WCCF has previously blogged about the research link between reductions in children's exposure to lead (removing lead from paint, unleaded gasoline, etc.) and reductions in youth crime. Some researchers have gone as far as suggesting that nearly two-thirds of the youth crime reduction can be attributed to reductions in exposure to lead....
WCCF has just released a policy brief titled We Can Do Better: Sharing Responsibility to Better Meet the Needs of Dual-Status Youth that outlines some of the challenges children and youth face if/when they end up identified by/involved with both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. We know that a supportive and nurturing...
The link between childhood maltreatment and risk of delinquency and criminal behavior is well-established. This policy brief provides an introduction to the system changes we need to make to better serve youth who experience maltreatment and end up in the juvenile justice system.
The high price of detaining youth goes far beyond the monetary costs to state and local jurisdictions. Detention disrupts normal adolescent development by disconnecting youth from their families, positive social supports, and interfering with their education. The disconnect between the youth and the community often leads to an increased...
Incarceration is a painful experience and a difficult adjustment, particularly for juvenile offenders. Research on incarcerated adults has shown they have a much less tumultuous transition when they have a strong relationship with their families. Adults with “pro-social supports” from family like letter writing, phone calls, and...
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