Juvenile Justice / Public News Service

Nebraska Children's Justice and Legal Advocacy Center, which represents children in low-income families, is a model for other states working to place qualified attorneys in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, July 7, 2025

Nebraska program adds juvenile justice attorneys in underserved rural areas

The University of Nebraska is addressing a shortage of lawyers who represent the state's most vulnerable children, especially in rural areas…

Treehouse, an organization helping foster children graduate high school, lost a third of its funding due to state budget cuts. Graduation rates for foster kids have gone up in recent years but cuts could reverse the trend. (Diego Cervo/Adobe Stock)

WA budget cuts hit orgs serving at-risk youth

Washington nonprofits supporting vulnerable youth have faced large state funding cuts this year and are calling on communities to help keep the progra…

While Illinois has seen a significant decrease in it's prison population, its incarceration rate is still relatively high compared to other states. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Study: Incarceration costs families billions each year

A new study highlights the high price of incarceration, and says the annual total cost to families of Americans behind bars is nearly $350 billion…

Wisconsin is estimated to reach the highest peak in its prison population by July. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Study: Incarceration costs U.S. families $350 billion a year

A new study highlights the high price of incarceration, and says the annual total cost to families of Americans behind bars is nearly $350 billion…

High school and college students will take over the airwaves on the first and third Saturday in Arkansas in the revival of the PHAT LIP! You(th)Talk Radio show (avdyachenko/Adobe Stock)

Radio show gives AR students a voice

A groundbreaking radio show from the early 1990s is returning this weekend in Arkansas. The PHAT LIP! You(th)Talk Radio show will be back on the …

Green Hill School is the largest state-run juvenile detention facility in the state, and has been plagued with overcrowding and understaffing in recent years. (Darya/Adobe Stock)

New WA law reels in felony convictions for incarcerated youths who fight

Advocates for juvenile justice reform in Washington are celebrating the passage of House Bill 1815. The law redefines "prison riot" and lets judges …

In Illinois, counties cover the operational costs of juvenile detention centers, while the state reimburses for staffing at more than $40 million per year. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed bills would curb jailing of children in IL

Two bills aimed at reforming the juvenile justice system in Illinois are close to becoming law. Senate Bill 1784 proposes raising the age of …

A national public relations firm recently surveyed Americans about the barriers youths face to better outcomes. Respondents recognized the need for stronger communities, but survey officials said they still underestimate the effect poverty can have on youths. (Adobe Stock)

For youth empowerment work, experts say careful wording can save the day

April is Second Chance Month, with extra focus on helping people with a criminal past keep from becoming repeat offenders. In steering Minnesota …

Last fall, a study group recommended Ohio close its three remaining youth prisons and replace them with smaller facilities. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Report: OH RECLAIM a model for juvenile justice reform in other states

A new report examined differences in state juvenile justice system financing, looking at how local control can improve outcomes. The report…

State law specifies the governor may remove any member of the Prisoner Review Board at any time for incompetence, neglect of duty, malfeasance or inability to serve. (Illinois Prisoner Review Board in 2024, In Their Hands)

Film highlights reform need of IL’s parole system through one man’s fight

An Illinois documentary takes a deep dive into the Illinois Prisoner Review Board and the politics that influence its decision-making through one man'…

Statistics show males younger than 18 commit a large portion of property crimes, such as theft, burglary and vandalism, with higher arrest rates than females in most juvenile crime categories. <br />(melhak/Adobe Stock)

MO advocate urges healing over punishment for traumatized juveniles

A Missouri children's advocate is urging the justice system to focus on healing for youths, noting trauma and broken relationships often drive their …

The Texas House of Representatives has passed a bill to require all Texas prisons to have air conditioning by 2029 but the prison system only has to comply if the state provides the funding. (pict rider/Adobe Stock)

Faith leaders call out inhumane heat conditions in TX prisons

Only 30% of prisons in Texas have central air conditioning and faith leaders and advocates for those incarcerated are raising concerns about inhumane …

Illinois founded the first juvenile court more than 100 years ago on the premise children in conflict with the law should be treated separate and distinct from adults. Katherine Buchanan with the Illinois Juvenile Justice Initiative said today, many children are jailed for offenses adults would not be jailed for. (Adobe Stock)

IL report calls for juvenile-justice reform; proposed bill would initiate

A recent report is highlighting the need for a complete overhaul of the Illinois juvenile justice system. It called for a renewed rehabilitative …

Black and Native American youth are largely overrepresented in juvenile facilities compared to their white counterparts. (Sophon_Nawit/Adobe Stock)

Act would give incarcerated WA youth a second chance

Several bills working their way through the Washington Legislature focus on reforming the state's juvenile legal system, including one known as the …

At least 24 people have died at Ohio's Cuyahoga County Jail since 2018. (Juan Bernabeu/The Marshall Project)

Accountability demanded amid training failures as OH jail deaths scrutinized

Medical neglect inside Ohio's jails is under scrutiny following the release of a new toolkit by The Marshall Project to aid in investigating in-custod…

In 2024, there were 1,990 successful diversions of South Dakota youth from courts and detention, according to the state's Juvenile Justice Oversight Council. Of that total, 449 attempts were considered unsuccessful. (Adobe Stock)

A year of growth for juvenile diversion programs in SD

Nearly 2,000 South Dakota juveniles were successfully diverted from the state's court system this year, according to a new report. A 2024 law has …

Six million U.S. students attend a school where there is a School Resource Officer but no school psychologist on staff, according to a Brookings Institution report. (Adobe Stock)

WV schools funnel more kids into juvenile justice system

West Virginia schools' reliance on zero-tolerance policies are driving more kids into the juvenile justice system - with lifelong consequences…

Five years ago, a video shocked the nation of 6-year-old Kaia Rolle being arrested at her Orlando, Fla., school because she had thrown a tantrum earlier in the morning. (Adobe Stock)

From classroom to courtroom: The human cost of school-to-prison pipeline

When a 6-year-old girl in Florida had a temper tantrum in class, it seemed like a typical childhood moment. But instead of calming the situation…

The Green Hill School juvenile facility in Chehalis, Wash., keeps young adults age 17 to 25. (dcyf.wa.gov)

Parents of children in WA prisons face 'unbearable' holiday season

The holiday season is a difficult time of year for families with children in Washington's youth detention centers. Families have limited access to …

In 2021, there were 72% fewer detention admissions of youths on delinquency charges across the country than in 2005. Still, Wyoming incarcerates youth at a much higher rate than any other state in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

WY has highest rate of juvenile incarceration, rejects federal funding to help

Wyoming has the nation's highest rate of juvenile incarceration, and is one of only two states refusing federal funds to help. In 2021, nearly 270 …

Some Connecticut justice organizations want the state to raise the age of arrest from 10 to 14, and get young people out of adult facilities. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: CT, U.S. need to enact legal system reforms in 2025

Advocates feel Connecticut and the nation can enact legal system reforms in 2025, ranging from ways to more humanely treat incarcerated people to …

The total number of children in foster care has decreased annually since 2017. (ibreakstock/Adobe Stock)

Support available for AR kids aging out of foster care

Nonprofits working with foster care children want them to know services are available to help them navigate life once they are out of the system…

David Bintz' brother, Robert Bintz, was also released from prison this year and was represented by the Great North Innocence Project. (Adobe Stock)

WI Innocence Project victories point to systemic problem in justice system

The Wisconsin Innocence Project is ending the year with some key victories including helping with the release of two men who each spent decades in pri…

Retiring Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter sits in his office behind a desk built by the Indiana State Department of Correction. (WISH-TV)

Indiana's justice journey of reform, reflection

By Dakarai Turner for WISH-TV.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service…

Parental separation, drug abuse in the home and physical abuse were some of the most common Adverse Childhood Experiences cited by people imprisoned as children. (Adobe Stock)

MD ranks among worst states for long-term incarceration

Maryland has one of the highest percentages in the nation of people in prison who began serving time when they were juveniles. A new report from …

Rural young people returning to their communities from out-of-home placements may face unique barriers to successful reentry, and rural reentry service providers may face challenges in meeting their needs, according to the National Reentry Resource Center. (Adobe Stock)

In New Year, Medicaid will cover WV youths transitioning out of incarceration

Changes in federal law will permit West Virginia and other states to use Medicaid dollars to pay for health care services for incarcerated youths begi…

Data show firearms were the leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1-17 in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Alabama leaders unite to address gun violence, reimagine community safety

Gun violence has long been a pressing issue in Alabama, and the recent tragic shooting at Tuskegee University has reignited urgent calls for action…

Research shows kids tend to get along with School Resource Officers regardless of the student's ethnic background, according to Iowa State University's Monic Behnken. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa researcher: 'Hardening' schools doesn't stop classroom violence

Researchers say increasing the police presence in schools isn't the best way to address classroom violence. One expert in Iowa says educators would …

A child's public education costs $19,000 annually in Connecticut, but it can cost $274,000 to imprison a child. (Adobe Stock)

Youth justice reforms a top 2025 priority for Connecticut group

As it advocates for changes to the youth justice system in 2025, a Connecticut group says the state needs to do more to examine and address the root …

According to the 2023 Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, the average length of detention stay for a juvenile offender is nearly six months. (Adobe Stock)

Legislation on IL juvenile offenders awaits Senate decision

Pending legislation could change the age of Illinois' juvenile offenders' detention time before their trial date. Currently, juveniles as young as 10…

Young Washingtonians with juvenile convictions and misdemeanors have a chance to vote in the Nov. 5 election. (Darylann Elmi/Adobe Stock)

WA youth in juvenile justice system could still vote

Some young people who are in Washington state's juvenile justice system could have the opportunity to vote in this year's election. Young people …

The goal of the Teen Court system is to keep young adults out of the prison system. (chokniti/Adobe Stock)

TX Teen Court gives students a second chance

By Marium Zahra for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Yes! Media-Public News Service Collaboration …

Director of the South Dakota School Safety Program, Brett Garland, says state law enforcement has reminded K-12 schools and the public that specific threats, whether made directly or on social media,

'Report, don’t repost': SD school safety expert on increase in threats

Following a Georgia high school shooting in early September, there's been a surge in school threats across the country. In South Dakota, safety …

U.S. News and World Report said Illinois ranks 39th in the country for juvenile incarceration. (Adobe Stock)

IL juvenile rights group takes action for education behind bars

A class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of young people with disabilities serving time in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The …

As of 2021, California was 18th in the nation for lowest rate of youth confined in juvenile justice facilities, at 58 youth per 100-thousand. (Framestock/Adobe Stock)

New data show massive drop in youth arrests, incarceration

The number of youth held in juvenile justice facilities in California and across the U.S. dropped 75% between 2000 and 2022 - according to a new …

According to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice 2023 Annual report, the average age of youth in the state's criminal justice system is 17. (Adobe Stock)

IL juvenile justice court alternative proves successful

Anyone age 18 or younger accused of violating Illinois law, who has formal charges filed against them, has historically had their case tried in a …

Operation Good works to improve life in Mississippi and recently held a community block party, inviting single moms and their kids to help to curb violence in Jackson. (Photo courtesy of Operation Good)

'Operation Good' collaborates with single moms to fight crime

A new initiative for single mothers and their sons is helping to combat crime and empower vulnerable community members in Jackson. The nonprofit …

Nationwide in 2021, 44% of youths in the one-day count of youth incarceration were in detention and 53% had been committed to a secure-placement facility, which is the juvenile equivalent of imprisonment. (Danheller/Adobe Stock)

TN youth incarceration snapshot reveals hope amid disparities

A new report showed the rate of juvenile crime continues to fall but disparities remain in Tennessee and nationwide. The Sentencing Project report …

According to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, fewer than 5% of youths arrested have any gang alert on their record. However, those with gang alerts are more likely to have been first arrested at age 12 or younger, and more likely to be serious, violent and chronic offenders. (athree23/Pixabay)

Report highlights decline in youth incarceration but challenges remain

A new report revealed while the United States has made significant progress in reducing youth incarceration rates, troubling disparities still exist…

Most state juvenile courts, including New York's, have jurisdiction over people younger than 18. The only states excluding 17-year-olds from juvenile court are Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY, US see juvenile incarceration decline due to reforms

New York and the nation are seeing youth incarceration decline. Despite claims crime, particularly youth crime, is rising, a new report by The …

In Mississippi, on a typical day 56 out of 100,000 youth nationwide are held in juvenile facilities, pre- and post-adjudication, with rates varying widely among other states. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MS youth incarceration snapshot reveals hope amid disparities

A new report shows the rate of juvenile crime continues to fall, but disparities remain in Mississippi and nationwide. The Sentencing Project report …

According to federal data, law enforcement accounted for 82% of all delinquency cases referred to juvenile court in 2019. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV NAACP lawsuit says state agencies failed to collect juvenile justice data

West Virginia state agencies have failed to collect data on incarcerated youth, according to a new lawsuit filed by the West Virginia NAACP in the …

The Sentencing Project found a total of 8,632 individuals serving sentences for crimes committed as minors in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Report shows NC youth left behind despite sentencing reforms

Efforts to reform juvenile sentencing in the U.S. have made significant strides but a new report showed North Carolina is not keeping up. A study by …

Grand Island program keeps at-risk NE youth out of detention facilities

A Grand Island-based organization is offering a diversion program cited in a new report as one of the most effective with at-risk youths. The …

Colorado ranked 27th nationally for its typical daily incarceration rates, according to a new report by The Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock)

Youth incarceration dropped 75% between 2000 and 2022

The number of young people locked up in juvenile justice facilities dropped from 108,000 in 2000 to just above 27,000 in 2022, according to a new …

GA juveniles left behind despite sentencing reforms

Efforts to reform juvenile sentencing in the U.S. have made significant strides, but a new report shows that Georgia is lagging behind. A study by …

The number of youths held in juvenile justice facilities fell by 75% between 2000 and 2022. (Jan H. Anderson/Adobe Stock)

Study: Youth incarceration is declining but challenges remain

Youth incarceration has declined significantly in Virginia and around the country since 2000, according to a new report but disparities and …

The Sentencing Project found Mississippi is one in four states where more than 10% of people serving life or virtual life sentences with a chance of parole were under 18 when they were convicted. (MemoryMan/Adobe)

Report: Mississippi has not made progress in youth sentencing reforms

Efforts to reform juvenile sentencing in the U.S. have made significant strides but a new report showed Mississippi is lagging behind. A study by …

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