From the abstract: “Hundreds of thousands of children are brought under the jurisdiction of delinquency courts every year in the United States. Despite the reality that most children engage in delinquent behavior during their adolescence, poor children, children of color, children with disabilities, and children who identify as LGBTQIA+ comprise a disproportionate number of those who become delinquency system-involved. These disparities exist…
Georgetown University Law Center Associate Professor Eduardo Ferrer penned this op-Ed on regarding the narrative that there is a “rise” in violent crime in D.C. This narrative is being used to justify regressive tough-on-crime policies that do not improve public safety. Professor Ferrer discusses the perception versus the reality of crime statistics and data, including…
A brief on the core changes happening during the remarkable period of growth from 10 to 25 years old. The brief highlights the opportunities for positive development during this period of adolescence and the critical need for social systems to adapt to youth in a way that supports their success.
Abstract: “The impact of immigration policies on Latinx/é mixed-status families and their children is undeniable. Changes in immigration policy, focused on increased deportation enforcement, within the last three decades have led to an increased fear of deportation and unique circumstances mixed-status families must navigate. These circumstances, combined with fear of deportation, have had deleterious effects…
Young people and their families are routinely assessed fees, fines, and other costs in delinquency matters. These financial assessments are often ordered without an ability-to-pay analysis by the court. A young person’s inability to pay can lead to long-lasting consequences, increased recidivism, and youth and their families having to choose between paying fees or buying…
This amicus brief by the Santa Clara County Independent Defense Counsel Office argues the decision in People v. Hardin should be affirmed because historical legacies of racism disparately expose some adolescents to the legal system and this does not justify lifelong punishment without considering rehabilitation. From Introduction & Summary of Argument: “Youthful offender parole is authorized by age at the…
The Center for Justice Innovation conducted an exploratory, participatory action research study of 103 youth ages 15-24 who reported carry guns in a neighborhood of Brooklyn. The research evaluates why these youth carry guns and proposing a collaborative approach to public safety. From the report: “The increase in gun violence experienced in many U.S.…
This guide is meant to help young people in Oregon understand the collateral consequences to juvenile court involvement and adjudications, and what they can do to overcome those consequences. Written in youth-friendly language, this guide walks through how young people should talk about their juvenile court record, the impact of their record on school, jobs,…
From the introduction: “This brief offers context on the youth criminalization crisis in the United States. We then outline a series of harmful elements in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Specifically, we review provisions that: • Increase funding for threat assessments, surveillance, and greater police presence in schools; • Expand data-sharing between law enforcement and…
From the executive summary: ‘This comprehensive study of 804 New York City public middle and high schools sought to isolate the independent impacts of suspension, as well as to disentangle the effects, if any, of student, school, and neighborhood characteristics. Conversely, the study also explored the relationship of restorative justice and other positive practices to…
From the introduction: “This research brief will summarize recent findings on what is known about access to quality or substandard housing as it relates to public safety and the use of incarceration. Along with conducting a brief literature review, the Justice Policy Institute (JPI) has compared data on state housing expenditures with crime rates and…
