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The Campaign for Youth Justice held webinar to discuss our final report, “Winning the Campaign: State Trends in Fighting the Treatment of Children As Adults in the Criminal".

The report finds that the number of children prosecuted as adults has plummeted over the past 15 years, and more laws passed and implemented over the past three years are likely to reduce those numbers further.

CFYJ CEO Marcy Mistrett led our discussion with:

Brian Evans (Campaign for Youth Justice) Brian authored the report and leads the Campaign in supporting state advocacy efforts and providing technical assistance to states. He works closely in partnership with state-based organizing groups seeking to change juvenile justice policy for the better.

Elizabeth Calvin (Human Rights Watch) & Frankie Guzman (National Center for Youth Law): California has passed a series of bills that reduces the ability of children to be tried as if adults, since 2018 that includes ending direct file and raising the floor of judicial transfer to 16.

Jason Smith (Michigan Center for Youth Justice): After a five year Campaign, Michigan became one of two states who raised the age during this trends period, joined by Missouri. This was a major effort that included other comprehensive changes that benefit young people.

Brett Peterson (Director, Utah DJJ): Earlier this year, Utah was one of two states (joining Virginia) who rolled back their direct file statute earlier this year.

Oscar Canale, Anti Recidivism Coalition

When the Campaign for Youth Justice was born 15 years ago (2005), as many as 250,000 children a year were being prosecuted as adults across the country every year. The incarceration of children in adult jails had increased more than 200% since the mid 1990s; and 3:4 of children sent to adult prison were youth of color.
Fifteen years later, through the unwavering commitment of children who had been sentenced as adults, their families, advocates, legislators on both sides of the aisle, the philanthropic community, and researchers—many of the goals of the Campaign have been met.
These wins couldn’t have happened without each and every one of you joining this movement. While the work is not finished—there are still far too many children entering the adult criminal justice system—the tools now exist to fight these battles locally. We welcome you to continue fighting for our young people and ensuring they receive equal protections regardless of where they live.
We invite you to our Virtual Farewell Party as we come together to celebrate our victories as we say our goodbyes to CFYJ.

October 1, 2020 YJAM (Youth Justice Action Month) begins again. Since 2008, youth justice advocates around the country have come together to organize events and online activities to raise awareness and inspire action on behalf of young people impacted by our criminal justice system.

When the Campaign for Youth Justice was born 15 years ago (2005), as many as 250,000 children a year were being prosecuted as adults across the country every year. The incarceration of children in adult jails had increased more than 200% since the mid 1990s; and 3:4 of children sent to adult prison were youth of color.

Fifteen years later, through the unwavering commitment of children who had been sentenced as adults, their families, advocates, legislators on both sides of the aisle, the philanthropic community, and researchers—many of the goals of the Campaign have been met.

Join us over the next few weeks, during the month of YJAM as we roll out these wins through whiteboards, new reports, and videos. Including this one!

These wins couldn’t have happened without each and every one of you joining this movement. While the work is not finished—there are still far too many children entering the adult criminal justice system—the tools now exist to fight these battles locally. We welcome you to continue fighting for our young people and ensuring they receive equal protections regardless of where they live.

Since 2009, YJAM has grown every year. Youth, families, students and advocates throughout the country have made YJAM what it is today – a movement to end the prosecution of youth in the adult system.

This year for YJAM, the Campaign for Youth Justice joins other national organizations and movements in calling for our local communities to vote in local elections because voting for youth justice matters. While public safety often makes it onto the public polls and local political platforms, we spend little time re-imagining justice for our young people. In fact, most people in local courtrooms—district attorneys, sheriffs, and judges—are in elected positions. This year, we will spend YJAM raising awareness in states about local government and how their decisions directly affect our daily lives, especially when it comes to policing and the public safety of our most vulnerable population, our children.

As the 2018 state legislative sessions come to a close, CFYJ staff offer a brief look at key issues relating to youth tried in adult court, legislation that was proposed and passed, as well as what to look for in the 2019 session. 

In 2016, the South Carolina legislature unanimously passed S. 916 to raise the age of juvenile court jurisdiction so that 17-year-olds (excluding those charged with Class A-D felony offenses) would start in family court. Implementation of the law in July 2019 is contigent on the Department of Juvenile Justice receiving "necessary funds" for implementation. This webinar will provide a data overview of youth in South Carolina's system, an overview of implementation strategies for judges, and an opportunity for feedback on what needs to happen between now and July 2019 to ensure smooth implementation.

What happens when a juvenile offender is locked up in a super-maximum security prison? Frontline reports on the story of Alonza Thoomas.

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Part of the 40 for 40: 40 Stories for 40 Years of the JJDPA video wall project, marking the 40th anniversary in 2014 of the landmark U.S. law, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA).

Participants from around the United States -- young people, advocates, researchers, law enforcement, judges, policymakers -- shared personal stories and reflections on the law, why it matters, and why it must be strengthened and better enforced.

Learn more: http://sparkaction.org/40for40

Go to http://reason.com/reasontv/2013/09/26... for links to resources mentioned below and more information and videos.

"Why lock somebody up while you're locked up? You're trying to kill their spirit even more," says Michael Kemp, describing his six-month stay in solitary confinement at age 17.

Solitary confinement was once a punishment reserved for the most-hardened, incorrigible criminals. Today, it is standard practice for tens of thousands of juveniles in prisons and jails across America. Far from being limited to the most violent offenders, solitary confinement is now used against perpetrators of minor crimes and children who are forced to await their trials in total isolation. Often, these stays are prolonged, lasting months or even years at a time.

In the US, minors who get in trouble with the law often face a justice system that treats them like adults, and punishes them with long sentences in tough prisons. After spending their teenage years behind bars, many have a hard time adjusting to life on the outside.

D.C.'s News Channel 8 covers the Campaign for Youth Justice's Holiday Book Drive with Free Minds Book Club. News features formerly incarcerated youth and burgeoning poet and activist Michael Kemp. Story details restrictions to education on kids in the adult criminal justice system.

IN AN EFFORT TO CUT JUVENILE CRIME AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, FIFTEEN STATES HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION REMOVING YOUTH FROM THE ADULT CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THATʼS ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT, "STATE TRENDS:
LEGISLATIVE CHANGES FROM 2005 TO 2010," BY THE CAMPAIGN FOR YOUTH JUSTICE.

Neelum Arya, author of State Trends Report Legislative Victories from 2005 to 2010 Removing Youth from the Adult Criminal Justice System briefly explains the report and its implications

Angelo Jones from North Carolina was a 3.0 student in college, but didn't know how tough North Carolina's laws were for kids. Angelo tells you his story about missing a curfew and the consequences that follow.

Tracy McClard, a Jackson, MO mother, lost her son to suicide in an adult jail. KFVS-TV profiles this incredible mother and her juvenile justice advocacy work.

Action for Children North Carolina, Children First and Communities in Schools of Buncombe County held a community forum on best practices for steering youth away from crime, consequences of sending youth to the adult criminal system, engaging communities in the public policy debate, and funding for local juvenile justice service programs. Shay Bilchik, Director of the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown Public Policy Institute, former prosecutor, and former head of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, joined Pediatrician Dr. Olson Huff as speakers.

Tracy McClard's son Jonathan took his life at 17 years old in an adult facility. Tracy is now working with the Campaign for Youth Justice make others aware of the danger of placing youth in adult jails and prisons. KFVS-TV sat down with Tracy to discuss the issue.

Faith Communities for Families and Children presents, God Cries When We Sentence Children to Die in Prison. Five religious leaders from diverse faith traditions, united with the shared conviction that God does not want any of our children to perish as casualties of our justice system.