JJIE—Interpreting the Juvenile Incarceration Drop

Even if we observe a number of instances when state reforms are followed by lower incarceration, we have to test whether the causal hypothesis holds up in the absence of reform? If we lined up all the states according to whether they had enacted meaningful reforms in their juvenile justice systems, would their incarceration trends line up in the same way, with high reform states showing more decline and low reform states showing less? Moreover, does the relationship persist over time and under varying circumstances? Continue reading JJIE—Interpreting the Juvenile Incarceration Drop

JJIE—Are We Too Quick to Claim Credit for Falling Juvenile Incarceration Rates?

As we celebrate falling incarceration numbers, those of us who work in juvenile justice should take a few moments to contemplate the true origins of the decline. We venture onto thin ice — empirically — if we conclude that incarceration is down because of changes in practice and policy. Continue reading JJIE—Are We Too Quick to Claim Credit for Falling Juvenile Incarceration Rates?

Stuff I wish journalists would NOT do when covering juvenile crime and juvenile justice …

by Jeffrey A. Butts May 16, 2015 1. use the word “jail” as a synonym for juvenile incarceration, or use the word “detention” as a synonym for all forms of juvenile incarceration 2. use the words “juvenile justice system” when what they mean is juvenile corrections or incarceration facilities 3. assume that because someone says that juvenile records are “confidential” that it’s a waste of … Continue reading Stuff I wish journalists would NOT do when covering juvenile crime and juvenile justice …

How Prevalent are Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues in Juvenile Justice? The Answer May Surprise You

When you look at their findings, it is clear that mental health and substance abuse issues are not the main reasons youth come into contact with the justice system, but both problems increase in prevalence as youth are processed more deeply into the system. Continue reading How Prevalent are Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues in Juvenile Justice? The Answer May Surprise You

Baltimore Sun – Too Many Youths Facing Adult Justice

It may be convenient to call all youths under age 18 juveniles, but it is legally incorrect and morally evasive. Legally, a person is either a juvenile or an adult. Unless we are fully prepared to think of teens as adults, we should not prosecute them as adults, whether they face capital punishment, imprisonment or probation. Continue reading Baltimore Sun – Too Many Youths Facing Adult Justice

The Sudden Popularity of Teen Courts

Jeffrey A. Butts and Janeen Buck (2002). The Sudden Popularity of Teen Courts. Judges’ Journal, 41(1): 29-33, 48. Chicago, IL: American Bar Association. The rapid spread of teen courts underscores their popularity with the public, elected officials, schools, and parents. Research about teen courts is limited, although some studies offer encouraging results. Continue reading The Sudden Popularity of Teen Courts