Introduction The events of the past year have made the deep, longstanding racial disparities in our nation much more obvious. The COVID-19 pandemic and the current recession have not only shined a light on those disparities, but have also made them much worse. On many different indicators, Wisconsin is at or very near the top in terms...
Youth Justice
The Impact of COVID-19 on Youth Justice in Wisconsin: What Does it Tell Us About the Future of the System?
The COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent need for safety planning within secure facilities due to a unique set of risks and vulnerabilities for youth who are in custody.1 In comparison to other states, Wisconsin has demonstrated a strong commitment to preserving the health and safety of all by implementing Coronavirus emergency...
Progress Amidst the Crisis
Last month, we shared some of the ways that youth in custody and the staff who serve them are more vulnerable to COVID-19. We also urged Wisconsin officials and administrators to follow guidelines from Youth Correctional Leaders for Justice to reduce the risk of infection in juvenile detention facilities. The guidelines included best...
COVID-19 Means Greater Anxiety for Youth Who are Incarcerated
While we all adjust to Governor Evers’ Safer at Home Order, we must cope with the daily restrictions on our movement and increased anxiety about the safety of our families, friends, and colleagues. At the same time, there are hundreds of confined youth in our juvenile justice system who are grappling with the unique challenges that this...
Gov. Evers’ State of the State Put Kids and Families First
Kids Forward applauds Governor Tony Evers for proposing a budget that puts kids and families first and that seeks to address the challenges kids and families of color face. He offered bipartisan proposals to restore two thirds funding for K-12 education, increase mental health services in schools, reform the criminal and juvenile justice systems, give working and middle class families a tax cut, and increase access to quality, affordable health care by expanding Badger Care.
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