CJJ Today

21
Jan
0

Op-Ed: ‘Those Kinds of Kids’: Meeting the Needs of LGBTQ Youth of Color Charged with Status Offenses

By Bernadette Brown Senior Program Specialist, National Council on Crime and Delinquency Jay is a 16-year-old black lesbian. She was suspended for aggressive behavior when she stood up to defend herself against another student who harassed her because of her haircut and the baggy jeans she likes to wear. At home, Jay’s dad complains about her “looking like a boy.” Soon after, Jay begins skipping school because she is tired of being harassed by fellow students, and is arrested for truancy.
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16
Jan
0

Imaginary Lines

By Heidi Mueller Executive Director, Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission Juvenile Justice Specialist, State of Illinois For as long as I can remember, politicians have rallied voters with promises of “protecting victims” by clearing our streets of all the “criminals.” The picture painted is simple: victims and law abiding community members stand on one side of the line, and offenders stand on the other. This victim/offender dichotomy extends well beyond the world of politics. Even in the advocacy world, an imaginary line seems to be drawn between victims’ advocates or anti-violence advocates and those who advocate for people in the criminal or juvenile justice system.
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13
Dec
0

Diagnosis: Adolescence, Not Otherwise Specified

Shawn C. Marsh, Ph.D. Chief Program Officer over Juvenile Law, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Think back to your teenage years for a moment. Were you ever impulsive? Was it important to fit in? Did you make poor decisions? Did you ever do something that (if you had been caught) could have led to serious consequences? Don’t worry if you answered yes to any or all of these questions: you are not alone. For those working with teenagers, the good news is that we now know more than ever about why adolescents tend to have these characteristics or behaviors.
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04
Dec
0

National Status Offense Standards Help Build Momentum for Reform

By Annie Salsich Director, Center on Youth Justice at the Vera Institute of Justice Momentum continues to build nationally for ways to limit the reach of the juvenile justice system, relying less on court interventions and incarceration and more on safe and effective community-based options. This momentum makes the experience of youth who commit status offenses—a range of behaviors, such as running away from home, skipping school, or violating curfew, which are prohibited under law only because of an individual’s status as a minor—all the more striking.
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