A recent Administrator Memo released by the Division of Juvenile Corrections outlines some of the changes occurring as the result of consolidating three juvenile correctional institutions into one location – at Lincoln Hills School (LHS). While practical challenges remain as a result of the distance from Lincoln Hills to where most of...

In a US Supreme Court decision (J.D.B. v. North Carolina) released today, the Court ruled (5-4) that a youth’s age does need to be considered as a factor when giving Miranda warnings – particularly as it relates to a youth’s ability to understand whether or not they are “in custody” and can adequately exercise consent to be questioned. ...

Rock County is highlighted in the latest issue of the DMC Action Network e-Newsletter, reviewing some of the progress made over the past couple of years in creating alternatives to detention, implementing sound screening and assessment practices, and reducing reoffending.  Much of this progress began under the leadership of Jason Witt,...

In action yesterday, the Joint Finance Committee approved Governor Walker’s recommendations related to two key issues for juvenile corrections: (1) Approving the daily rates for services provide by the Division of Juvenile Corrections, and (2) Approving the consolidation of three juvenile correctional institutions (JCIs) – closing Ethan...

Over many years of working in juvenile justice, I found that people outside the system (and some inside as well who would express dire predictions like “..watch out, this summer will be really bad") assumed that summer would be a high time for juvenile arrests and detentions. Yet our own internal data as well as anecdotal information...