In the year since we published “The Impact of COVID-19 on Youth Justice in Wisconsin: What Does It Tell Us About the Future?,” a variety of articles and reports have been released affirming the findings and recommendations presented in that 2021 report. The publications frame the pandemic as a way to examine factors related to racial disparities,3 strategies to reduce youth incarceration, 4 opportunities to transform youth justice, 5 and recommendations for system partners to convert lessons learned into formal policy and practice.6 They also highlight the negative impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on youth and families who are involved in the justice system. These writings present a sense of readiness that needs to be operationalized in order to create better outcomes for youth in the future.
The 2023-25 State Budget Should Support Wisconsin Families Who Are Struggling to Get By
Economic hardship has a long-lasting negative impact on children—affecting their health and wellness over the course of their lives. Ensuring families can meet their basic needs should be a key goal for the 2023-25 state budget.
