Rep. Avila, primary sponsor of HB 725

On July 26, the North Carolina General Assembly ended a much debated legislative session.  Many of you watched as social justice advocates fought back legislation that would harm voter rights, women’s rights, as well as reduce resources to NC’s education system which will impact thousands of youth and families across the state. For those of us in the youth justice field, we watched as youth justice advocates worked tirelessly for several months to push forward HB 725, the Young Offenders Rehabilitation Act (Raise the Age), as well as oppose HB 217, a bill that would remove judicial discretion from juvenile transfer cases and undermine the forward thinking policy recommendations of the Raise the Age campaign.

North Carolina experienced a difficult session but the commitment from youth justice supporters cannot go unnoticed. Many of you joined the Campaign for Youth Justice (CFYJ) in taking a stand for North Carolina youth.  Coordinating efforts with our allies on the ground, the CFYJ network, as well as other national partners – we made phone calls, wrote letters, conducted legislator visits, and signed on to petitions that reminded NC leaders that our NC allies were not in this fight alone.

We applaud you and thank you for your energy and persistence during this legislative session.  It is this collective effort that makes state campaigns stronger during session and for future campaigns. A recap of each legislative bill is below. Please make sure to visit Action for Children NC to stay connected to the Raise the Age campaign. If you have questions or would like to continue to receive state campaign updates, contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Update on HB 725
HB 725 the Young Offender Rehabilitation Act (Raise the Age) received a successful second reading vote on the House floor – a 61 to 37 vote – a real sign of bipartisan support! Since session ended on the same day, the bill will now wait for the short session to begin in May 2014 and will resurface on the House calendar for a third reading before heading to the Senate. Outreach efforts will continue during the interim to prepare for the 2014 legislative session. Your continued support will give HB 725 a fighting chance during the short session in May. To learn more about HB 725, click HERE.

Update on HB 217
HB 217, the bill that would remove judicial discretion in juvenile transfer cases and place the fate of NC youth in the hands of prosecutors did not move out of the Senate because of your persistent and strong pushback.  Although we were able to stall the bill in the Senate Judiciary II committee, this bill has the opportunity to be re-introduced during the short session in May 2014. It is important to remember that elements of the 217 proposal were much worse than what it was eventually ratified to be, and that is in no small part to your actions. We will continue to monitor this piece of legislation and will keep you updated on local efforts to defeat this bill. For now, you can find more information about HB 217, HERE

By Shanta' Gray

This year I made a personal goal to raise the number of members in the Alliance for Youth Justice.

 The Alliance for Youth Justice is a group of families and allies from all across the country that have come together to advocate, share information and guide policy reform efforts to reform the systems of injustice that have abused, neglected and blamed families for society’s failures.  We know that together, families can empower each other and reform systems that seek to destroy our children, families and our communities.

The Alliance for Youth Justice hosts monthly calls among parents, families and allies to share information about youth in the adult system and the reform efforts.  Our monthly call is by phone, the first Thursday of each month.   Families will also have access to the latest news and developments pertaining to best practices within youth justice and updates on other grassroots efforts for reform.

My goal is to have 50 new members join the Alliance for Youth Justice by December 2013. So far, I have 20 new members this year.  Please help me by spreading the word about the Alliance to help me make my goal for this year.

If you know a family member that should be a part of this growing movement, please have them email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

By Mackenzie Tudor

On May 17th, the Campaign for Youth Justice (CFYJ) and The National Crittenton Foundation participated in a workshop entitled, “What Can Be Done For Girls in the Juvenile Justice System?” at the Association for Junior Leagues International Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., where they discussed system-involved girls and girls at risk of becoming involved in the justice system and what can be done to help. The Junior League has a rich history in juvenile justice advocacy and was actively involved in the 1970s and 80s in the development and subsequent reauthorizations of the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.

Moderated by Jill Ward, panelists CFYJ CEO Liz Ryan, Crittenton Foundation President Jeannette Pai-Espinosa, and Just Kids Partnership Advocate Jabreria Handy, spoke about the issues surrounding the rise in the number of girls in the juvenile justice system and the ways that Junior League Members could get involved.

The highlight of the event was Jabreria Handy. At the age of 16, Jabreria was charged as an adult in the criminal justice system for a crime that she did not commit. She spent 11 months in the Baltimore City Detention Center before her case was sent back to the juvenile justice system. She now shares her story to help ensure that no youth will ever have to go through what she experienced. Jabreria’s account of her experience as a youth in the adult criminal system had a powerful impact on the workshop attendees. Jabreria emphasized that programming both in and out of the juvenile justice system is crucial and, unfortunately, is not as available to youth incriminated in the adult system. Providing support to these girls is critical to helping them transition back into the community.

Jabreria’s perspective on what girls need was echoed by Jeannette Pai-Espinosa. The National Crittenton Foundation has conducted research on Adverse Childhood Experiences that included girls in the juvenile justice system. Girls in the juvenile justice system are often victims of abuse, neglect, household dysfunction or substance abuse in the home.  As a result, these girls are more likely to be incarcerated for status offenses, offenses that would not be illegal if the individual was an adult, such as running away from home. Once in the system, girls often fail to receive the services they need, and instead are re-traumatized and derailed from educational achievement.

This discussion clearly resonated with many of the women in attendance. Sparked by Jabreria’s story, there was a clear desire from those in attendance to learn more about how they could help the at-risk girls both in and out of the juvenile justice system.

Liz Ryan identified the following key steps to take to start advocating for girls in your communities:

1. Urge your Governor to implement the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) to ensure that girls are not placed in adult jails and prisons.

• Contact your Governor 

2. Contact your Representative and Senators and urge them to provide more federal resources to address the needs of girls in the justice system.

• Tell your Senator
• Tell your Representative

3.  Reach out to the Juvenile Justice Specialist in your state to get information on how your state is addressing gender-specific programming in its JJDPA state plan. http://www.ojjdp.gov/statecontacts/ResourceList.asp

4. Engage your community and plan an event around October 23rd, National Girls Justice Day. Contact Leah Robertson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

5. Contact the National Girls institute and request technical assistance to create programming in your community.  http://www.nationalgirlsinstitute.org

For more take action steps go here.

Want to learn more about girls in the juvenile justice system? Take a look at CFYJ’s resource list here.

On April 17, committee members of Judiciary Subcommittee B convened and passed an amended version of HB 217 which is now scheduled to go to the Appropriations Committee. The language for the updated bill can be found, here.

•  B1 and B2 felonies committed by 15 year olds would be subject to prosecutorial discretion; and
• All other felonies (C – E classifications) committed by 15 year olds will be sent to a study committee of Judiciary B Subcommittee to determine how often a prosecutor’s request for transfer is denied by the judiciary. 

During the month of April, thousands of individuals and organizations will be calling on  their governors to cease the practice of placing youth in adult jails and prisons in order to comply with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).  Passed unanimously by Congress in 2003, PREA restricts the placement of youth in adult jails and prisons. The U.S. Department of Justice regulations state: “as a matter of policy, the Department supports strong limitations on the confinement of adults with juveniles.”  The regulations ban the housing of youth in the general adult population, prohibit contact between youth and adults in common areas, and limit the use of isolation.
Children in adult jails and prisons are:

--At the greatest risk of sexual victimization according to the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission;

--Often placed in solitary confinement 'for their own protection' which is detrimental to their mental health and can result in suicide; and

--Denied educational services, counseling and other supports.
It is crucial that governors fully protect children from the dangers of adult jails and prisons.  Rather than try to segregate children from adults in adult jails and prisons which often leads to solitary confinement, governors should implement best practices by removing youth from adult jails and prisons.

Take Action Now!

Here are 2 things you can do today:
(1) Tell your governor there's no excuse for keeping kids in adult jails and prisons!
Click here to contact your governor!

(2) Spread the word!
Throughout the month of April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we hope you will spread the word! We will be sharing information and ways to get involved. To get updates, view our blog, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @JusticeforYouth. Our hashtag is: #Implement PREA.

For additional information our PREA page, here.

CFYJ with students from Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools of Public Policy

By Pauline Cao

This morning, the Alliance for Youth Justice, in partnership with the Campaign for Youth Justice, participated in a stimulating presentation for a class at Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools of Public Policy.  Mary Kate, Kate, and Daniela are three graduate students at Smith College School for Social Work and have been working with the Campaign over the past few months, researching and creating useful fact sheets. Part of their project is to engage the community about juvenile justice issues, and what better way is there to engage the community than engaging the youth themselves?

The students at the Chavez School learn about public policy and social justice issues to empower them to use critical thinking as civic leaders that are committed to bettering the world. These high school students at the Capitol Hill campus are very intelligent and absorbed in the issues. They were engaged and had enlightening comments to contribute throughout the entire presentation.

The presentation consisted of discussions about juvenile justice issues and a panel that was facilitated by CFYJ’s Shanta’ Gray. The panel comprised of two CFYJ Spokespersons, Michael Kemp and Keila Hailes. Michael is a formerly incarcerated youth, and Keila’s son is a youth that was affected by the system.

After hearing Michael and Keila’s stories, the students were able to ask questions and have captivating discussions with the spokespeople. For example, during a discussion about education for youth after serving time, they often are sent to alternative schools instead of their typical class setting they were at before they were incarcerated. One student bravely opened up about how he went to an alternative school before attending a Chavez School and he is grateful for the school he is at now. He powerfully said, “I got out and I’m never going back”.  In fact, this student is graduating this year.

The students at Cesar Chavez had to do a take away ticket at the end of the presentation,  the take away was to share the information they learned in the presentation with their peers and the community. The students suggested sharing the material with teachers, friends, and specifically friends who have been affected by criminal justice system in Washington, DC.

Today, the National Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Coalition (NJJDPC), a Coalition comprising more than 300 national, state, and local organizations working together to ensure healthy families, build strong communities, and improve community safety and well-being, released "Promoting Safe Communities: Recommendations to the Congress".

The report calls on Congress to support effective systems of justice for our youth by focusing on the following five priority areas:

1. Restore Federal Leadership in Juvenile Justice Policy
2. Support and Prioritize Prevention, Early Intervention, and Diversion Strategies
3. Ensure Safety and Fairness for Court-Involved Youth
4. Remove Youth from the Adult Criminal Justice System
5. Support Youth Reentry

"The juvenile justice system across the U.S. is in urgent need of reform, and federal leadership is necessary to advance the pace of change. Congress has the unique opportunity to reverse this trend and promote and support evidence-based practices and policies that prevent delinquency, "said Liz Ryan, CEO and Founder of the Campaign for Youth Justice. "It is our hope that the 113th Congress accepts these proposed recommendations to create better outcomes for our youth, as well as our communities."

NJJDPC comprises more than 300 national, state and local organizations working together to ensure healthy families, build strong communities, and improve community safety and well-being.

To take action in your state:

1. Email this full report to your members of Congress with a note asking them to support these recommendations.
2. Share this document and the NJJDPC website, promotesafecommunities, on your Facebook page or Twitter feed.