Friday, August 10, 2012

'Trends in Juvenile Justice State Legislation 2001 – 2011'

See a new report (pdf) with the same title as this post from the National Conference of State Legislatures. One notable finding:
A major trend in juvenile justice policy in the past decade has been to expand the jurisdiction of the juvenile court by increasing the upper age of jurisdiction. Today, 38 states set the maximum age at 17, 10 states—Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin—set the age at 16, and two states—North Carolina and New York—set it at 15; therefore, 16- and 17- year-olds automatically are tried in the adult system.
In 2007, a Connecticut law raised the age of juvenile court jurisdiction from 16 to 18. Connecticut previously had the largest number of inmates under age 18 in its adult system. According to recent data, the proposed change in the age of juvenile jurisdiction moves more than 10,000 new cases a year from the adult criminal justice system to the juvenile justice system. Research also shows that moving 16- and 17-year-old youth out of the adult system into the juvenile system will return about $3 in benefits for every $1 in cost.

Also in 2007, the Rhode Island General Assembly reversed the governor’s recommendation to decrease the age of juvenile jurisdiction from 18 to 17 and restored the jurisdiction age to 18. The same year, Missouri expanded juvenile court jurisdiction to include status offenders age 18 and younger. In 2009, an Illinois act raised the age of juvenile court jurisdiction from 17 to 18 for youth charged with misdemeanor offenses, while Colorado expanded eligibility for sentencing for select youth ages 18 to 21 to the youthful offender system instead of to the adult offender population.

In 2010, a Mississippi law allows juveniles charged with certain felonies— robbery, drug offense and arson— to remain in the juvenile justice system. Previously, all 17-year-olds charged with felonies were tried in adult court. The same year, an Oklahoma measure provided that those up to six months into age 18 can be adjudicated in the juvenile system for misdemeanors.

These actions are significant because extending the age limit in juvenile court affects the lives of hundreds of thousands of youths.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

President Barack Obama is backing a campaign to regulate schools’ disciplinary actions so that members of major racial and ethnic groups are penalized at equal rates, regardless of individuals’ behavior.

His July 26 executive order established a government panel to promote “a positive school climate that does not rely on methods that result in disparate use of disciplinary tools.”

“African Americans lack equal access to highly effective teachers and principals, safe schools, and challenging college-preparatory classes, and they disproportionately experience school discipline,” said the order, titled “White House Initiative On Educational Excellence.”

Whites and Asians should experience school discipline at the same rate as others. It's only fair.

Anonymous said...

Still practicing reverse discrimination and racism are we?

Getting that racist out of the white house can't happen soon enough.

RAS said...

If he is concerned about the quality of Education he should be attacking the unions that protect incompetent teachers.

Anonymous said...

I don't recall this thread's title inviting morons to inflict on thinking people who read this blog whatever inane race-baiting Bullshit that happens to be burrowing a hole in their rectums. Get a life.

Anonymous said...

Public education hasn't been about "education" for a long time. The fact that Obama want's to institute a quota system for school discipline just shows what an idiot he is. I can see it now: "OK, we've got 3 minority students in detention today, and only one white kid. That's not fair. We need two more whit kids. Go find me two more white kids chewing gum, making faces - something we can drag them into detention for! After all, we want to be fair!"

Anonymous said...

10:22 Only a true moron would read "promote “a positive school climate that does not rely on methods that result in disparate use of disciplinary tools..." as a quota system.Of course, folks like you do not believe that lynchings ever hapened either. I have taught in public schools, am white, and saw first hand the results of disparate use of disciplinary tools.

Anonymous said...

The reason blacks are disproportionately represented in AEPS and detention centers is quite simple: blacks are disproportionately disruptive as compared to other students.

This issue will never go away until blacks accept responsibilty for their own behavior and quit blaming white people for their problems.

The fact that 70% of black children are born without a father in the home is shocking!! However, that is a statistic that is never discussed when talking about DMC.

The problem will go away when black men step up to the plate and start assuming some responsibility in the parenting process.

But it is much easier to scream racism, isn't it??

Anonymous said...

I have a flash for you, 09:08. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand the phrase "..regulate schools’ disciplinary actions so that members of major racial and ethnic groups are penalized at equal rates, regardless of individuals’ behavior.."

We are talking QUOTAS here.

CraigO said...

lynchings? Oh please. That has nothing to do with this and if you are suggesting that public schools that are overwhelming run by leftist ideology and administrators are somehow picking on children of color you expose yourself as ignorant and completely full of shit.

Anonymous said...

We don't know what Obama plans to do in his second term, so we might as well hope for the best. In the freedom of his second term, he can transform the way we look at juvenile crime.

RAS said...

And our own money.

Anonymous said...

15:00 The fact that you believe most school administrators are leftist indicates that you are delusional.... and those who resort to profanity expose themselves as dimwitts.

Anonymous said...

What the sam-corn-hell do any of these bullshat comments have to do with "Trends in Juvenile Justice State Legislation 2001-2011?"

Anonymous said...

2:28:

Exactly.

Anonymous said...

A trend I would like to see is legislation that requires better vetting of administrative personnel in TJJD. Especially, seeking people who would focus on rehabilitating the youth, and not just "keeping the current inmate population down." As it is, it seems like in some cases that what happens is losers fail at getting the job done, so they just keep getting moved up the ladder. James Smith is a prime example of this.

Anonymous said...

This week will tell how the department will be led. A new executive director should be named Friday 8/24/12. The TJJD board has the opportunity to correct it's last mistake by hiring an individual who is qualified to lead the department with enough juvenile justice expertise to make sure they lead it down the correct path. We don't need someone who has no juvenile justice experience. The county departments have most of the kids at their level. Whitmire demands kids be keept out of the kiddie jails. Just makes sense we need someone with juvenile probation experience who has been a proven leader in his field.
Cricket

Anonymous said...

Lol Hey Grits who follows up on the old TYC Buildings that were closed? In Brownwood the old Ron Jackson unit II The County took over and is now a Goat Farm so sto speak.. The building is still vacant pretty much and there is a heard of Goats behind the locked fences eating the un kept property. This is a disgrace!

Anonymous said...

Just out of curiosity; if juvenile probation is run by counties and the former "TYC" sector operated by the state, juvenile probation wouldn't need to concern itself with who is appointed as the next exec.

Has the creation of TJJD impacted how juvenile probation departments do business to date?

Anonymous said...

A funny thing about these these juvenile justice threads is all this discussion of how and where we are going to lock them up. But, you rarely see the word "education" mentioned at all.

Education is the only thing that will allow them to be self-sufficient.

Education is the only thing that will allow them to be functioning members of society.

Education is the one thing that is required by law.

Yet, you never see education emphasized or rarely discussed in any of these threads. And, until you focus on the importance of education to these youth, you will accomplish nothing.

James Williams said...

Hey 6:56... Ron Jackson II has repairs that need to be done on the east end of the building . Most juvenile probation departments do not have a full time lawn care staff, as do the old TYC facilities. Do not take this wrong, I would love to have employees dedicated to maintaining the grounds, the Ron Jackson I campus looks great all the time.

Currently I am in negotiation with two different groups to operate much needed programs for juvenile offenders. And the rest of the facility will be used at that time.

Until then we will keep providing all the services juvenile probation departments provide, operate a hold over and continue working to find a good fit for the facility and the needs of Texas in the treatment of those in the juvenile justice system.

While that is going on, goats will mow the back until I can get around to it ..... Or the state increases my funding so I too can have lawn care!

Thanks for your continued interest !

James R. Williams

If your volunteering to mow just call the office and we can set that up also.

Anonymous said...

Does anybody know when a new director will be selected?

Anonymous said...

The board gets a chance to get this right---- Mike Griffiths is a seasoned Texas Juvenile Justice professional who was passed over last time for Perry's pick. Now we can have someone who can actually be effective--- or bring in a Perry pick again and be right back to square 1. Pack Mr Fix-It Jay- boy off to his next free lunch and get it right this time.

Anonymous said...

@10:42 "goats will mow the back until I can get around to it ....."

Hmmmm - Goats & TYC staff, its whats for dinner.

Anonymous said...

If they screw this up and pick the "general" it will cause the field to continue as it has. Only this time it will be TYC staff AND the probation side. For the "general" it's a career resume killer.... For the system it's another set back, and for the kids, the screwing continues ! Just not the abuse kind, so I guess there has been some improvement !