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...
Youth Justice
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.
Disparities in the Juvenile Justice System Are Getting Worse
Wisconsin’s juvenile justice system disproportionately ensnares youth of color, hindering their ability to grow and flourish. A new report released by Race to Equity reveals that while incarceration rates may have declined, racial inequities within this system have vastly expanded.
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