Milwaukee Guard Charged After Video Shows Juvenile Abuse

Surveillance footage allegedly captures violent encounter between guard and detained boy at county detention center

Apr. 2, 2026 at 7:37pm

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An extreme close-up of a metal stair railing, lit by a harsh flash against a dark background, conceptually representing the stark, gritty investigation into a violent incident at a juvenile detention center.Surveillance footage of a violent incident at a Milwaukee juvenile detention center has led to felony charges against a guard, exposing ongoing concerns about oversight and accountability in the juvenile justice system.Today in Milwaukee

A 33-year-old guard at Milwaukee County's juvenile detention center is facing felony charges after surveillance video allegedly showed him assaulting a detained boy, including slamming the youth into a metal stair railing and pushing his face into a wall. The incident from January 2024 first drew an FBI review before local prosecutors filed charges of misconduct in public office and abuse of a resident of a penal facility.

Why it matters

The case highlights ongoing concerns about oversight, use of force, and transparency issues within the juvenile justice system, particularly the racial and geographic disparities in who ends up in secure custody and the challenges of holding staff accountable for incidents that occur behind locked doors.

The details

According to the criminal complaint, surveillance footage from January 2024 shows guard Britain Powell using force on a boy who had complained about finding hair in his food. The video allegedly depicts Powell shoving the youth against a wall and into a metal railing, with several separate instances of force described in charging documents. Another young person in custody later told his grandmother about what he saw, which helped trigger an FBI inquiry into the episode.

  • The incident occurred in January 2024.
  • The FBI reviewed the case before local prosecutors filed charges in January 2026.

The players

Britain Powell

A 33-year-old guard at Milwaukee County's juvenile detention center who is facing felony charges of misconduct in public office and abuse of a resident of a penal facility.

David Crowley

The Milwaukee County Executive who called the video of the incident "shocking" and said he wants the individual to be held accountable.

Malik Pickett

A Philadelphia-based juvenile justice attorney who said staff-on-youth force inside facilities is "really commonplace and somewhat routine" and used the case to highlight ongoing calls for community-based alternatives to incarceration.

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What they’re saying

“I'm appalled... I want that individual to be held accountable.”

— David Crowley, Milwaukee County Executive

“Staff-on-youth force inside facilities is really commonplace and somewhat routine.”

— Malik Pickett, Juvenile justice attorney

What’s next

With the case now in the hands of Milwaukee County prosecutors, the courts will set Powell's arraignment and map out the next steps in the criminal process. At the same time, investigators and county officials are continuing to review policies, training and supervision at the youth facility.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of oversight, transparency and accountability within the juvenile justice system, particularly around the use of force by staff against detained youth. It underscores the need for greater community-based alternatives to incarceration and stronger safeguards to protect the rights and wellbeing of young people in custody.