For decades, the United States has relied on an archaic model of youth incarceration, sending youth to large, prison-like facilities that are far from their families and communities. This approach has disproportionately affected black and brown youth, perpetuating the country’s legacy of slavery and magnifying the cumulative disadvantages experienced by communities of color, and such as poverty and violence. Inside these facilities, youth may face violence and abuse, and over the long term, many struggle in school and have difficulty securing employment upon release. These negative outcomes come at an extraordinarily high cost, with states spending billions of dollars annually to operate these prisons.