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MacArthur Foundation Issue Briefs
The MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice has released a series of issue briefs that present findings from the Network’s past and ongoing research. The briefs cover research on competence to stand trial, criminal blameworthiness, adult transfer, youth psychopathy, and findings from the ongoing Pathways to Desistance study. The briefs serve as a valuable tool for creating a common understanding among the many players in the juvenile justice arena and are available for download at the link above.
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Youth Under 18 in the Adult Criminal Justice System
The National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) presents this fact sheet of statistics and issues related to persons under the age of 18 involved in the adult criminal justice system in the US. Loaded with graphs and charts. ++++++++++ Youth Under Age 18 in the Adult Criminal Justice System
This new report by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency shows that youth are increasingly involved in the adult system, particularly in jails. More than 7,000 children are currently in adult jails, as opposed to 2,000 in the early 1990s. In most cases (85%) youth are sent to adult court by the prosecutor or legislature, not by judicial authority.
The Campaign 4 Youth Justice is a new national initiative dedicated to ending the practice of trying, sentencing and incarcerating youth under 18 in the adult criminal justice system. For more information about Campaign 4 Youth Justice or to become a partner, visit the organization’s web site. At www.campaign4youthjustice.org The For more information about Campaign 4 Youth Justice or to become a partner, visit the organization’s web site. At ++++++++++ Locked Up at Fifteen, Prosecuted as an Adult, Eleven Years Later He’s Free and Coping -- More or Less
Minnesotan Stephen Glaze was among the first juveniles to be prosecuted as an adult under a new get-tough Minnesota law. Eleven years later he’s out of jail and trying to become a member of the community. He’s been looking for work for four months. ++++++++++ The Rest of Their Lives: Life without Parole for Child Offenders in the United States
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International spent a year in detailed research to determine the number of young offenders sentenced to life without possibility of parole in the United States. While there appear to be about a dozen youth serving the sentence in the rest of the world, the data they gathered show that there are at least 2,225 youth offenders serving life without parole in the United States. They are predominantly male (2.6% are female). The majority are African-American (60%). Sixteen percent committed their crimes when they were fifteen or younger. There is a great variation in the rate at which youth receive the sentence in each state.
A brief version of the report (5 pages) is available to read this week only on Corrections.com.
The full text report, an executive summary, photos and other information are available at the Human Rights Watch web site (click on link above). The full report pdf file is 167 pages long.
++++++++++Teen Crime, Adult Crime
Last week the Denver Post ran a four part series on 45 young adults locked away for life for crimes committed when they were younger than 18. One young man, who was 14 at the time of the crime in 1992 and who had no previous violent offenses, describes himself, “I’m the living dead.” He and the other youths were prosecuted in adult criminal court during the past two decades as part of Colorado’s crackdown on juvenile crime. The state is among 14 states in which prosecutors can charge juveniles with adult crimes that could lead to life in prison with no chance of parole. ++++++++++ Colorado Debates Life Sentences of 46 Teen Killers
The Rocky Mountain News reports on whether some of the inmates sentenced as teens deserve a chance at freedom. Most of the young lifers were sentenced in the mid to late 1990s, when juvenile crime peaked. By Colorado law they have no chance for parole. A multi-day series. ++++++++++
Juvies – The World of Juvenile Offenders Prosecuted as Adults
This documentary film is a “riveting look at a world most of us will never see: the world of juvenile offenders who are serving incredible prison sentences for crimes they either did not commit or were only marginally involved in."[Filmmaker Leslie]… Neale taught a video production class at Los Angeles Central Juvenile Hall to 12 juveniles who were all being tried as adults. Juvies is the product of that class, which was a learning experience for both students and teacher.” (from UNAFF2004 – 7th Annual United Nations Association Film Festival web page review of Juvies). Narrated by Mark Wahlberg, a former juvenile offender himself. The National Mental Health Association recommends this film and receives a portion of the sales. ++++++++++ |
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