Trina W., a mother of five and grandmother to 19, has long been a pillar in her community, known for her work distributing school supplies and clothing to local youth. But last summer, her family faced a painful encounter with the youth justice system that left lasting scars—and a powerful message for policymakers.
In October, Trina shared her story during a public meeting of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act Implementation Commission (JJRAIC), hoping her testimony would inspire meaningful change.
Her grandson became entangled in the justice system over a prank call made at the start of summer school. He had lent his phone to a friend, but when the call was traced, authorities never reviewed the recording to determine who actually made it. Instead, they placed her grandson on an ankle monitor and barred him from returning to school.
The consequences were immediate and severe. Isolated from his peers and stigmatized by the visible monitor, even in church, her grandson became withdrawn and depressed. Though he managed to complete his coursework from home and pass summer school, the emotional toll lingered. According to Trina, he continued to spend most of his time alone in his room, struggling to recover from the experience.
Trina believes the system failed her grandson—not just in how it handled the incident, but in how it treated him as a criminal rather than a child in need of guidance. “A prank call shouldn’t be treated like a crime,” she said. “Young people’s brains are still developing. They need supports, not punishment.”
She emphasizes the importance of restorative practices, mentorship, and educational support over punitive measures. “We should be helping kids stay connected to their communities, not isolating them. They need tutoring, mentors, and opportunities.”
Her story is a call to action for Louisiana’s leaders. “We need our education, justice, and social systems to recognize and support youth development. I’m asking you to do everything in your power to change the system.”
🎥 Watch Ms. Trina’s full testimony here.