Disposition
From the introduction: “This brief presents the research case for eliminating the use of correctional confinement or detention in response to technical violations of juvenile probation.”
From the introduction: “Justice Policy Institute found that the average cost of the most expensive confinement option for a young person in 48 states was $588 per day, or $214,620 per year. The data show that in 40 states taxpayers spend at least $100,000 a year for a single young person’s confinement, and in 12…
This brief highlights the United States Supreme Court’s most important language in landmark cases about young people’s rights. These quotes can be used to bolster the arguments and pleadings of juvenile defense attorneys and advocates as they defend youth caught in the legal system.
The Columbia University Justice Lab released a report spotlighting New York City’s Close to Home initiative, an effort that reduced the rate of youth sent to state-operated prisons in New York City. “This case study describes the development of the Close to Home (C2H) initiative, beginning with a review of what the system looked like…
“The week of December 10, 2018, Congress passed H.R. 6964, the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018 (the Act) with overwhelming bipartisan support. The President signed the bill into law on December 21, 2018, amending the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) after years of collaborative efforts among juvenile justice organizations and advocates across the…
An infographic outlining strategies for post-disposition advocacy.
This policy report features interviews of young people who have been incarcerated in youth facilities in Colorado and details the harmful conditions and culture in these programs. From the Executive Summary: “Despite a mission of rehabilitation rather than punishment, the culture of the Colorado Division of Youth Corrections (DYC) is plagued by punitive practices that…
On September 18, 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice entered into a settlement agreement with the state of Mississippi about their probation and diversion practices. The settlement agreement includes provisions on protecting a youth’s right against self-incrimination, requiring probation orders to be written in simple terms to prevent arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement, and ensuring the…
A proposed settlement agreement between the United States and Lauderdale County in the State of Mississippi after an investigation of the substantive and procedural due process rights of youth who appear in Lauderdale County Youth Court. The Settle Agreement proposes several remedial measures the named parties must take including creating a probation process that complies…
The Iowa Supreme Court struck down mandatory minimum sentencing schemes as applied to a young person transferred to adult court, finding mandatory minimum sentences to be in violation of federal and state prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment and the best interest clause in Iowa’s juvenile code. The court notes “the statutory recognition of the…
From the summary: “It is critical for judicial officers, attorneys, probation officers, child welfare, and other professionals who work with youth to be knowledgeable about the impact of trauma on children’s development and on their emotional, behavioral, and cognitive functioning. Understanding trauma and the potential impacts on children who come before the juvenile and family…
Report to Colorado General Assembly on the State of the Youth Defense System in Colorado pursuant to House Join Resolution 13-1019, whose purpose was to “examine and make recommendations on current laws, procedures and practices for the appointment of counsel, advisement of rights and waivers of counsel for children in juvenile delinquency court.” This report…
From the introduction: “This report will describe, dissect, and draw lessons from Connecticut’s striking success in juvenile justice reform for other states and communities seeking similar progress. The first section details the timeline and dimensions of change in Connecticut’s juvenile justice system over the past two decades. In 1992, Connecticut routinely locked up hundreds of…
