Children and Young People in Conflict with the Law: Asking the Hard Questions
By Judge Andrew Becroft

Abstract: Shocking crimes elicit calls to “get tough” on youth offenders, but knee-jerk responses are inappropriate and potentially dangerous. Although accountability and deterrence are important, rehabilitation is vital for young people who are more likely to benefit from such measures than their adult counterparts. However, balancing these factors raises a number of hard questions. For example, at what age should children be held criminally responsible for their actions, what is the correct role of welfare assistance in the process, and to what extent should state power to deal with child offending be transferred to families, victims, and communities? In assessing eight of these “hard questions,” this paper calls for a principled approach to the treatment of child and youth offenders in line with international human rights instruments.

The RWJF Reclaiming Futures Initiative: Improving Substance Abuse Interventions for Justice-Involved Youths
By Laura Burney Nissen, Jeffrey A. Butts, Daniel Merrigan, and M. Katherine Kraft

Abstract: Juvenile justice systems in the United States do not always respond effectively to substance abuse problems among young offenders. In 2002, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation launched a 10-community demonstration project to address this problem. Reclaiming Futures (RF) relies on community partnerships to improve treatment quality, strengthen local leadership, expand inter-organizational collaboration, and create systems of shared performance management. The initial findings of a cross-site evaluation suggest that Reclaiming Futures is yielding important and positive change. Bi-annual surveys of key informants measure the quality and integration of juvenile justice and substance abuse treatment systems in each community. Of 13 indices measured by the surveys, 11 showed significant improvements between 2003 and 2005.

Advancing Accountability: Moving Toward Victim Restoration
By Valerie Bender, Melanie King, and Patricia Torbet

Abstract: One of the goals of Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system is the “imposition of accountability” for offenses committed. This White Paper, originally published in 2006, takes the position that true accountability requires juvenile offenders to repair the harm caused by their offending behavior and to understand and acknowledge the wrongfulness of their actions, their responsibility for causing harm, and the impact of the crime on the crime victim and community. It identifies system responsibilities, restorative practices and outcomes relative to accountability. This White Paper was the result of debate among focus group participants under the auspices of the State Advisory Group.