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Contact:
James R. Boyle 612- 986-0954
Judith Kahn 612-201-8318
New report urges reform and offers recommendations for the juvenile justice system
Released at policy forum sponsored by Juvenile Justice Committee
Forum: March 9, 2006
8:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. (03/09/06)—A new report released today, in light of the 100th anniversary of Minnesota’s juvenile justice system, analyzes juvenile justice and provides structural recommendations for change. It was developed by the Juvenile Justice Committee of The Alliance for Families and Children for Hennepin County.
The report is being presented at a day-long conference on March 9, held at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, Doing Juveniles Justice: Saving the Best, Transforming the Rest offers nine suggested reforms based on a national review of best practices. Keynote speaker at the conference is Dr. Edward LaTessa, professor and head of the Division of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. LaTessa is a noted author and consultant in the field of juvenile justice and has provided assistance and workshops to correctional systems in more than 40 states. His keynote is titled, Designing Effective Programs for Youth.
In 1905, Minnesota’s Ramsey County established the first juvenile court in the state. It followed in the footsteps of several other states in creating a parallel justice system for youth, intent on rehabilitation rather than the punishment of the adult criminal justice system. Since then, the system was undergone several changes and now places a much greater emphasis on punitive actions and subsequent re-evaluation.
While the report is not intended to place blame on Minnesota’s juvenile justice system for inadequately serving our youth, it does find much room for improvement and reform. The complexity of intervening with youth in the juvenile justice system requires a comprehensive blueprint for change. The paper, which follows the recommendations of the national Funders Group for Youth in Transition, offers nine tenets for reform: reduce institutionalization, reduce racial disparity, ensure access to quality counsel, create a range of community-based programs, recognize and serve youth with special needs, create smaller rehabilitative institutions, improve aftercare and reentry, maximize youth, family and community participation, keep youth out of adult prisons. A more complete description of these tenets can be found at the end of this press release.
These nine tenets indicate what the state Supreme Court Task Force on Juvenile Justice called a “change in perspective …. to a system that gives equal weight to principles of community safety, accountability, reintegration and restoration of youth, and competency development.”
“There is enormous potential for improvement in Minnesota’s juvenile justice system and, consequently, the outcomes of the young people it is intended to serve. Using these nine tenets of reform, Minnesota must develop a new model of service for its youth, or risk continuing to allow untreated delinquents to approach adulthood without the necessary skills to become productive, law-abiding citizens.” commented Judith Kahn, Juvenile Justice Committee Chair and Executive Director of the Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board.
Funding and in-kind support for the Forum and paper were generously provided by The Alliance for Families and Children for Hennepin County; Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office; Office of Justice Programs, Minnesota Department of Public Safety; The Minnesota Department of Human Services, Children's Mental Health Division; President’s Initiative on Children, Youth and Families, University of MN; Healthy Youth Development Prevention Center, University of MN; GMAC – RFC and The Hubert H. Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs
NINE TENETS FOR REFORM
Reduce institutionalization.The best systems working towards reform have embraced community-based alternatives to institutionalization as a way to improve the life chances of juveniles in the justice system. Using tools such as risk assessment and sentencing guidelines, jurisdictions are able to distinguish between youth who pose risks to public safety and those who would be better served in less-restrictive settings.
Reduce racial disparity. Jurisdictions that have significantly reduced racial disparity in their juvenile justice systems analyze data by race and ethnicity to detect disparate treatment; use objective screening instruments to eliminate subjectivity from decision- making; coordinate with police to better control who comes in the door of the juvenile justice system; change hiring practices so that justice staff are more representative of youth in the system; hold staff accountable for placement decisions; develop culturally competent programming; and employ mechanisms to divert youth of color from secure confinement.
Ensure access to quality counsel. Beneficial reforms include early assignment of counsel, along with policies that ensure that all youth are represented; specialized training for attorneys on topics such as adolescent development, mental health and special education; and cross-system representation when adolescents are involved in multiple systems (such as special education and child welfare).
Create a range of community-based programs. Community-based programs can change the trajectories of young people. These programs range from probation to intensive supervision, home confinement, alternative education, family preservation, restitution, community service, and day and evening reporting centers with educational, recreational and counseling opportunities. They can stand alone or be housed in existing community-based organizations serving a broad range of youth.
Recognize and serve youth with special needs. The juvenile justice system is too often used as a dumping ground for youth whose primary problems include serious emotional disturbance, developmental disabilities, substance abuse or a combination of these challenges. These youth are in desperate need of alternatives because juvenile justice systems can be particularly harmful for youth with specialized needs.
Create smaller rehabilitative institutions. Some youth do require close monitoring. For those youth who pose serious risks to public safety, a convincing case is being made for phasing out large, prison-like institutions and creating small, home-like secure facilities in their place. Evidence shows that treating youth as youth improves their chances for success in life.
Improve aftercare and reentry. The best reentry programs begin while a youth is still confined. They require coordination between multiple government agencies and nonprofit providers, not only to develop new services, but to help youth better access existing services. Upon release, teenagers must enroll immediately in school or have a job waiting.16 Workforce development—helping teens attain job skills and earn money—is often a key motivator for adolescents, increasing their commitment to and enthusiasm for learning. Youth with special needs must have quick access to mental health and substance abuse services. And they must receive strong support from family and other caring adults.
Maximize youth, family, and community participation. Involved adults are necessary to keep young people active in their own rehabilitation. Using techniques such as family conferencing, jurisdictions are learning to work with parents—not against them—for the benefit of youth. Counties are soliciting consumer feedback from youth in their care, thereby improving the quality of their programs and also building competencies in young people. Community justice initiatives aim to engage a broad swath of community members in a youth’s rehabilitation. And young people and their parents around the country are successfully organizing and advocating for reform.
Keep youth out of adult prisons. Ultimately, creating a successful treatment-oriented environment for delinquent youth means keeping them out of the adult corrections system. The punitive nature of adult prisons has been shown to actually increase recidivism rates over the juvenile system. Fortunately, there are several examples of how to successfully keep youth in a system that can help.
Visuals/Interview Opportunities
Keynote Address: 8:45 – 9:45
Dr. Edward LaTessa
Professor and Head of the Division of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati
Judith Kahn
Alliance Juvenile Justice Chair and
Executive Director Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board
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