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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THE LINK: Connecting Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare

The lead story in the latest issue of this CWLA online publication deals with improving system responses to crossover youth, youth who penetrate both delinquency and dependency systems. 12 page downloadable pdf file. Back issues available at this page too.

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Childhood Loss and Behavioral Problems: Loosening the Links

Having identified strikingly high rates of loss among young people in juvenile justice systems, the Vera Institute has released this study of the connection between loss and misbehavior in children. Documented research is limited, but the results thus far are dramatic:

• 85% of 898 males and females aged 10- to 18-years-old in pretrial detention in Cook County, Illinois, reported at least one loss, and one-third had lost three or more important people in their lives. Most of the youth reported that no one had ever asked them about loss before, and most had received no help in coping with their losses.
  
• The same study found that many detained young people have experienced loss that qualifies as traumatic.
  
• Incarcerated male violent juvenile offenders in California had higher rates of PTSD than a sample of male juveniles from the general community (32% compared to 9%). Half of the youth with PTSD reported witnessing the murder of someone close to them.
  16 page pdf file.

++++++++++Australian Reports on Drug use by Juvenile Offenders

The Australian Institute of Criminology has released two publications from its research project on the drug use careers of juvenile offenders.

Alcohol, drugs and crime: study of juveniles in detention -  examines the offending and drug use histories of 371 young offenders incarcerated in juvenile detention centers across Australia.

Key findings from the Drug use Careers of Juvenile Offenders study – summary of the research.  6 page pdf file.

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Arizona Dual Jurisdiction Study

In March 2003 the Arizona Supreme Court AOC entered into a contract with the National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ) to conduct a study of youth who experience simultaneous dependency and delinquency court involvement. A national survey found that a relatively small number of courts, probation departments, and child welfare agencies have instituted special court practices especially for dual jurisdiction matters. This paper highlights promising court-based practices and programs with the potential to address dual jurisdiction cases. The complete study is a 150 page pdf file. The link above will take you to the executive summary of the study.

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