Susan Lukin

"In every situation I know of, in which a resident refused to see his mother, that situation was reversed in time, to the credit of office staff, and a new, tenuous attempt at reconciliation was generated. During those new, fragile relationships, I used to observe both mother and son being very conscious of their dialogue, and both tried not to repeat old and worn out diatribes that they employed in the past. It was a struggle since both wanted to continue to express anger, tears, and hurt out of habit and perhaps not knowing what else to do, but both also wanted to reconnect a relationship that they both vitally needed."

—Susan Lukin, The Child Inside

Watch! All hope is not lost! Incarcerated youth graduate in Stockton.

Fifteen youth offenders at O.H. Close Youth Correctional Facility in Stockton graduate high school.

In Susan Lukin’s narrative, she states, "These children were created and nurtured by someone and now they have to be embraced by the rest of us with guidance and caring. They cannot be ignored; they are a part of us all."

Susan Lukin emphasizes in her memoir, "The Child Inside," that she wants to change the misperceptions about this segment of society. What she has experienced can be shared and can hopefully begin to change the view of a subject that is generally ignored. ‘After all’ she states, ‘Everyone keeps saying that the children are our future. No one has specified which children, where they live, what they look like, where they come from…’

"The Child Inside" written by Susan Lukin enlightens on how children in jail have the potential for growth and maturity. They should not be looked upon by society as the ignored and forgotten.

How Cafe Momentum Makes it Possible for Formerly Incarcerated Youth to Achieve their Full Potential

Recognizing the obstacles facing youth coming out of juvenile detention centers, Chad Houser set out to build a restaurant that would offer culinary, job, and life-skills training, as well as continued mentorship and support. Watch the video here: https://bit.ly/2FUHzI2

Susan Lukin writes in “The Child Inside” about her experiences in working for many years in two Juvenile Detention Centers in the Bronx, New York City, where all those youths who are arrested in New York City are sent to be detained while waiting the court disposition of their cases. Her experience working with these youths has made evident that they have a great deal of potential and humanity under their outer hard core formed by their sometimes difficult lives and experiences.

"The Child Inside" is an ideal read for adults and older teens. The author’s memoir and quotes tap into the humanity of all those who have children in their lives. Susan Lukin’s experiences can be shared and will evoke ripples of change in an area that is generally put aside and ignored.

Press Release: ‘The Child Inside’ by Susan Lukin – a Memoir of Hope Regarding New York City Juvenile Detention Centers in the Bronx

Detention centers are usually considered to be undesirable and unsuitable, and are generally associated with a plethora of negatives. The memoir, ‘The Child Inside,’ however, proposes the idea that the longer a youth is detained, the better off he or she would be in the long run. Written by Susan Lukin, a Social Worker in the New York City’s Juvenile Justice System, the core of this book can be considered controversial. 

Read more here https://bit.ly/2FSZfF0

Department of Juvenile Services uses yoga to help transform young people

As police try to combat the problem of juveniles committing carjackings, robberies and other serious crimes, the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services is approaching it in a different way. Watch the video here https://bit.ly/2Ul0C7K

Susan Lukin shares her experiences working as a social worker in a Juvenile Detention in her book "The Child Inside". She wants to delete the misconceptions and misperceptions about this segment on society and change the view of an area that is generally ignored.

"In every situation I know of, in which a resident refused to see his mother, that the situation was reversed in time, to the credit of staff, and a new, tenuous attempt at reconciliation was generated. During those new, fragile relationships, I used to observe both mother and son being very conscious about their dialogue, and both tried not to repeat old and warn out diatribes that they employed in the past. It was a struggle since both wanted to continue to express anger, tears and hurt out of habit and perhaps not knowing what else to do, but both also wanted to reconnect a relationship that they both vitally needed."

—Susan Lukin, The Child Inside

Very often, we wonder what happens to a youth when he leaves our facility, after he completes his time upstate and faces the street again. The temptations remain the same, or are even worse for him. The same pull of the old life is staring at him, wanting to wrap its hands around him again. Many come back to our facility to say hello to staff; they have grown, and often have children of their own. They are proud to show us that they have made it and have resisted the old temptations and habits. Many return to us on new charges and they again go through the Orientation process and counseling that they did not want to hear before. I believe that the record of resident returning to us as of this counting is sixteen times. In fact, he was one of mine and I greeted him each time with a ‘welcome home.’ Sometimes, we are all the structure they have.

—Susan Lukin, The Child Inside

Giving Teens in the Juvenile Justice System the Right to a Second Chance

As a young teen, Justice was arrested and found himself facing a serious criminal accusation and possible jail time. His judge referred him to The Foundling’s juvenile justice program, and the intensive counseling and support he and his family received from his therapist, Stephanie, helped him to avoid a criminal record and get back on the path to success.

Watch it here: https://bit.ly/2us5kBO

As a social worker in the New York City Juvenile Justice system, Susan Lukin witnessed the vulnerability, struggles and humanity of youths living in detention. From personal reflection, she shares specific moments that made a huge impact in her career on her book, "The Child Inside".

Written as a compilation of recollections from her years working in the juvenile justice system, Susan Lukin offers readers a new and different viewpoint about this segment of American society while conveying her belief that in many cases detention can be a blessing in disguise as, in her own words, "the longer a youth stays in detention, the better it is for him."

In "The Child Inside," Susan Lukin shares her insights and draws our attention to an ignored and oft forgotten segment of society, helping us to see these children as nothing other than a person deserving of love.