Children and Youth

Since 1983, Massachusetts has been the only state in the United States to provide a Right to Shelter for homeless families—adults accompanied by one or more children. The Right to…

Fifty years ago this month, the landmark Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act was signed into law. At the time, there were roughly half a million children locked up in adult…

Young voters in rural areas continue to feel ignored in politics as the presidential election intensifies, according to research this spring from the Center for Information and Research on Civic…

After giving birth in 2011, Eboney Ellis says she didn’t get any time to bond with her newborn in prison. Ellis, who was incarcerated and in the custody of the…

Unlike the punishment for adults who’ve committed crimes, state and federal laws dictate that the juvenile justice system must provide treatment, rehabilitation and a chance to correct the missteps of…

Three years ago, after a video of Rochester police handcuffing and pepper-spraying a schoolgirl in distress reached the public, state and local officials joined in uniform outrage, calling for immediate reforms…

All nine of New York’s juvenile facilities are monitored 24-7 by video surveillance systems. Staff, youth, contractors, and volunteers undergo background checks and receive annual training on the prevention, detection,…

Defense attorneys working in juvenile courts scrutinize evidence, cross-examine police and advocate for specialized services for their young clients. But with heavy caseloads and little time to prepare for hearings,…

Nashville Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway is ready to do just about anything to change public opinion about the justice system and youth restorative justice programs. Calloway, who oversees Davidson County’s juvenile court,…

On Tuesday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that the state will try to shut down its three large youth correctional facilities in favor of building smaller and less centralized units…

Last July, in the hillside neighborhood of Montclair, California, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price faced a church overflowing with people, many of whom blamed her for the crime in…

Concerned about overcrowded youth detention centers, Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court officials sought safer settings and a better path forward for kids. Apryl Gordon agreed to offer such a place at…