What's on our radar this week
Each week, Juvenile Law Center gathers the latest studies, reports, and headlines from around the country. Here's what we've been reading:
- Jasper County Missouri has adopted Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initative (JDAI) principles to reform their juvenile detention system. The program will focus on reducing detention by increasing life-skill courses and counseling.
- The Justice Center at The Council of State Governments recently released 2 reports: one shows that incarcerated youth often receive inadequate education; and another report analyzes data from state juvenile correctional agencies in order to find ways to improve educational and vocational outcomes for incarcerated youth.
- An Ohio House committee will soon vote on legislation that would extend the age of foster care services to the age of 21.
- A recent analysis from the Pew Charitable Trusts found that the rate of juvenile incaraceration has dropped by 53% from 2001 to 2013.
- After a two-year effort by students at the Unversity of Maine School of Law, juveniles in Maine now enter courtrooms shackle-free.
- WA Sen. Patty Murray, has proposed new legislation which will ask colleges and universities to improve outreach and resources for homeless and foster youth.
- The Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice (FACJJ) has released its 2015 Report focusing on three major areas of concern to the juvenile justice community.
- Last week, the White House announced a $118 million initiative focused on women and girls of color.
- In Canon City, Colorado school officials learned that naked photos among students were circulating. In Colorado, and across the country, questions about the criminal implications of "sexting" are coming into question.
- Representatives from all 50 states meet to discuss the next challenge in juvenile justice reform - making sure that detention facilities and communities are equipped with resources that will reduce the likelihood of youth being rearrested.
Did we miss a big story? Email us at [email protected] with your headline.