Juvenile Justice / Public News Service

Illinois had almost 1,000 juveniles incarcerated in adult correctional facilities in 2021, at an annual cost of almost $33 million, according to a Human Rights for Kids report. (napatacha/Adobe Stock)

IL Lawmakers Pass Bill to Prevent Unfair Youth Sentencing

Illinois could soon be the fourth state to pass a law to prevent unfair youth sentencing. The legislation encourages criminal courts to recognize …

At the end of 2022, there were 4,524 Arkansas children in foster care, a decrease of 7% from the previous year, according to the State of Arkansas House of Representatives.<br />(Valerii Honcharuk/Adobe Stock)

Helping Arkansas Foster Youth Succeed as Adults

May is National Foster Care Month and in Arkansas, the number of foster youths near adulthood has dropped slightly, according to a new report…

Kinship-care placements with relatives and close friends increased from 14% in 2006 to 22% in 2021 according to the Fostering in Youth Transitions 2023 report. (Pressmaster/Adobe Stock)

Report: Older Foster Youths Lean Toward Higher Ed

Children who stay in foster care beyond age 18 are likely to pursue higher education, according to the Fostering in Youth Transitions 2023 report by …

More Washington youths were in foster care on their 19th birthday in 2021 than in 2015. (Dind's_Project/Adobe Stock)

Report Examines Foster Youths' Transitions to Adulthood

The number of foster youths near adulthood has dropped slightly in Washington state, according to a new report. The Annie E. Casey Foundation …

For the first time since 1998, the State of Illinois has updated the County Detention Standards for juvenile detention centers to reflect current best practices. (Adobe Stock)

Officials Hold First-Ever Review of IL Pretrial Juvenile Detention System

Attorneys, state employees and juvenile justice reform advocates will gather virtually Friday to receive updates on county pretrial juvenile …

A yearlong study of the use of seclusion and restraint in U.S. schools found that some states track both, some track only the use of restraint, and some track neither. (Adobe Stock)

MO Schools' Seclusion, Restraint Incidents Shared for First Time

Missourians can now see how often their schools use seclusion and restraint to address student behavior. A 2021 law requires that schools report …

According to the National Institute of Justice, childhood abuse or neglect raises the chance of juvenile arrest by 59%. In South Dakota, advocates say that's why it's important to provide more mental health providers to children and young adults so they can avoid entering the juvenile justice system. (Adobe Stock)

Reducing Effects of Childhood Trauma Tied to SD's Juvenile-Justice Efforts

South Dakota has been looking at ways to improve the state's juvenile-justice system. Recommendations could be considered in the new legislative …

The State of Utah used some of its COVID-19 pandemic relief funding to build the internet infrastructure needed for the higher-ed program in its juvenile justice facilities. (Adobe Stock)

College Courses Show Benefits for Incarcerated Youth in UT

Utah is one of a few states where juveniles behind bars can earn college credit. Utah's Higher Education for Incarcerated Youth program lets young …

Legislators are expected to introduce bills in the upcoming session to ban pretextual stops and consent searches. (Dusanpetkovic1/Adobestock)

Data on CA Police Stops Confirms Continuing Racial Disparities

Black teenagers ages 15 to 17 are six times more likely to be searched by police compared with their white counterparts, according to a report from …

Brennan Center for Justice, pretrial detainees make up more than 70% of the U.S. jail population - about 536,000 people - and many are there only because they cannot afford bail. (Adobe Stock)">

Report: Nebraska Needs to Rethink Court Fines, Bail System

Some Nebraska judges are failing to follow state laws related to cash bail, court fees and court fines, according to a two-year study in Douglas and …

Backers of the Workers' Rights Amendment, approved by voters in 2022, say it will put an end to the existing gaps and exclusions in labor laws by guaranteeing union rights for all Illinois workers. (WH_pics/Adobe Stock)

New Year Brings Wide Variety of New Illinois State Laws

It's a new year, and more than 180 new laws are going into effect, which Illinoisans need to know about. The 2022 General Assembly passed bills …

By diverting juveniles away from detention, Redeploy Illinois estimates it has saved the state $158 million, tax money that would have otherwise been spent on incarceration costs. (gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Redeploy Illinois: A Model for Juvenile Justice Reform

Redeploy Illinois is a community-based alternative to incarceration, which keeps kids in their home communities. For decades, most youthful …

The greatest number of cases eligible for the Juvenile Restoration Act have come from Baltimore. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Juvenile Restoration Act Results Suggest Further Reforms

Maryland's Juvenile Restoration Act has been in effect for more than a year now and its impact has people talking about additional reforms. The act …

Community members work on a peace mural for the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. Along with the Boston Public Health Commission, the group offers a Survivors Outreach Services program to deliver coordinated services to families affected by homicide. (Louis D. Brown Peace Institute)

Group Works to Build Peace Out of Despair in Boston

While community activists in some of Boston's south side neighborhoods have declared a state of emergency following a string of fatal shootings…

Adoption has been officially legal in the United states since the 1850s. (Adobe Stock)

Adoption Day: New "Forever" Homes for More Iowa Kids

It's National Adoption Month, a chance to raise awareness about the need for permanent homes and families for kids in foster care in Iowa. In Polk …

The Lake County Gun Violence Prevention Initiative is partnering with community groups to interrupt cycles of gun violence. (Adobe Stock)<br />

IL Leaders to Issue Call to Action Over Youth Gun Violence, Mental Health

State and local leaders are joining community groups for a call to action this weekend to draw attention to efforts to support at-risk youth in Illino…

Admissions to secure juvenile detention facilities dropped 51% in Pennsylvania between 2016 and 2020, but the median length of stay has nearly doubled. (Photographee.eu/Adobe Stock)

Lack of PA Juvenile Detention Space Reaches Critical Stage

One goal of youth and family support services is to keep kids out of juvenile detention, but for those who are accused of serious crimes, …

Juvenile detentions dropped dramatically nationwide during the early part of the pandemic, but numbers have bounced back up, especially for African American youth. (Sakhorn38/Adobe Stock)

IL Juvenile Justice Groups Press to Raise Age for Pre-trial Detention

Currently, children as young as 10 are held behind bars while awaiting trial in Illinois, and now, juvenile justice reform groups are calling for the …

In Massachusetts, unpaid restitution can lead to extended probation, detention or placement, civil judgment or interest accrual, and it can prevent record-clearing. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MA Needs to Reform Youth Restitution Policies

A new report found imposing restitution on youth offenders often leads to higher recidivism rates for kids, pressure on families and further …

When a juvenile commits a crime in New Hampshire, unpaid restitution can lead to detention. (Adobe Stock)

Report Calls Restitution System 'Broken,' Urges Reforms

A new report found imposing restitution on youth offenders often leads to higher recidivism rates for children, pressure on families and further …

A new report says saddling young offenders with debt, such as restitution, limits their opportunities for positive growth that can keep them out of trouble in the future. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Juvenile Justice Restitution Laws Need Reboot

States like North Dakota need to re-imagine their restitution laws for juvenile offenders, according to a new report, which showed the payments often …

Community Peace Builders and their mentor are beginning to carry out de-escalation and relationship building efforts in North Minneapolis. (Photo courtesy of EMERGE)

Community Peace Builders Instill Hope in Minneapolis

The summer season and violent crime can fuel narratives by the public and the media about safety in urban settings. But in Minnesota's largest city…

Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, at podium, is among the members of the Juvenile Justice Reform Task Force. (michigan.gov)

Task Force Urges Policy Reform to Keep MI Kids Out of Juvenile Justice System

Young people who have run-ins with the juvenile justice system are more likely to end up in the adult system. The Michigan Task Force on Juvenile …

In a study of roughly 2,400 students spanning three years, a University of Pittsburgh study found more than a quarter of all Black students faced disciplinary actions for

Advocate: IL Schools Should Adopt Restorative-Justice Policies

The start of the fall semester is just around the corner for Illinois students. As children return to class, one advocate is urging school …

Research shows that counseling is an effective tool to slow the school-to-prison pipeline. (Seventy Four/Adobestock)

L.A. County Creates New Department of Youth Development

Los Angeles County, the nation's most populous county, is revamping its approach to juvenile justice, launching a new Department of Youth Development…

More than 1,000 young people were incarcerated in a Maryland youth detention center in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report Reveals Claims of Youth Crime Wave Unfounded

New research has found reports of skyrocketing youth crime are not only unfounded, but are fueling calls for stricter punishments. Data from the …

The share of arrests of young people has decreased in every major crime category over the past two decades. (sakhorn38/Adobe Stock)

Research Undermines Narrative of Youth-Led Crime Wave

Crime rates among young people have dropped dramatically in recent decades - despite media coverage that points to a supposed "crime wave" led by yout…

A report from The Sentencing Project found that calls for a return to get-tough youth justice policies are misguided and based on a false narrative rather that data. (BillionPhotos/Adobe Stock)

Report: Juvenile-Justice Reforms Show Progress in UT, US Systems

New research finds reports of skyrocketing youth crime are not only unfounded, but also are fueling calls for stricter punishments. A Sentencing …

The share of crimes in the United States committed by young people has fallen by more than half over the past two decades, according to The Sentencing Project. (ThomasR�desheim/Pixabay)

Reports of Youth Crime Wave Debunked by Latest Research

New research by The Sentencing Project shows a drop in youth crime over the past 20 years, which debunks a so-called "false narrative" of a youth …

Juvenile-justice advocates in Michigan urge policy action on the issue of youth and families having too many court fines and fees to pay off. (Alex/Adobe Stock)

Report Warns of False Narratives Surrounding Youth Crime

New research found reports of skyrocketing youth crime are not only unfounded, but are fueling calls for stricter punishments. Data from the …

Report Urges Supports for Young People, Not Tough-on-Crime Policies

New research found reports of skyrocketing youth crime are not only unfounded, but are fueling calls for stricter punishments. Data from The …

Only three states - Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin - continue to prosecute 17-year-olds in adult courts, according to The Sentencing Project. (AlexasFotos/Pixabay)

Report: Blaming Youth for COVID Crime Wave is False

Data from The Sentencing Project showed the share of crimes in the U.S. committed by young people has fallen by more than half in the past two …

Report: Youth Crime Way Down in Last 20 Years in NH, U.S.

New research found reports of skyrocketing youth crime are not only unfounded, but are fueling calls for stricter punishments. Data from the …

Contraay to popular belief, youth crime did not surge during the pandemic and has been falling for two decades. (Digitalskillet1/Adobe Stock)

New Data Debunks Narrative of Youth Crime Wave

A new report from The Sentencing Project debunks the myth of a post-pandemic crime wave fueled by young people. In March, Congress held a hearing …

Nevada has made progress in promoting restorative justice rather than youth incarceration. As of mid-June, the Nevada Department of Child and Family Services had 121 youths in custody. (Arloo/Adobe Stock)

Post-Pandemic Youth Crime Wave is a Myth: Report

A new report from The Sentencing Project debunks the myth of a post-pandemic crime wave fueled by young people. In March, Congress held a hearing …

Despite moving away from detention, arrest referrals for young people in Multnomah County have decreased drastically since 2011. (md3d/Adobe Stock)

Despite Scare, Data Shows Youth-Led Crime Down Sharply

Crime rates among young people has dropped dramatically in recent decades - despite media coverage pointing toward a supposed "crime wave" led by yout…

Among many other calls to action, the Connecticut Justice Alliance is asking the state to invest in a more equitable education system, as

CT Campaign Addresses Root Causes of Youth 'Criminalization'

Reducing the number of young people involved in the criminal justice system means working on the root causes which can lead them there. A youth …

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, about 22,500 juveniles were arrested in Wisconsin in 2020, the lowest number in at least ten years. (Adobe Stock)

Report Debunks Claims of Increase in Juvenile Crime Rates

From Fox News to The New York Times, media coverage over the past few years has sounded the alarm about a purported increase in violent crime among …

Report Discredits 'False' Stories of Youth-Led Crime Wave

New research found reports of skyrocketing youth crime are not only unfounded, but are also fueling calls for stricter punishments. Data from The …

Juvenile justice reform advocates in South Dakota say a lack of resources for diversion programs in some counties has created unintended consequences for a system overhaul several years ago. (Adobe Stock)

SD to Revisit Juvenile Justice Reform

This summer, South Dakota lawmakers are looking at a range of issues tied to the state's correctional system. That includes another dive into efforts …

Around 40% of young people who've experienced care will experience homelessness. (Brian/Adobe Stock)

MA Group: Campus-Based Supports Needed for Former Foster Youth

May is National Foster Care Month, and groups that serve foster youths and families say improvements are needed for outcomes and to reduce …

Kentucky's jails are again over capacity, with 21,831 people in jail at the end of April, and an additional 9,835 people incarcerated in state prisons, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)

Post-Pandemic, KY Returns to World-High Incarceration Rate

After a drop due to the COVID pandemic, new research found Kentucky is once again crowding more people into jails and prisons. The Bluegrass State …

The Pennsylvania Council for Children, Youth and Family Services says a $94.7 million one-time funding increase would break down to about $5,000 for each filled and vacant position in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Child and Family Providers Request $94M to Address Staff Shortage

Advocates for juvenile-justice and child-welfare providers in Pennsylvania want the General Assembly to approve one-time funding to boost staff recrui…

There are 3,000 Idaho children in out-of-home placement in each year. (sewcream/Adobe Stock)

ID Looks to Recruit More Parents During Foster Care Month

May is National Foster Care Month and Idaho is focused on bringing more foster parents into the fold. It's always been difficult for states to …

Recent data show the number of young people in Connecticut admitted to juvenile-detention centers dropped 87% between 2005 and 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Youth-Justice Advocates Concerned as Crime Bill Heads to Gov's Desk

A youth crime bill passed by the Connecticut General Assembly has been sent to Gov. Ned Lamont's desk, even as some youth-justice advocates view the …

Among young people referred to court, detention has grown even more common for Black, Latinx and Asian/Pacific Islander youth, while holding steady for white and Tribal youth, reveals a recent report from The Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock)

NC Governor’s Use of Clemency Spotlights Juvenile Life Sentencing

Gov. Roy Cooper has used his clemency power to end life sentences for three people sent to prison as children. His decision last month followed the …

The Sentencing Project report found that, despite the number of young people arrested declining over the last 10 years, the number of referred youths who were detained increased slightly. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Officials Severely Undercount Number of Incarcerated Kids

Although youth incarceration rates in the U.S. are on the decline, a report from The Sentencing Project reveals the number of young people being …

Reforms that advocates say helped lower youth incarceration rates include the state raising the minimum age for which adolescents could be charged with most crimes as an adult to 18 in 2012. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Number of Youth Incarcerated in US Much Higher Than Documented

Young people in the U.S. were incarcerated in juvenile facilities 240,000 times in 2019, according to a new report, and current methods significantly …

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