Courtney - ODYS - Blog 3

Today was our first day at the Circleville correctional facility. This specific facility was maximum security with four close units and two medium units. A close unit is the maximum security with the least amount of privileges a youth can have, while medium security is one level below that, and minimum the least amount of security a youth can have. We received many warnings about Circleville the past few days, but I was presently surprised. We were told that we would be flashed, groped, and receive really inappropriate and rude comments from the youth, but I didn’t personally witness any of these actions. After we observed and shadowed multiple Unit Managers and school teachers, we drove up to Columbus for a gang intervention program that a couple Ohio State University students are currently running. We sat with fifth through eighth graders and talked about many issues related to gang affiliation, but they were unaware of that. We all shared what we are scared of, how we overcome that fear, the difference between fear and respect, as well as people we respect and why. While the kids were probably unaware of how that all relates to gang affiliation, it was perfectly clear to us when talking with these kids how high of a risk they are at for being forced to join a gang. The director of this gang intervention program spoke with us afterwards and explained that she wanted us to see the system and the cycle. Majority of the youth in correctional facilities come from terrible home lives and are at a much higher risk of committing crimes than other kids. They are scared into joining gangs at a young age and commit crimes for their members in order to maintain membership. Poverty, poor education, and lack of guidance or parenting increase the kids’ chances of being convicted. I liked that we not only got the opportunity to see the correctional facilities, but also then got the chance to see what the state of Ohio is doing to prevent their youth from entering those facilities. It was really sad to see the cycle and how the kids have to overcome so many obstacles and trials just to have what we consider a “normal” life.