The most common academic profile of a court-involved youth reveals serious educational deficits. In addition, juvenile justice system personnel who lack knowledge of the labor market can contribute to the lack of responsive treatment and skill development programs for youth. On the workforce development side, employers and personnel who prepare individuals for the workforce may be reluctant to commit resources to court-involved youth. All these factors increase the separation of court-involved youth from the primary labor market. Community and employer concerns about security and safety are also significant barriers to the employability of court-involved youth.
Some employers resist hiring court-involved youth because they fear losing their customer base.
It is also true in fields where employees are directly involved with customers children, as in childcare, or in settings where customers personal belongings may not be secured, such as hair salons, medical treatment facilities, hotels, and automotive repair facilities. Employers representing the manufacturing, wholesale distribution, retail, and financial services industries may also resist hiring court-involved youth because of internal security and bonding requirements. Barriers to Participation in the Labor Market by Court-Involved Youth Lack of basic skills. Low educational attainment. Poor workforce preparation.