All in Juvenile Justice News
Children entrenched in Arkansas' juvenile probation system often find themselves without needed help because of overworked officers and judges who won't change the way they handle cases.
A Jan. 8 riot at the Juvenile Detention Center - coupled with a rise in violent crimes involving juveniles - has reignited calls for reform from O'Malley and city council members. The Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court's administrative judge said she would be open to a process to allow dangerous inmates to be held in a separate wing at the adult Cuyahoga County Jail. But that would require a change in state law, and advocates argue it would run counter to the juvenile court's core mission of rehabilitating young offenders.
O'Malley pointed to the Montgomery County Juvenile Court's Intervention Center as a possible inspiration for criminal justice reform in Cuyahoga County. The Intervention Center assesses young offenders in the hours after an arrest to determine if there are any underlying issues -- such mental health or behavioral issues, or problems at home or at school -- that could be addressed through specialized services.
Symon Gooding had been on the fast track at the Department of Juvenile Justice, having been promoted twice in as many years. With her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice — and credits toward a master’s in public administration — she seemed precisely the type of person administrators were looking for. They called her an agency “treasure.”
But in her upward climb in law enforcement, Gooding applied for a higher-paying job at the Miami Gardens Police Department that required a polygraph test.
A significant spike in juvenile crime from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on school days has led to a push by the state’s juvenile justice agency to shift school start and finish times.
Dozens of juveniles were charged last year in Chicago for allegedly pointing guns at motorists and stealing their cars, but most were not detained longer than 24 hours, according to court records obtained by the Sun-Times.
SACRAMENTO (AP) – A state lawmaker and reform groups are pushing to bar officers from carrying pepper spray in juvenile jails in California, one of six states that still allow employees to patrol with the caustic chemicals in youth detention facilities.
Gov. Greg Abbott is replacing two top officials for the scandal-plagued juvenile justice agency still adjusting to a new executive director who took the helm last month.
The shooting of 16-year-old Joseph Haynes during a scuffle with 43-year-old Deputy Richard Scarborough outside a magistrate’s courtroom in the Franklin County Courthouse Downtown on Jan. 17 has prompted an online petition demanding, among other things, that deputies no longer carry guns in Juvenile Court.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The ACLU of Ohio and the Juvenile Justice Coalition have asked officials to expedite reforms to the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center and hire an outside expert to assess conditions at the facility.
OJJDP recently introduced a Data Snapshot series to its Statistical Briefing Book to disseminate current research and statistical information about youth in the juvenile justice system. Each one-page snapshot focuses on a specific topic and highlights policy-relevant findings. This new Data Snapshot focuses on trends and characteristics of girls at various stages in the juvenile justice system, including arrest, the juvenile court process, and residential placement.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The county's juvenile detention center suffers from "significant flaws" in its daily operations that permeate all levels of the facility, according to a recent report compiled by a team of Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department employees.
The number of youth offenders in state custody has been steadily declining for years, but a Utah legislative audit released Thursday found that Juvenile Justice Services spending has not mirrored the decreasing population in its care.
Funds will support evidence-based programs that provide alternatives to out-of-home placement
Officials are renewing calls for reform at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center after a large fight broke out that caused an estimated $200,000 in damages.
Gov. Rick Scott announced some good news toward the end of 2017. Juvenile arrests statewide have dropped to the lowest point in 42 years.
According to a recent delinquency report from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, arrests dropped 7 percent in the last fiscal year and 25 percent in the last five years.
California's teenagers can no longer be considered a high crime demographic, following a decades-long slide in youth crime and arrest rates, according to a new study.
Los Angeles has long lagged behind other major U.S. cities when it comes to youth development spending, especially when it comes to comparing city budgets. But now, between juvenile justice reform efforts at the county level and the planned legalization of recreational marijuana in the city, the floodgates to funding may be starting to open.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A panel that oversees reforms in South Dakota’s juvenile justice system says the state is making progress in keeping minors out of detention centers.
The Ventura County District Attorney's Office cited far fewer Ventura County students for missing class during the past school year than in the year before.
Gov. Chris Christie's administration on Thursday cleared its first hurdle in plans to close two juvenile correctional facilities and replace them with three new detention centers.
