Juvenile Center in Phoenix Paves Pathway to Higher Education for Teens
At the Durango Juvenile Center in south Phoenix, a groundbreaking opportunity is transforming the lives of teens in the criminal justice system. Encouraged by the chance to start classes at Arizona State University shortly after earning their high school diplomas, more young people are motivated to complete their education.
Identified only by their first initial, S, a 17-year-old, is making strides in business administration, having already amassed nearly 40 credits. “I’m good with the stock market. I’ve been trading since I was like 13. It’s how I made my money. I did work at Denny’s,” S shared, envisioning a future as a CEO, possibly at Goldman Sachs.
Another student, E, 16, has used a psychology course to gain self-awareness and is now delving into leadership studies. He expressed his aspirations, saying, “I hope to major in forensic science, but the goal is to turn my life around.” Access to Spotify is a valued benefit for E and his peers, helping them focus and relax through music.
A, 15, finds solace and concentration in math, accompanied by the rhythms of Reggaeton and Bachata. “Because I get to calm down. Especially with music. It helps relax me a lot. And it helps with me focusing a lot and more in school,” he explained.
Dozens of young individuals at the detention facility have seized the opportunity to get a jumpstart on their college education, earning hundreds of ASU credits through online courses. According to Mark Eastin, the community and culture manager for Maricopa County detention, the trend of completing high school was rare before the program’s inception in 2024. Now, the drive to earn a diploma is widespread.
Eastin remarked, “I think at times this population is forgotten for their crimes in a sense. But, us able to inject hope into these kids, and inject that you are worth something, and that you are able to accomplish something — I think we do a great job of that.”
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