“Literacy A Way Out for At-Risk Youth” by Jennifer Sweeney

Literacy: A Way Out for At-Risk Youth 

Jennifer Sweeney

This exploration of juvenile corrections librarianship provides a complete description of these specialized services, addresses unique challenges in this library environment, and promotes intellectual and social growth for at-risk youth.

The ability to read is a learned skill that most take for granted. For at-risk youth or those within detention facilities, however, lack of literacy is a widespread problem. While literacy is not the only factor that determines whether young people transcend the cycle of crime and violence, the inability to read is a major obstacle to success “on the outside.”