How D.C. releases potentially dangerous youths

THE D.C. AGENCY that deals with juvenile offenders recently announced reforms in how it releases at-risk youths into the community. Aimed at improving public safety and strengthening services, the initiatives are worthwhile. Unfortunately, two people had to die for the agency to realize that there were dangerous gaps in its procedures.

We are referring to how the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services handled the case of Lafonte Lurie Carlton. The 18-year-old was committed to the department at age 15 for killing a man. Last fall, after less than 2 1/2 years in custody and treatment, he was released. Soon after, on Dec. 10, a 21-year-old art student was shot to death; on Jan. 9, a 17-year-old boy was fatally shot. Mr. Carlton has been charged with murder in both cases. New information about the case emerged last week as D.C. Council members Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) and Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), given access to the youth's confidential records, conducted a withering oversight hearing.

Among the devastating details: The decision to release the youth was made without the knowledge or approval of Director Vincent N. Schiraldi or his top deputy; Mr. Carlton was supposed to have been placed in a halfway house, but when no beds were available, a last-minute decision was made to release him to his aunt; more than a week elapsed before he received support services. A drug arrest before the two recent killings should have triggered a revocation hearing, but a hearing was delayed, and the youth remained free. True, there were signs that he was making progress: He had a job, and a Superior Court judge who held a status hearing on his commitment congratulated him on how well he was doing. Still, it is troubling that a case involving someone who had admitted to a brutal shooting should be treated so cavalierly.

Mr. Schiraldi acknowledged the "gross errors." He testified to changes in procedures and talked about new programs to better involve the community and police in helping and monitoring at-risk youths. Mr. Wells, chairman of the D.C. Council's human services committee and a supporter of Mr. Schiraldi's reforms, must provide the follow-through to ensure that the fixes are made and that they go far enough. The reforms during Mr. Schiraldi's tenure have markedly improved a department that was once a national disgrace. But they won't survive, nor should they, if public safety is treated as cavalierly as it was in the Carlton case.