The Wichita branch of the NAACP is calling for changes in policies and practices in Sedgwick County’s juvenile justice system after the death of a teenager last fall.
17-year-old Cedric Lofton died last September after being restrained during a struggle with staff at the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said Tuesday he would not file charges in the case because of the state’s Stand Your Ground laws, which would have any charges thrown out. Bennett said self defense laws applied after juvenile staff had been injured during the struggle.
Local NAACP president Larry Burks, Sr. appeared at the Sedgwick County Commission meeting Wednesday morning and said regardless of the circumstances, Lofton’s placement at the juvenile intake center should not have resulted in the loss of his life. Burks said leadership failed Lofton at several levels, and also failed his family and community. Burks said the NAACP would call for funding to allow for training for law enforcement officials in dealing with mental health issues, and changes in Stand Your Ground laws.
Burks said the NAACP was planning to issue a formal statement later this week, and it will have more details soon on the changes being proposed.
Sedgwick County has announced a community task force to review policies and procedures at the JIAC, and the NAACP is one of a number of organizations invited to take part in that task force.
