerable in our society,” Kazeem said. “The lack of standards and oversight at the DCJDC resulted in the abject failure to protect the physical, psychological and emotional welfare of the kids at the facility for decades or to provide them with the education and tools needed to reform and grow into successful, productive members of our society.
“My legislation would ensure that a horror story like DCJDC never happens again by
dramatically increasing the standards and oversight of juvenile detention centers throughout the commonwealth.”
Kazeem’s H.R. 142 would direct the General Assembly’s Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study and make recommendations regarding best practices for the operation of juvenile detention centers.
“H.R. 142 would bring together a commission of bipartisan subject matter experts who can examine and develop best practices for the operation of juvenile detention centers, including video surveillance, training, minimum qualification requirements for management and staff, restrictions on use of overtime, programming requirements, and policies regarding incident reports and grievances,” Kazeem said. “It's only by ensuring that we understand what is needed to run these facilities safely that we can be sure that they are operating as they should and that we are providing vulnerable kids with the care and the skills needed to thrive.”
For more details, residents should contact Kazeem’s district office by phone at 610-876-6420 or by email at RepKazeem@pahouse.net.