Now, here’s an interesting (and seemingly improper) practice – inviting the prosecuting attorney to a human services (Walworth County) department staff meeting to discuss what the department’s recommendation should be related to waiver to adult court for a youth. The Wisconsin Supreme Court just issued an opinion in a case (State of WI...

Based on preliminary data (subject to revision) the over fifteen-year  decline in the number of juveniles arrested in Wisconsin continued to decline in 2011, although the “pace” of that decline slowed a bit and was less universal.  The number of youth (note: this includes 17-year olds who are still reported as juveniles for purposes of...

On Monday April 9, Governor Walker signed Act 270 which permits the disclosure and sharing of more juvenile court information contained in the Consolidated Court Automation Program (CCAP) with many more parties in the juvenile system, including municipal courts, guardian ad litems, prosecutors, and attorneys representing children/youth....

Today the Supreme Court heard arguments that could push our nation further along the road of justice for juveniles. You can get a recap of the arguments and what transpired today through the SCOTUS blog.  The Court has been on that road for several years already, having made two landmark decisions benefiting convicted kids. In 2005 they...

In a short research brief, Jeff Butts of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and one of the nation’s leading researchers on juvenile justice issues, concludes that there is simply no correlation between transferring or prosecuting youth in adult courts and the falling rates of youth crime. Titled Transfer of Juveniles to Criminal...