Structural Racism
This report from Human Rights for Kids gathers a national snapshot of the individuals who are currently in prison who were “prosecuted, convicted, and incarcerated for crimes they committed as children,” finding that the U.S. is currently incarcerating 32,359 individuals in prison for crimes committed as children. From the report: “The findings outlined in this…
On August 11, 2026, the Gault Center & Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout (YEAH Philly) hosted a webinar to launch our probation conditions campaign, Under These Conditions: Accountability Should Be Possible. This webinar featured a moderated youth panel, followed by a walkthrough of campaign tools to spark local efforts to transform probation orders and practices.…
From the Introduction, developed by the Association on American Indian Affairs: “This guide offers practical, real-world tips to help you work more effectively with Native youth involved in the justice system. It explains why working with Native Nations is not only important—but also different from working with other agencies or partners in your county or…
This Essay, written by HyeJi Kim at the Gault Center, details the role of youth defenders in abolition. The Essay offers five entry points for youth defenders to embrace an abolitionist ethos to build toward a horizon of interdependence: This Essay is written both in honor of the youth defense community and for the youth…
Compiles key takeaways and resources on building narrative strategies to transform juvenile probation, offered during a webinar on Revolutionizing Probation from Punishment to Community-Led Safety.
On March 26, 2026, the Gault Center & Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout (YEAH Philly) hosted a webinar on Revolutionizing Probation from Punishment to Community-Led Safety. This webinar focused on shifting narratives around juvenile probation—to challenge the dominant rhetoric that probation is an act of benevolence that keeps youth and communities safe and to bring…
On March 26, 2026, the Gault and Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout (YEAH Philly) co-hosted a webinar on Revolutionizing Probation from Punishment to Community-Led Safety. This resource includes PowerPoint presentations from the Gault Center covering the history and youth experiences on juvenile probation, YEAH Philly highlighting meaningful community-based alternatives, and the Institute of Women & Ethnic…
Summarizes what young people are saying about juvenile probation and offers a visual timeline highlighting the historical lineage of probation as a form of racialized social control.
Examines young people’s experiences on juvenile probation and the racialized history of juvenile probation in our country.
“The modern American criminal justice system emerged not simply from Progressive-Era reform, but from the intertwined projects of eugenics, psychiatry, and legal modernism. Drawing upon archival, historical, and doctrinal sources, this Article reveals how early twentieth-century reformers—including judges, criminologists, and social scientists—recast criminal law as a mechanism for identifying and controlling hereditary “defect.” Under the…
This law review article written by Professors Megan T. Stevenson and Robynn J.A. Cox uncovers the eugenic origins of risk assessment tools and highlights how modern-day uses of risk assessments for preventive detention still perpetuate eugenic criminology, albeit with new terminology. This article challenges the ongoing influence of eugenics in identifying who is “high risk”…
This issue brief by the Juvenile Justice Initiative provides an overview of transfer laws in Illinois. Additionally, the brief reviews demographic data on young people who are being tried as adults and identifies the ways that transfer fails children and public safety in the state of Illinois. The brief ends by calling for a return…
From the introduction: “The term ‘institutional bias’ identifies the concept that, throughout history, public policy and perception innately defer to institutionalization as the default living arrangement for people with mental health disabilities to segregate them from society. In theory, the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act6 (ADA) in 1990 and the groundbreaking Supreme Court…
From the conclusion” “Conclusion There is no question that the statistical picture of special education is bleak. But after its meeting of stakeholders, interviews with experts, and review of the research, NCD believes that IDEA and other related disability laws, with improved enforcement, can and should benefit at-risk students who are properly referred and served.…
From the introduction: “Youth justice advocates, including lawyers, organizers, and other youth and adult movement builders, want to replace the current damaging, discriminatory, and ineffective juvenile and criminal legal systems1 with better approaches. We envision approaches that support children, help them f lourish, and contribute to a safe, equitable, and healthy community. How do we…
Professor Kris Henning and Rebba Omer authored a law review article on decriminalizing normal adolescent behaviors, race, and disabilities. This article maps a way forward for all system actors in the juvenile legal system to mitigate and buffer against the harms of juvenile legal system involvement for youth with disabilities. Specifically, this article outlines youth…
This document is updated regularly to include the latest federal and state caselaw from across the country discussing racial justice issues.
