Who's Minding Troubled Youths?

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The boy's grandmother told Wagner that a social worker from Oak Hill had called the previous week and said her grandson was ready for a one-day pass. The grandmother, who had raised the boy, said she told the social worker not to release him, noting that he had been arrested several times for stealing cars. He needed to learn a lesson, she said.

Pressed to change her mind, the woman said she agreed to pick up her grandson. He disappeared on his first day at home.

Eight days later, she got a call that he was hospitalized with a gunshot wound.

Wagner said that the police believe the runaway and his two companions were involved in three armed robberies in the District and a carjacking in Prince George's County.

That runaway was on my mind when I met this week with Vincent Schiraldi, director of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, and his chief of committed services, David Muhammad, at the Oak Hill center in Laurel.

Schiraldi declined to discuss the case or even acknowledge its existence, citing D.C. confidentiality laws.

He did say that the department will not send youths home on passes without family consent.

Schiraldi also pointed out that the number of youths absconding from Youth Rehabilitation Services facilities has declined significantly: 52 were missing as of October 2005, and 31 as of June 2007.

By the date of our meeting, though, the number had increased to 47. Considering the runaway's alleged crimes, I wonder: What are the other 46 up to?

Concern shouldn't be limited to escapees. Thus far in 2007, six youths who were under the agency's supervision were arrested on homicide charges. How did they get out on the streets?

Then there are those youths assigned to the department who became homicide victims: 24 in 2005; 15 in 2006; 15 so far in 2007.

What's going on? Juveniles in Youth Rehabilitation Services custody end up on the streets killing or getting killed. That's detention?