[link removed] [[link removed]]
John,
Today, The Sentencing Project released a new report, “System Reforms to Reduce Youth Incarceration: Why We Must Explore Every Option Before Removing Any Young Person from Home,” [[link removed]] [[link removed]] which describes reforms that state and local youth justice systems can and should adopt to combat the overuse of incarceration and maximize the success of youth who are placed in alternative-to-incarceration programs.
Most state and local youth justice systems continue to employ problematic policies and practices that often lead to incarceration of youth who pose minimal or modest risk to public safety. It’s essential that state and local jurisdictions seize every opportunity to keep young people safely at home with their families, in their schools and communities.
The report outlines an agenda of proven and promising state and local reforms, citing examples from across the nation where reforms are being employed constructively, including:
State reforms:
*
Prohibiting
incarceration
in
state-funded
youth
correctional
facilities
for
some
offenses
*
Creating
fiscal
incentives
that
discourage
local
courts
from
committing
youth
to
state
custody
*
Redirecting
savings
from
decarceration
to
fund
alternative-to-incarceration
programs
*
Ensuring
access
to
rigorous
mental
health
treatment
*
Shortening
the
duration
of
confinement
for
those
who
are
incarcerated
Local reforms:
*
Narrowing
the
pipeline
to
incarceration
in
the
early
stages
of
the
justice
system
process
*
Transforming
probation
practices
to
focus
on
supporting
youth’s
long-term
success
*
Ending
the
incarceration
of
youth
for
violating
probation
rules
and
conditions
*
Undertaking
comprehensive
race-conscious
system
reforms
aimed
at
reducing
correctional
placements
*
Convening
stakeholder
meetings
to
explore
every
alternative-to-incarceration
before
placing
any
young
person
into
a
long-term
facility
READ THE REPORT [[link removed]]
[[link removed]] Richard Mendel
Senior Research Fellow
Email: [email protected] [[email protected]]
Donate [[link removed]]
[link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] The Sentencing Project
1705 DeSales St. NW
8th Fl
Washington, DC 20036
United States
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