Criminal Justice Reform

The injustices that take place within the criminal and legal system in Delaware County create roadblocks for marginalized communities, especially our youth.

School to Prison Pipeline

The school-to-prison pipeline is continuing to increase on a countywide and statewide level. In Delaware County, the Upper Darby, William Penn, and Southeast Delco school districts are nearly at a 20% child poverty rate. The increase in poverty rates emphasize an increase in disparities across education, health, and mental and social well-being.

  • Delaware County Youth Diversion Assessment 2023 - Center for Children’s Law and Policy

    In Delaware County, BIPOC students are more likely to be suspended or arrested. 64% of reported school-referrals result in misdemeanors, 33% are felonies, and 3% are public orders. Youth of color are 3.8 times more likely to be referred to juvenile probation compared to white youth.

  • ACLU

    Black girls are five times more likely to be arrested in schools than white girls. PA ranks second in the nation in the arrest rates for Latinx students and Black students alike. Most at risk students of out-of-school suspensions are Black male students with a disability; they are six times more likely to face arrest. PA was listed as having the third highest student arrest rate in the country.

  • 2022 Census

    18% of Black residents in Delaware County live in poverty. Approximately 10,106 Black residents and an estimated 9,000 LGBTQ+ individuals, including 5,400 LGBTQ+ youth, are living below the poverty line.

  • Based on a preliminary youth survey from the youth diversion assessment, 60% of the youth feel that the services and support that are currently active in the county do not lead them to success. 40% of survey participants stated that they are either unsure or unaware of where to go to get information on services and programs within their communities.

    On a state level, 81,000 kids have a parent who is incarcerated. Based on the Philadelphia Health Assessment, in Delaware County, 11.3% of youth attempt suicide, 43.6% feel sad/hopeless/depressed, 14.7% are binge drinking, 3.4% are smoking cigarettes, and nearly 24% are vaping.

    Drug overdose is a top leading cause of death in Upper Darby and Lansdowne amongst youth and young adults. According to the Department of Health, more than 11,700 Delaware County residents have a drug use disorder. Delaware County has the highest opioid overdose death rate of all the suburban Philadelphia Counties at 28.4 per 100,000.

Bridge to Brilliance Pipeline

The Bridge to Brilliance Pipeline is a youth empowerment initiative that counters the school-to-prison pipeline. Investment and empowerment through communal support is achievable, and a necessity for our youth.  

We are not defined by our worst mistakes. We own them and are granted the opportunity to still build our legacy. Second chances are a priority, but ensuring our youth have the opportunity at a first chance without barriers to success is the ultimate goal!