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Brevity on the NetWednesday, March 8, 2006 A weekly newsletter about juvenile justice
from the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges,
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The Teen Crime Wave That Never Happened Knight Ridder Newspapers asks what happened to the predicted horde of juvenile “super predators” that were supposed to have numbered 200,000 by now. Instead of a wave of juvenile crime the country is experiencing the sharpest decline in teen crime in modern history. Juvenile homicide arrests are down from 3,000 annually to fewer than 1,000 and only a handful of those homicides occur in schools.
Arrest rates for robbery, rape and aggravated assault are down a third since 1980 for kids aged 10-18, according to the 2006 National Report on Juvenile Offenders and Victims, due out later this month. (The report is the product of our research branch, the National Center for Juvenile Justice.)
Experts say a combination of factors operated to bring down the juvenile crime rate, and no one is really certain about which ones they were. According to Melissa Sickmund, one of our NCJJ researchers, perhaps the question we should ask ourselves is “Why is it that as adults we want to think our kids are the worst kids ever?” Robert Shepherd, University of Richmond law professor, provides some answers in this sidebar to the main article. ++++++++++ Indiana County Addresses Juvenile Mental Illness
A new diagnostic wing of the Allen County Juvenile Center allows criminal justice officials to be better informed about possible reasons a child committed a crime. In addition to the basic personal information all juveniles provide when they are brought to the center, they are all now screened for mental health, physical health, education level and behavioral issues. More screening can be done if mental health is an issue. If you find this article of interest you may also want to look at an article from the latest issue of The Judges’ Page by Judge Louis Trosch, Jr. about collaboration between the juvenile court and mental health systems in Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, North Carolina. In that article the judge describes the development of collaborative relationships and a special form order that lists seven types of evaluations, specifies the questions the evaluator would answer, and provides space for additional questions. I have a copy of the form order and I will send you one if you’re interested. Send me an email with your USPO address and I’ll put a copy in the mail for you. ++++++++++ Targeting Juvenile Sex Rings Using Anti-Trafficking Laws
At a five-day trial in the federal courthouse in Washington, three young women described in graphic detail the life they led with their pimp and under his instruction. These activities came to light after investigations by the District’s Human Trafficking Task Force and the Department of Justice Department’s Innocence Lost initiative, separate efforts that target pimps accused of using violence and preying on girls. Innocence Lost, concentrated in 14 U.S. cities, has launched 140 investigations resulting in convictions of at least 68 pimps. The D.C. task force has initiated more than 30 investigations and has won 17 convictions. ++++++++++ PACER Launches Bullying Prevention Web Site
Second- through sixth-graders can go to PACER’s innovative new web site to learn what bullying is, how to respond to it, and how to prevent it. It is a lively, very interactive site. PACER (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights) is a national advocacy organization with the goal to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life for children and young adults with disabilities and their families. ++++++++++ Little Drop in Abortion Rates if Parents Are Told
The New York Times analyzed six states that introduced parental involvement laws in the last. decade The analysis of states that enacted laws from 1995 to 2005 found no evidence that the laws had a significant impact on the number of minors who got pregnant or, once pregnant, the number who had abortions. A separate analysis considered whether the existence or absence of a law could be used to predict whether abortions when up or down. It could not. ++++++++++ National Adoption Directory
This directory includes state-by-state contact information for a variety of adoption-related organizations and services including public and licensed private adoption agencies, support groups, state reunion registries, and more. Available from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse. 421 page pdf file. ++++++++++
Reunited, A Video for Parents Affected by Meth
This video is being distributed to all child welfare agencies throughout Oregon. It captures frank talk of parents who were able to overcome their problems and work with the child welfare agency in order to be reunited with their children. Most of the parents in the 25 minute video were using methamphetamines when their children entered the child welfare system. Other agencies or individuals can purchase the video at cost through the Reunited web site. Click on the link above. ++++++++++ A Last Chance for Aging Horses and Troubled Children
In Troy, Maine aging or unwanted horses find a safe, caring environment where they can regain their health or live at their days with dignity. At the same time, the animals give young people facing serious problems a chance to care about another and a chance to learn to love. You can learn more about the program and meet the horses at its website, http://lastchanceranchmaine.tripod.com ++++++++++ Mythbusting: Breaking Down Confidentiality and Decision-Making Barriers to Meet the Education Needs of Children in Foster Care
This product of the ABA Center on Children and the Law answers common questions by individuals involved with the child welfare system, including judges, children’s attorneys, parents, foster parents, youth, caseworkers, and court appointed special advocates. 70 page pdf file. ++++++++++ Drug Wars At Home
Parents are dragging their teens to drug testing labs and buying home testing kits by the case over the Internet. Home test kits typically cost $6 to $15 for one test that can detect between five and 10 different drugs. Advocates of drug testing say it is a powerful device that gives a socially acceptable reason for kids to reject drugs. Teen can tell their friends that their parents test them and they will lose cell phone, car or other privileges. Those opposed say drug testing of teens should be done by medical professionals who can better interpret test results and refer parents to appropriate resource if necessary. ++++++++++ In Defense of Broken Windows Writing in the National Review, William Bratton and George Kelling defend the success of the broken windows approach to crime in the face of a number of scholarly reports that it doesn’t work. They point to other research that supports broken windows. ++++++++++ Can Do and the Storm
A child psychiatrist, with help from a child psychologist who works with children who have been through traumatic experiences ,has written a book for children about animals that live through a hurricane. The story is meant to help children begin to think about and share their feelings regarding the frightening events they may have experienced. Illustrated by children. 36 pages. Fully downloadable
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