Behind the scenes of “Locked Up: The Mass Incarceration of Young Black Men”

I am Dr. Douglas Posey public speaker, author, and Board-Certified in Anatomic, Clinical, and Forensic Pathology, as well as Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine. In my upcoming book, I delve into the critical flaws of our juvenile justice system. This blog post will explore the motivation behind my work, the system’s financial burdens, and the solution I propose: education-based reform. Through this journey, I invite you to examine the necessity of a new path for our youth, one rooted in community support and empowerment rather than punishment.

In today’s post I’ll be taking you through the motivation for this book, the economic burden of the juvenile incarceration system, and present an alternative to our current system that will divert these youth from a life in the prison system to living up to their full potential. 

 Motivation and Inspiration for the Book

As I pieced together the pages of my forthcoming book, I found myself continuously reflecting on the profound motivations behind this project. My work is driven by a deep-seated concern for the state of the juvenile justice system—a system that, despite its significant financial demands, continues to fail the very youth it is meant to rehabilitate. The stories of countless young individuals trapped in a cycle of incarceration have compelled me to share these truths and advocate for meaningful change. This book is more than a collection of research; it is a call to action that stems from my unwavering belief in the potential of every young person to rise above their circumstances.

 The Economic Burden of Juvenile Incarceration

In researching the juvenile justice system, the numbers I encountered were staggering. The average cost of incarcerating one juvenile per year is $216,000, with expenses in some regions, such as New York, reaching nearly $1 million per year per juvenile. By comparison, we invest just $16,000 per year per public school student. These figures beg the question: why are we allocating such vast resources to a system that perpetuates failure? The recidivism rate paints a bleak picture, with 77% of juveniles reoffending within five years of their release. These statistics reveal that not only is the current system financially unsustainable, but it also hinders the futures of our youth.

 The Solution – Education and Community Support

It is time we shift our focus to more effective solutions—solutions that provide young people with the tools to succeed. Education, combined with robust community support, offers a clear path to breaking the cycle of incarceration. Investing in our youth through education costs a fraction of what we currently spend on incarceration, yet it yields far greater returns. My book advocates for this shift in perspective. Through an education-based reform, we can equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and support they need to thrive, thereby preventing the criminal behaviors that lead to re-incarceration.

How You Can Make A Difference

The journey behind this book is one of both reflection and determination. My hope is that by reading it, you will join me in questioning the status quo and advocating for a more just system—one that prioritizes education over punishment and sees the potential in every young person. The current juvenile justice system is not just broken; it is harmful. But there is a better way, and together, we can pave the path toward a brighter future for our youth.

Let us work together to bring about a system that not only protects our society but also nurtures the potential of its youngest members. Education is the key to unlocking that future.