We’ve always known that locking up kids is counterproductive, that it promotes isolation and lethargy among youths confined, and that it results in harsher treatment by decision makers throughout the process.  Terry Kupers, an expert on trauma, has observed that these institutions tend to destroy “a prisoner’s ability to cope in the free world.”

In the early 2000’s several reports began to document the existence of thousands of juveniles with diagnosed mental health issues sitting in detention facilities waiting for placement in a mental health facility. 

Today is April 20, 2010, also known as 4/20.  Many consider today an unofficial holiday: National Marijuana Day.

Since today is 4/20, the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice (CJCJ) thought no other day would be more appropriate to educate people on the fiscal and legal implications of legalizing marijuana in California.

In 1980, before California and the United States embarked on a massive “War on Drugs” to arrest and imprison rising tens of thousands of drug users, a total of 1,480 residents died from overdoses or chronic abuse of illicit drugs. That constituted 7.7% of the state’s death toll from all external causes (that is, accidents, suicides, murders, and violent deaths of undetermined intent).

The March 2010, the American Constitution Society (ACS) released, “A Just Alternative to Sentencing Youth to Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole” that provides three arguments against utilizing life without the possibility of parole for youth.

Recently, CJCJ has cultivated many policy reports and articles surrounding issues within the juvenile justice system.  Through these recent publications CJCJ exposes inaccurate media reports through the utilization of data and policy analysis.

The “Blueprint for Change” report released by The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice in 2007 highlights the need to address mental health treatment from a unified approach that includes both the juvenile justice system and mental health agencies.

In my most recent post I said that I would continue my investigation of what I termed an "epidemic" of abuse inside juvenile institutions.  This led me first to the state of Mississippi.

Senate Bill 399 is the California Fair Sentencing for Youth Act introduced by Senator Leland Yee.

Congratulations to Patti Lee and Jeff Adachi of the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office for their tireless effort in defeating AB 2141.