Vermont Public is independent, community-supported media, serving Vermont with trusted, relevant and essential information. We share stories that bring people together, from every corner of our region. New to Vermont Public? Start here.

© 2024 Vermont Public | 365 Troy Ave. Colchester, VT 05446

Public Files:
WVTI · WOXM · WVBA · WVNK · WVTQ · WVTX
WVPR · WRVT · WOXR · WNCH · WVPA
WVPS · WVXR · WETK · WVTB · WVER
WVER-FM · WVLR-FM · WBTN-FM

For assistance accessing our public files, please contact hello@vermontpublic.org or call 802-655-9451.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

How We Treat Young Offenders As Vermont's Only Juvenile Detention Facility Faces Closure

The outside of the Woodside facility.
Liam Elder-Connors
/
VPR File
The Vermont Agency of Human Services proposed in November 2019 that the Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center be closed in 2020.

Woodside, Vermont's only juvenile detention facility, recently hit a milestone: it was empty for the first time in its more than 30-year history. Now the Agency of Human Services is proposing to closeWoodside for good. We're looking at what the closure means in the evolution of how we treat young offenders.

VPR reporter Liam Elder-Connors provides an update on what's been happening at Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center, from recent lawsuitsto court-mandated protocol changesto its shrinking population, which culminated last month in plans for its eventual closure.

We'll also hear from Marshall Pahl, deputy defender general and chief juvenile defender, traces the changing thinking and policies, in Vermont and across the country, around juvenile detention, punishment and rehabilitation.

And Christine Johnson, Family Services Division Deputy Commissioner for the Department For Children and Families, discusses ongoing juvenile justice reforms in Vermont and how the needs of juveniles would be me should Woodside close.

Broadcast live on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
Matt Smith worked for Vermont Public from 2017 to 2023 as managing editor and senior producer of Vermont Edition.
Latest Stories