Can New Zealand Provide the U.S. With a Model for Juvenile Justice Reform?
Lawyer Melissa Goemann says implementing restorative justice practices allowed New Zealand to end the wholesale incarceration of children—and the U.S. should follow suit.
Juvenile Justice
Trump's Family Separation Reversal Still Leaves Children to Languish in Detention
Trump's call to modify Flores v. Reno follows similar gestures by the administration that could keep more kids in detention for longer.
Solitary Confinement Is on the Rise in a Chicago Juvenile Detention Center
Many states have banned or severely limited solitary confinement for juveniles because of its negative impact on youth. But Chicago's Cook County detention system has gone in the other direction.
Sacramento's Quest to End Solitary Confinement for Kids
After settling a lawsuit for conscience-shocking behavior, a youth detention facility in Sacramento is setting the course to end punitive solitary confinement nationwide.
Re-Educating a Life, in Sentences
Two landmark Supreme Court rulings made clear that juvenile life sentences are unconstitutional. Yet hundreds remain in prison, many of them without access to educational programs.
The Teen Accused of Starting the Oregon Fire Has Rekindled the Debate Over Trying Juveniles as Adults
Investigators say the Eagle Creek Fire was likely started by a boy's misuse of fireworks. Now Oregonians are calling for criminal charges.
Teens of Working Moms Are Less Likely to Commit Minor Crimes
A working paper examines how welfare reform has affected the frequency of minor offense arrests among teenagers.
Are California’s Youth Offender Parole Hearings Working?
A new study evaluates whether California’s new specialized parole hearings live up to the Supreme Court’s mandate to give juvenile lifers a real shot at release.
Abusers in the Juvenile Justice System
Amid significant reforms, federal officials worry that sexual abuse in juvenile justice system remains prevalent and too often unpunished.
The Connection Between Mental Health Problems and Juvie
Health programs could stop problems before they start.
Reforming Juvenile Offenders by Training Them to Read ... Faces
A new study from the U.K. finds emotional awareness training is a valuable tool in moderating the behavior of young toughs.
The Justice Department Compares the School-to-Prison Pipeline to Racial Segregation
Meridian, Mississippi, is the latest district to face consequences for disproportionately punishing black students.
Shackling Juveniles in the Courtroom
Pediatricians and psychologists say unnecessary restraints can traumatize kids and encourage worse behavior.
Protecting Juvenile Offenders From Adult Inmates, and From Themselves
The only federal law that regulates detention conditions for juveniles is due for an upgrade.
The Fight to Decriminalize Truancy in Texas Schools
Should kids be led out of class in handcuffs for being late to school?
Reconsidering Juvenile Life Sentences—Again
A new Supreme Court case could affect thousands of prisoners serving life sentences without parole for crimes they committed as teens.
Why Juvenile Justice Should Start—and Stay—at Home
Texas A&M researchers explain how community-based programs rehabilitate juvenile offenders better, and for less money, than correctional facilities.
The Cost of Juvenile Incarceration
States pay hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to keep each juvenile offender behind bars. A new report calculates that long-term costs of incarceration could add up to $21 billion annually.
For Juvenile Records, It's 'Justice by Geography'
A new study finds an inconsistent patchwork of policies across states for how juvenile records are sealed and expunged.