Borrowing from Jeff Butts, the notion that there is no such thing as a “magic birthday” struck me when I read that Governor Malloy of Connecticut announced a new initiative to look at reforming the justice system for 18 to 24 year olds. Recall that Connecticut recently raised the age of adult jurisdiction from 16 to 17 and then 17 to 18...
Youth Justice
The Drop in Juvenile Crime due to Reductions in Exposure to Lead -– Could it Be?
Cleveland, Ohio has one of the worst lead problems in the nation…it also has one of the highest crime rates. A recent news series in Cleveland is now presenting the overwhelming evidence that these two issues are connected. The link between childhood lead exposure and crime has long been established, evidenced by research in multiple...
Unchain my Heart!
OK- perhaps a “play on words”, but it is time we thought seriously about why and how many youth that appear in juvenile courts across the state are shackled, despite no evidence that unshackling youth results in any danger to anyone. Congratulations to the judiciary in Maine that took up this issue following sustained advocacy from some...
Continuing Trends in Juvenile Justice in Wisconsin
This report is an update of prior reports and includes data up through 2014. Many of the trends noted in the earlier report have continued, as juvenile arrests have continued to decline and we have seen a growth in support for successful community-based programs.
Michigan Moving Ahead with Raising the Age of Adult Court
A group of comprehensive new bills which aim to keep youth out of the adult criminal justice system has been introduced to the Michigan state legislature. The Youth in Prison package, which has bi-partisan support, takes recommendations from the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency’s recent Youth Behind Bars report and includes...
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