Recent news

October is Youth Justice Action Month, an opportunity to elevate youth in the justice system, the issues they face, and their incredible resilience. On October 2nd, Juvenile Law Center launched the Broken Promises: Futures Denied, the second edition of their powerful Broken Bridges report that has been used by policymakers, state agencies, and others to help guide their work.

It is with the deepest sadness and heaviest of hearts that we write to share that Bob Schwartz passed on October 8, 2024. Our loss is immeasurable, our world is diminished.

Dear Friends and Colleagues, it is with both sadness and gratitude that I share the news that after nearly 10 years at Juvenile Law Center, Susan Mangold will retire from her role as CEO.

Part of the reason I entered into the system was because my parents passed away. Being in the system after my parents died was tough, and I didn’t have the proper support. Living in a group home, I was surrounded by strangers and people who didn’t have my best interest at heart.

As we approach Juvenile Law Center’s 50th Anniversary in 2025, we write to share — with a mix of wistfulness and excitement — that we will soon be undergoing a leadership transition to make room for the next generation of leaders at this extraordinary organization.

This year, Juvenile Law Center will honor Elizabeth Scott and Laurence Steinberg as joint winners of the 2024 Leadership Prize. Scott and Steinberg have co-published critical papers on adolescent development and brain science that have inspired lawyers, judges, and lawmakers across the country to re-examine their pre-conceived notions about adolescent development, children’s rights, and the possibility of envisioning a more developmentally-appropriate approach to youth crime and delinquency.

Angel Rodriguez has served as the co-founder and Executive Director of Avenues for Justice (AFJ) for forty five years. AFJ is a community-based organization in New York City that provides alternatives to incarceration to 500 justice impacted young people, ages 13-24, each year.

Bryan Stevenson is the founder and Executive Director of the Montgomery, Alabama based Equal Justice Initiative. He is a multi-award-winning lawyer, author, public speaker, and advocate for justice system reform, and has argued five cases in front of the Supreme Court - winning favorable judgements in all but one.

On December 1, 2023, Juvenile Law Center, Center for Children’s Law and Policy, and 50 national, regional, and Louisiana based youth advocacy organizations and academics submitted an amicus brief in support of the emergency removal of children – nearly all of whom are Black youth – from Angola, a former death row prison in Louisiana.