An Idea Whose Time Has Come? Let’s Hope!

by Kids Forward | January 10, 2013

Home 9 Youth Justice 9 An Idea Whose Time Has Come? Let’s Hope! ( Page 2 )

There is a saying that goes something like “…there is nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come..,” and we can only hope that is true of the growing recognition that we can do better than treat kids as if they were adults. As bright as they can be, as articulate as they can be, as creative as they can be AND YET as impulsive as they can be, as frustrating as they can be, and as self-centered as they can be, these contradictions reflect the reality of the teen years, even into early adulthood.

In a well-done summary by Jody Kent Lavy, titled Notion that “Kids are Different” Takes Hold in Youth Justice Policy Reform  and posted on the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange site, she highlights the growing consensus, across the political spectrum, that it is a mistake to treat youthful offenders as we treat adults. Citing changing perspectives from former “adult time for adult crime” advocates as well as recent rulings of the Supreme Court, she takes note that the pendulum to being “smart” on crime is overtaking the “get tough on crime” approach of the 1990’s.

It’s not so much that the ideas she articulates are new – but it is recognition of the momentum that is building that we can use to create change here in Wisconsin; change that will return most 17-year-olds to the juvenile system and enhance the prospects for long-term community safety.         by Jim Moeser

Join us to build a Wisconsin where
every child and family thrives.

Recent

State Budget: Youth Justice

State Budget: Youth Justice

Tough-on-Crime Narratives Uphold Wasteful Spending and a Developmentally Inappropriate Juvenile Justice System Main Takeaways Wisconsin relies far too much on incarceration and blames children for system-wide disinvestment in basic needs. Protecting our children means...

State Budget: Health Care

State Budget: Health Care

Governor’s Proposed Budget Expands Access to Health Care and Helps Reduce Racial Disparities Main Takeaways No matter where we live or what we look like, we all deserve to live safe and healthy lives. We all need access to quality, affordable health care that supports...

Fact Sheet: Every Healthy Baby Starts with Healthy Parents

Fact Sheet: Every Healthy Baby Starts with Healthy Parents

The below fact sheet was developed by Kids Forward with the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Download as PDF Providing postpartum Medicaid coverage for 12 months will help ensure both parents and babies in Wisconsin thrive together....

Sign up for Emails

Your address helps us identify your legislators and the most relevant messages to send you.