Youth Justice
All South Carolina's children deserve to feel safe, live freely, and thrive in their education.
The ACLU of South Carolina works to reduce youth incarceration and redirect resources to community-based alternatives to incarceration.
In the Courts
Our landmark 2016 case Kenny v. Wilson successfully challenged South Carolina's overly vague "Disturbing Schools" law, which was being used to disproportionately punish and incarcerate Black youth. Now, in the ongoing case SC NAACP v. SC Department of Juvenile Justice, we are fighting to end the inhumane treatment of children in the custody of DJJ.
In the Legislature
We support changes in state law that would end harsh punishments for status offenses such as truancy, alcohol possession, and running away from home. We are also calling for a radical overhaul of the Department of Juvenile Justice to ensure that state facilities can be sites of actual rehabilitation, and not places of torture and isolation.
In the community
We join local efforts to promote real safety for South Carolina children and end the school-to-prison pipeline.
The Latest
Youth Behind the Fence
New report exposes dangerous conditions, widening inequality in S.C. juvenile justice system
Cases, Campaigns & Legislation
Take Action
Today, years of hard-fought civil liberty protections are under threat.
To influence lawmakers, we need everyone to get involved.
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