Oct 19, 2012
Making Sense of California Youth Sentences
Making Sense of California Youth Sentences Huffington Post, October 19, 2012
A new report shows that Texas has proceeded on a similar track as California in its statewide efforts to reform its juvenile justice systems yet with superior results, specifically in the state’s community-based models run by counties. As in California, the Texas state-managed facilities were plagued with scandals for years, with independent investigations revealing extensive physical and sexual abuse of youth wards in the Texas Youth Commission (TYC). The incarcerated youth population…
Pathways to Desistance , a study of serious youth offenders, finds that long institutional commitments do not reduce recidivism and in fact can have the opposite effect. The study follows over 1,300 youth convicted of serious felonies (inc. murder, robbery, and sex offenses) across the country over a seven-year period. A September 2012 factsheet from the National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) summarizes the latest findings of the study: ~ A youth’s future likelihood to re-offend cannot…
Oct 11, 2012
Council Turns Against Curfews
Council Turns Against Curfews Jackson Free Press, October 11, 2012
Blog Oct 11, 2012
Meaningful mental health outcomes for youth
In the last sixteen years, California’s counties have assumed an increased responsibility for the state’s justice involved youth. The Governor and independent policy organizations such as the Legislative Analyst’s Office have argued that the state’s counties are better equipped than the state’s youth correctional system to serve high needs youth. This vulnerable population is often exposed to childhood trauma and violence resulting in an increased need for mental health services which can be…