Category: Regional Print

Lockup guard slugged a skinny kid. Prosecutors say it’s justified. Here’s the video.

BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER cmarbin@miamiherald.com [ read original article ] Broward County prosecutors have ruled that a former detention center officer was justified when he slugged a 14-year-old boy in the face — breaking the teen's nose in two places — because the juvenile was aggressive with staff and causing a disturbance in the county's long-troubled lockup. … Continue reading Lockup guard slugged a skinny kid. Prosecutors say it’s justified. Here’s the video. →

Program Keeping Convicted Youths Closer to Home Enjoys Success, Faces Cuts

by Wendy Davis March 2, 2018 City Limits Seventeen-year-old “Jim” landed in a Leake & Watts group home for juvenile delinquents last August, after he stole money from his father to purchase a new phone. Jim, who had previously been arrested for trespassing in a neighbor’s apartment, is now among the oldest of the eight … Continue reading Program Keeping Convicted Youths Closer to Home Enjoys Success, Faces Cuts →

Why Does Crime Keep Falling in New York City?

The John Jay College of Criminal Justice Research and Evaluation Center found that between 2014 and 2016, there was a 50 percent decrease in gun injuries in East New York, Brooklyn and a 37 percent reduction in the South Bronx, two communities where Cure Violence has been implemented. [ read original article ] by Samar … Continue reading Why Does Crime Keep Falling in New York City? →

Senselessly Slain Teens Leave Behind Reminders of Cruel Fate Faced Daily in New York City Streets

by ADAM SHRIER NEW YORK DAILY NEWS January 2, 2018 For Rohan Levy, the line between life and death came down to a teenage gunman who mistook the 15-year-old boy’s friend for a rival gang member. The charismatic Brooklyn teen, with his bright smile and exuberant laugh, was joking with two friends just a half … Continue reading Senselessly Slain Teens Leave Behind Reminders of Cruel Fate Faced Daily in New York City Streets →

Florida Juvenile Justice said it Would Weed out Bad Hires. How Did This Guy Slip Through?

IT’S LORD OF THE FLIES CULTURE WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE THEY HAVE MANAGING THESE FACILITIES.WITH STRONG KIDS CONTROLLING THE WEAK KIDS — AND THE STAFF CONTROLLING THE STRONG KIDS. BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER cmarbin@miamiherald.com DECEMBER 16, 2017 It took just two months for Chris W. Jeffries to get into trouble at his new job … Continue reading Florida Juvenile Justice said it Would Weed out Bad Hires. How Did This Guy Slip Through? →

Why Don’t Local, State and Federal Crime Numbers Add Up?

By Beth Burger The Columbus Dispatch October 17, 2017 Each of last year’s homicide victims had families and friends. Most had funerals and burials. All have Columbus police homicide detectives assigned to their cases, pursuing their killers. So it shouldn’t be difficult to figure out how many people were killed, right? It depends on who … Continue reading Why Don’t Local, State and Federal Crime Numbers Add Up? →

Lightning Blasted his Shoes off — and Illuminated a Pattern of Abuse by Staff

BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER AND AUDRA D.S. BURCH OCTOBER 10, 2017 -- Miami Herald For two days, Keyon Felder begged a half-dozen youth care workers to protect him from his tormenter, someone he accused of orchestrating three attacks by other teens — the last of which knocked him out, and injured his face, head, arms, legs, … Continue reading Lightning Blasted his Shoes off — and Illuminated a Pattern of Abuse by Staff →

Why Is New York Still Prosecuting 16-Year-Olds As Adults?

Advocates for justice reform have been pushing for New York State to raise the age of criminal majority for decades. But only in the past few years have their efforts gained traction, thanks to a growing body of research on the development of the teenage brain, increased awareness of the unique risks faced by youth in the adult justice system, and broader acknowledgement of the long-term costs of incarcerating 16- and 17-year-old offenders.