In response to concerns about the effectiveness and fairness of the practices and procedures currently used in the country’s juvenile criminal justice system, state legislatures across the nation are considering major reforms. One of the states that is leading the charge is Illinois, where legislators recently passed a series of important amendments aimed at protecting…
Decades of research have revealed that stable and consistent relationships between minors and parents, teachers, and community members can help protect teens from violence and crime. Despite this evidence, the juvenile justice system continues to funnel teenagers who commit minor infractions at school to non-local detention facilities far from loved ones and support systems. Acknowledging…
In 2013, the Georgia Legislature passed a series of laws aimed at reforming the juvenile justice system. The reforms have proven successful, but in large part have been underfunded. A recent budget proposal made by Governor Deal would allow for immediate funding and the expansion of juvenile diversion programs that could make all the…