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?
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 …
If Florida transfers far more juveniles to criminal court than any other state and yet the state’s crime decline is about average, then it is simply wrong to credit criminal-court transfer for recent reductions in youth violence. Continue reading Orlando Sentinel—Transfers to Adult Court don’t Explain Drop in Youth Crime
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
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