Following two years of intensive collaboration, the Youth Justice Working Group has officially released its final report, From Shackles to Scholarship. The report provides a comprehensive roadmap to shutter New Jersey’s antiquated youth prisons and repurpose the historic Bordentown School site into a center for healing, education, and community investment.

Commissioned by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, the report outlines the transition away from large-scale carceral institutions—specifically the New Jersey Training School for Boys (Jamesburg) and the Female Secure Care and Intake Facility (Hayes). In their place, the State is shifting toward a community-based “Restorative Care” model designed to provide a continuum of care that builds up young people rather than incarcerating them.

Addressing Racial Disparities in NJ Youth Prisons

The push for reform is driven by staggering data regarding New Jersey’s youth justice system. Despite overall declines in youth incarceration, New Jersey has historically maintained the highest Black-white youth incarceration disparity in the nation.

According to state data from December 2025, the disparities remain severe:

• Black Youth: Make up approximately 74% of the committed population.

• Hispanic Youth: Represent roughly 18% of those in secure care.

• White Youth: Comprise only 7% of the incarcerated population.

In actual numbers, as of late 2025, there were 300 Black youth in the system compared to only 29 white youth. Research indicates these disparities are not due to higher rates of offending but rather systemic differences in how youth of color are processed through the courts.

Repurposing a Historic Legacy

The transition focuses heavily on the Bordentown School site. Founded in 1886 as a premier institution for Black students (often called the “Tuskegee of the North”), it was tragically converted into a youth prison in the mid-20th century. The Working Group proposes transforming the site into the New Jersey Center for Peace and Restorative Justice, featuring:

• Vocational Training: Specialized career paths for 21st-century leadership.

• Heritage & Education Center: A museum honoring the site’s complex 140-year history.

• Therapeutic Reentry: Integrated support for justice-involved youth and their families.

The 2028 Vision for Youth Justice

By 2028, the State aims to replace isolated “training schools” with smaller, regional therapeutic respite centers. This model addresses root causes—such as trauma and lack of educational access—to reduce recidivism and promote long-term stability for New Jersey’s most vulnerable young people.

(feature image photo credit: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD)