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Mental Health / Juvenile Justice Action Network
- System Failure: Sexual Victimization in Illinois Juvenile Prisons
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6/13/2013
by HuffPost Chicago
- by John Maki, Executive Director of the John Howard Association of Illinois
- In a recently released national study, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) found that Illinois ranked among the four worst states in the country for rates of reported sexual victimization in…
- My View: Juvenile justice system broken, needs oversight
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6/13/2013
by Freeport (IL) Journal-Standard
- by Elizabeth Clarke, President of the Juvenile Justice Initiative
- Too often, it takes a crisis — and victims — to bring about a change.
- Experts say Illinois youth prisons need independent ombudsman
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6/11/2013
by WBEZ (Chicago Public Radio)
- by Patrick Smith
- The chair of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission says Gov. Pat Quinn must act quickly to protect kids in the state’s youth prisons.
Retired Judge George Timberlake says incarcerated youth…
- In Illinois, a Season of Restorative Justice
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6/5/2013
by JJIE Resource Hub
- by Judge George Timberlake
- It has been a good spring for juvenile justice in Illinois. In a year of great fiscal challenge, the General Assembly approved Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposal to double funding for Redeploy Illinois,…
- Cruel, Unusual, and a Matter of Law in Illinois
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6/5/2013
by The Atlantic
- by Paige Sutherland, Bryan Lowry, and Ananth Baliga
- The one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision to outlaw juvenile mandatory life sentencing without parole is coming up fast, yet Illinois is no closer to being in compliance.
- A Public-Private Partnership that Works
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5/23/2013
by Juvenile Law Center
- by Autumn Dickman
- Public-private partnerships are a staple of good government initiatives. Rarely, however, has such a partnership existed in juvenile justice on the scale of MacArthur Foundation’s…
- Prevent crime by giving children the right start
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5/23/2013
by St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- by St. Clair County (IL) State's Attorney Brendan Kelly
- There is a growing consensus among law enforcement that we need to be doing much more on the front end to prevent crime on the back end. That’s why my office has created a Children’s…
- Editorial: Fighting crime the smart way
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5/22/2013
by Chicago Sun-Times
- As recently as three years ago, more than 1,300 young people were locked up in juvenile prisons in Illinois, costing the state a small fortune, from $88,000 to $98,000 per inmate.
Now, thanks in…
- Voice of the Reader: Redeploy Illinois needs support
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5/21/2013
by Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale)
- by Union County (IL) State's Attorney Tyler Edmonds
- My law enforcement colleagues do a good job addressing juvenile crime and making sure offending juveniles are taken off the streets. But we continually arrest and prosecute the same kids and send…
- Violence in the streets can start in the home
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5/17/2013
by WBEZ-FM (Chicago Public Radio)
- by Adriana Cardona-Maguigad
- CHICAGO -- Ubaldina is a mother of six, who works the night shift at a packing company so she can be there when her kids come home from school.
She’s raising her kids alone now. She said her…
- Juvenile Justice shows progress
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5/16/2013
by Illinois Times
- by Patrick Yeagle
- When the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice was created in 2006, the state’s youth prisons held 1,500 juvenile offenders. Today, there are fewer than 900 kids behind bars in Illinois…
- Two Major Juvenile Justice Bills Passed in Illinois Senate
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5/15/2013
by Juvenile Justice Information Exchange
- by James Swift
- On Tuesday, Illinois state senators passed two bills with potentially profound implications on the state’s juvenile justice system.
- ‘Math tutoring on steroids’ aims to help troubled Chicago teens, muscle out crime
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5/12/2013
by Chicago Sun-Times
- by Frank Main
- Math kills crime.
That’s the result researchers expect from a program that combines “math tutoring on steroids” with sports-based mentoring for troubled teens in Chicago.
- One Case Makes the Case for Community Based Services
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5/8/2013
by Youth Today
- by Judge George W. Timberlake, Ret.
- CHICAGO -- The national debate continues over the issues of guns and violence, but attention to the subject of mental health services and funding must not be lost.
We cannot miss the opportunity to…
- Editorial: State can be a leader in juvenile justice
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5/7/2013
by Chicago Sun-Times
- In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that juveniles should not be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.
But the court didn’t address two issues. What about juveniles who…
- Transforming the Justice System by Partnering with Families
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5/6/2013
by Campaign for Youth Justice
- by Neelum Arya
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- Juvenile Justice: Program in Illinois leaves some wondering whether the concept of fairness is being served
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5/1/2013
by Illinois Issues magazine
- by Jamey Dunn
- If a 17-year-old were caught stealing an iPod in Illinois, he or she would likely end up in the juvenile justice system. However, if the same teenager were caught stealing the newest iPhone, he or…
- After Years of Slow Progress, Illinois Finds Traction In Efforts to Meet Needs of Mentally Ill Youth
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5/1/2013
by Juvenile Justice Information Exchange
- by Ed Finkel and Dick Mendel
- Early in 2000, after a groundbreaking study revealed epidemic levels of mental illness among detained youth in Cook County – plus a severe lack of counseling and treatment – the Illinois…
- A New Hub for Juvenile Justice Research
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4/24/2013
by Juvenile Justice Resource Hub
- by Juvenile Justice Information Exchange and the National Juvenile Justice Network
- Juvenile justice professionals take note: a new resource launches this week that will make it easier—and more engaging—than ever to get in-depth journalism stories together with key…
- Raise the Age; Don't Split the Difference
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4/3/2013
by Youth Today
- by Judge George W. Timberlake, Ret.
- The MacArthur Foundation's new "Mistakes Kids Make" Internet-based campaign is a welcome and innovative way to educate the public of the wisdom of giving kids an opportunity to straighten out their…
- Editorial: Raise age for charging youths as adults
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3/25/2013
by Chicago Sun-Times
- In Illinois, a 17-year-old goof caught shoplifting a $150 iPod Touch, a misdemeanor theft, is charged as a juvenile.
If the same 17-year-old goof steals a $400 iPhone, a felony theft, he is charged…
- We are the System
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3/6/2013
by Youth Today
- by Judge George W. Timberlake, Ret.
- Since the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School late last year, there has been an abundance of suggested policy changes to keep children safe. They include armed guards in every school…
- Children and Family Justice Center awarded 2013 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions
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2/28/2013
- by Northwestern University
- Video: The Children and Family Justice Center
The extraordinary accomplishments of the Children and Family Justice Center were recognized by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, which…
- Study Recommends Extending Illinois Juvenile Court Jurisdiction to Include 17-year-olds Charged with Felony Offenses
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2/26/2013
by Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 26, 2013
Recommendation: To promote a juvenile justice system focused on public safety, youth rehabilitation, fairness, and fiscal responsibility, Illinois should…
- Truancy Needs Early and Innovative Intervention
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2/20/2013
by Youth Today
- by Judge George W. Timberlake, Ret.
- Skipping school – perhaps that makes you think of adventures with high school friends just to test your independence. Four of my high school pals skipped school one beautiful spring day and…
- Jindal seeks reforms for juvenile justice, prisons
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2/15/2013
by The Advertiser
- by Mike Hasten
- BATON ROUGE — The Legislature could improve young people's lives, lower the crime rate, reduce the number of nonviolent inmates held in state prisons and save money by passing a package of…
- Though controversial, prison reform a necessity
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2/10/2013
by Chicago Sun-Times
- by Esther Franco-Payne
- Every discussion of state government today revolves around the public pension funds stalemate, a crisis that has sucked the air out of the State Capitol.
Yet, the wheels of state government keep…
- A Rational Approach to School Safety and Student Performance
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2/5/2013
by Juvenile Justice Information Exchange
- by Judge George W. Timberlake, Ret.
- Debate is raging in communities across the country about the role of police in our nation’s schools. While the discussion is long overdue, too often the debate centers on the role and presence…
- Why is it so hard to expunge juvenile records in Cook County?
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2/4/2013
by Chicago Public Radio
- by Linda Paul
- Thousands of kids get arrested each year at school in Chicago, and that might not be news to you.
But what might be surprising are what can be long-term consequences of juvenile arrests, even for…
- How many Chicago juvenile arrests happen at school?
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2/4/2013
by Chicago Public Radio
- by Linda Paul
- Tens of thousands of young people get arrested each year in Chicago, and a lot of those arrests happen on the grounds of Chicago Public Schools. Of course, arrests at school happen all across the…
- Juvenile offenders studied: Report links mental health issues, jail in Louisiana
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2/1/2013
by The Advocate
- by Mark Ballard
- Louisiana jails a higher percentage of youthful inmates with mental health needs than most other states, according to a study released Thursday.
“We don’t do a very good job of keeping…
- Report calls for increased funding for juvenile justice efforts
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2/1/2013
by The Times-Picayune
- by Laura Maggi
- To sustain and ramp up changes to Louisiana's juvenile justice system there needs to be adequate funding at both the state and local levels, experts recommended in a report released Thursday. At a…
- LSUHSC School of Public Health Institute for Public Health and Justice Hosts Conference in Baton Rouge to Discuss Progress Thus Far and Next Steps in Reform
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1/30/2013
- by Louisiana Models for Change and Institute for Public Health and Justice
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Contact Information
Jim Harris
225-344-0381
LSUHSC School of Public Health Institute for Public Health and Justice Hosts…
- Screen to Save: Youth Assessment Conserves Resources and Improves Outcomes for Youth
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1/23/2013
- by Gina Vincent and David Kindler
- Screen to Save: Youth Assessment Conserves Resources and Improves Outcomes for Youth
Youth “risk for re-offending” assessment tools can help juvenile justice systems to target resources…
- LSU Institute for Public Health and Justice Director to Speak at Regional Conference About Louisiana’s Success in Implementing Evidence-based Practices on a Statewide Level
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1/14/2013
- by Louisiana Models for Change and Institute for Public Health and Justice
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2012
Contact Information
Jim Harris
225-344-0381
LSU Institute for Public Health and Justice Director to Speak at Regional Conference About…
- Redeploy Illinois Savings Pass $40 Million As State Officials Advocate Expansion
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11/8/2012
- by Illinois Models for Change
- SPRINGFIELD, IL – After seven successive years of experience reducing the number of youth committed to state incarceration, some state officials are convinced resources to support the Redeploy…
- For the Newly-Elected Judge, a Different View of Juvenile Court
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11/7/2012
by Youth Today
- by Judge George W. Timberlake, Ret.
- Dozens of lawyers won their first elections as judges this month, and they will soon experience the sensation of viewing the courtroom from the other side of the bench and hearing the words…
- International Juvenile Justice Conference Told of Shift Away from Incarceration of Youth in USA
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11/6/2012
- by Illinois Models for Change
- Elizabeth Clarke, the leader of a juvenile justice reform coalition in Illinois, told an international audience Tuesday of a trend away from mass incarceration of youth in the United States.
In…
- After the Violence, the Rest of Their Lives
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11/4/2012
by New York Times
- by Erica Goode
- CHICAGO — Xavier McElrath-Bey drives past the dilapidated houses, liquor stores and vacant lots in his old neighborhood and sees the landmarks of his youth.
- Lawsuit Seeks Changes in Youth Parole Revocation Hearings in Illinois
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11/1/2012
- by Illinois Models for Change
- CHICAGO – Comparing parole revocations hearings in for youth in Illinois to “kangaroo courts,” a class action lawsuit filed recently in federal court has charged that the hearings…
- Don’t play politics: Close underused youth prisons
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10/28/2012
by Chicago Sun-Times
- by Stephanie Kollmann
- Voters are rightly disinclined to blame state workers for Illinois’ fiscal woes. Still, it’s hard to imagine the economic moment when taxpayers would be sympathetic to a union that…
- Illinois Advocate Sues to Speed Juvenile Parole Reform
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10/25/2012
by Juvenile Justice Information Exchange
- by Maggie Lee
- Juveniles who appeared before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board (IPRB) for parole revocation hearings were denied due process, according to a state-commissioned report that’s almost a year…
- Letter: Much done, much to do on juvenile justice
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10/23/2012
by The Advocate-Baton Rouge, La.
- by Louisiana Models for Change
- It has been a long road for juvenile justice reform in Louisiana. There has been some improvement, but much more needs to be done. In 2001, the Louisiana Legislature took steps to revitalize the…
- Agreement Could Lead to Additional Improvements for Incarcerated Youth in Illinois
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9/12/2012
- by Illinois Models for Change
- CHICAGO – An agreement between the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) and the ACLU of Illinois may avert a potential expensive and lengthy court battle and lead to improvements in…
- llinois should close two juvenile prisons to save money
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9/3/2012
by St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- by George W. Timberlake, Chair, Illinois Juvenle Justice Commission
- With Gov. Pat Quinn and Illinois AFSCME locked in a protracted lawsuit over the governor's intention to close state prisons, the public debate often focuses on overcrowding in the state's adult…
- Illinois Supreme Court: Even juveniles deserve strong legal defense
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8/31/2012
by Associated Press
- by Christopher Will
- SPRINGFIELD, IL -- Lawyers are supposed to win cases for their clients. Lawyers in the juvenile justice system want what's best for troubled children.
And when the two impulses are in conflict, the…
- Experts Say New Federal Rule Brings Hope for LGBTQ Youth in Custody
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8/29/2012
by Juvenile Justice Information Exchange
- by Christie Thompson
- Given the high rate of torment suffered by LGBT youth in custody, activists applauded last week’s finalizing of a landmark law that took nine years to get from adoption to implementation.
- Editorial: Justice for juveniles
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8/22/2012
by Chicago Sun-Times
- Cook County’s juvenile justice center has made big strides in recent years. It’s cleaner and safer, its staff is more responsive and its school is more effective.
But improvements…
- Policy Experts Address the Challenges Facing LGBT Youth in Lockup
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8/22/2012
by Juvenile Justice Information Exchange
- by James Swift
- “Why are we focused on LGBTQI youth all of a sudden?” said Mykel Selph, director of the Office of Girls & Gender at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) in…
- Juvenile detention center population keeps falling; But reform work not finished, officials say
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8/20/2012
by Chicago Tribune
- by Hal Dardick
- CHICAGO -- Cook County has been able to reduce the number of teens locked up in its juvenile detention center, but there's still much to be done before the mission to reform the long-troubled…
- Illinois Summit Examines Ways to Help Youth Leaving Prison Succeed and End the Cycle of Prison Recidivism
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7/30/2012
- by Illinois Models for Change
- CHICAGO -- Nearly 100 youth service providers and justice reform advocates participated in a daylong summit discussing how to help move Illinois from a youth parole system that is punitive in nature…
- Illinois Demonstration Project to Help Juvenile Offenders Make Successful Transition Back to Their Home Communities
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7/24/2012
by Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission
- SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission on Tuesday announced the start of a demonstration project to reduce the recidivism and improve the outcomes of juvenile offenders. The…
- Federal money to help Illinois to change troubling youth prison statistic
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7/24/2012
by WBEZ (Chicago Public Radio)
- by Rob Wildeboer
- Illinois Governor Pat Quinn's Juvenile Justice Commission says 50 to 60 percent of the kids released from youth prisons end up going back within three years. It’s a troubling statistic, but the…
- Experiencing Trauma
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6/20/2012
by Catalyst Chicago
- by Illinois Models for Change
- School district leaders understand that children who have witnessed violence or other traumatic events often have trouble in school. But without extra resources or staff, schools are hard-pressed to…
- JJI Urges Congress to Ban Solitary Confinement of Juveniles
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6/19/2012
by Juvenile Justice Initiative
- by Illinois Models for Change
- JJI Urges Congress to Ban Solitary Confinement of Juveniles
CHICAGO – The Juvenile Justice Initiative (JJI) of Illinois on Tuesday urged Congress to ban solitary confinement of…
- STATE MUST CLOSE PRISONS AS NEED DECREASES
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6/10/2012
by Chicago Sun-Times
- by Julie Biehl
- Q. What happens when a state responds to non-violent juvenile delinquents with a justice system that holds them accountable for their actions and delivers family counseling, addiction treatment and…
- SAMHSA, MacArthur Collaborate to Improve How Juvenile System Responds to Youth with Behavioral Health Needs
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3/8/2012
by MacArthur Foundation
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation are collaborating on a $1 million effort targeting the behavioral health…
- Landmark Study Offers Glimpse at Previously Ignored Youth Population
-
1/27/2012
- by Washington State Models for Change
- Landmark Study Offers Glimpse at Previously Ignored Youth Population
Youth with Both Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice History Studied
A study out of King County is the first of its kind in…
- Department of Justice, MacArthur Foundation Provide $2 Million to Support Juvenile Justice Reform
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1/26/2012
- by Department of Justice, MacArthur Foundation
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Office of Justice Programs (OJP) January 26, 2012 …
- New Illinois Law Will Require Judges To Consider Sentencing Juvenile Offenders To Treatment In Their Communities
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12/20/2011
by Juvenile Justice Initiative
- CHICAGO – Beginning January 1, Illinois judges considering committing juvenile offenders to incarceration in a state juvenile prison must first ensure that commitment to the Department of…
- Editorial: Time for an Intelligent Approach to Juvenile Justice
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12/14/2011
by The Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)
- Imagine this line from a state report on young offenders and let it sink in for a moment:“The Illinois auditor general estimates that incarceration in (an Illinois Department of Juvenile…
- 'ILLINOIS IS FAILING' Shocking Problems Found In Youth Prison System
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12/14/2011
by Huffington Post Chicago
- by Lizzie Schiffman
- "One Commissioner observed a hearing in which there was 'no time for introduction or discussion. [The Prisoner Review Board hearing officer] was reading the wrong form and initially was going to deny…
- West Valley Truancy Board a Model Program
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12/8/2011
- by Jody Lawrence-Turner
- Bored with his West Valley High School classes, Harrison Calligan thought skipping school with friends might be more challenging.
The teen figured out how to block the school’s numbers from…
- Catherine Foley Geib: No Drama, Big Results
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12/6/2011
- Catherine Foley Geib, Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Action Network Champion for Change
Manager of Clinical & Educational Services Court Support Services Division, Connecticut Judicial…
- 2011 Champions for Change
-
12/6/2011
- by Models for Change
- Champions for Change are individuals working with Models for Change in their states who have positively affected the lives of justice-involved youth, their families, and communities in ways that…
- Sixth Annual National Working Conference
-
12/5/2011
- The 6th Annual Models for Change National Working Conference is in full swing! Visit www.modelsforchange.net/2011Conference for resources, articles, and useful information.
If you are active on…
- Toni Irving, Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Honored as Champion for Change in Juvenile Justice Reform
-
12/5/2011
- by Illinois Models for Change
- Irving’s “Dogged Determination” Recognized at National Meeting of
MacArthur-Supported Juvenile Justice Reform Initiative
CHICAGO – Toni Irving, deputy chief of staff to…
- Making Major Strides in Juvenile Justice Reform
-
12/5/2011
- by Models for Change
- For Immediate Release December 5, 2011 Contact: Zerline Hughes, zhughes@justicepolicy.org / 202-558-7974 ext. 308 Jason Fenster, jfenster@justicepolicy.org / 202-558-7974 ext 306
WASHINGTON,…
- Collaboration for Reform
-
12/1/2011
- by Tracy Velázquez, Justice Policy Institute
- As the MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change initiative began to get underway in four core states, participants in the Initiative and Foundation leadership recognized a significant need: to…
- Report: State Should Rethink Youth Prisons
-
11/17/2011
by Bloomington Pantagraph (IL)
- by Kurt Erickson
- SPRINGFIELD, IL -- A new report says Illinois is locking up too many juveniles in youth prisons that are understaffed and lack effective programs.
The Chicago-based John Howard Association, which…
- Editorial: Teen Alternatives to Jail Good for All
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10/28/2011
by Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)
- It's not every day that a state legislature working to trim the budget could be making life much better for those on whom we traditionally have spent a lot of money.
But that seems to be the case…
- Chicago Public Radio Makes the Connection Between Mental Illness and Juvenile Justice
-
10/28/2011
- by Illinois Models for Change
- CHICAGO -- "Out of the Shadows" is a fitting title for Chicago Public Radio station WBEZ-FM's series of news stories and discussion programs exploring "the fractures in mental health care for…
- Juvenile Law Center Launches Models for Change Podcast Series
-
10/25/2011
- by Autumn Dickman and Megan Bruce, Juvenile Law Center
- Yowei Shaw is an independent audio producer, youth media educator, and journalist based in Philadelphia. She produces a podcast for Juvenile Law Center called Pursuing Justice and has contributed…
- Editorial: Illinois Should Close at Least One Juvenile Prison
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10/25/2011
by The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL)
- Unlike their adult counterparts, Illinois’ juvenile prisons — with one exception — are at or below capacity. The state has been successful in diverting young offenders to other…
- Editorial: Prison isn’t Best Option for Nonviolent Youths
-
10/14/2011
by Chicago Sun-Times
- A debate over closing the Illinois Youth Center in Downstate Murphysboro has focused on jobs and money and pitted Gov. Pat Quinn against legislators and organized labor.
But here’s something…
- Profile for Change: Patty Potter
-
9/27/2011
- by Pennsylvania Models for Change
- Since 2007, Patty Potter has performed the role of Mental Health Coordinator (MHC) in Erie County, one of the three Pennsylvania model counties selected to participate in the Models for Change Mental…
- Editorial: State’s Lack of Efficiency is Costly
-
9/18/2011
by Decatur Herald & Review
- It makes sense to close at least one juvenile prison in Illinois, as Gov. Pat Quinn has recommended.
That's unusual to hear, since there has been a lot of noise about how closing the seven…
- Some Advocates Say State Doesn't Need All of its Juvenile Facilities
-
9/14/2011
by Illinois Issues blog
- by Jamey Dunn
- Juvenile justice advocates say that if Gov. Pat Quinn plans to close state facilities, he should consider shuttering some of the state’s juvenile prisons, which they say are far below…
- Closing Juvenile Prison Makes Sense
-
9/12/2011
by Rockford Register Star (Rockford, Illinois)
- by Elizabeth Clarke, President of the Juvenile Justice Initiative
- Gov. Pat Quinn’s plan to close some state facilities to address budget shortfalls will put pressure on legislators to find new money to avoid the cuts, but one of the cuts — the closing…
- Sex Offender Legislation is Often More About Politics than Justice
-
9/1/2011
by Illinois Issues
- by Jamey Dunn
- Unless you spend time in the state Capitol, you would likely never imagine that lawmakers spend a good portion of their time debating a single issue: sex offenders.
A cursory search of the General…
- There are Better Alternatives to Youth Detention
-
8/28/2011
by Patriot News
- by Daniel P. Elby, CEO of Alternative Rehabilitation Communities
- The Pennsylvania juvenile justice system is based on the philosophy of balanced and restorative justice. Implementing this philosophy ensures that each county dedicates equal attention to the…
- Fighting Gangs Together
-
8/25/2011
by Renton Reporter
- by Justice Bobbe Bridge
- Gang violence seems to be everywhere today, even right here in our own suburban neighborhoods – and it’s mobile, moving across city borders. So, how can South and East King County…
- Why Juvenile Offenders Need ‘Aftercare’
-
8/25/2011
by Daily Herald
- by George Timberlake
- The heart-wrenching Daily Herald series recounting the 2008 attack on Elgin High School teacher Carolyn Gilbert has taken its readers to places few of us can imagine and where none of us want to…
- We Lost the Fight, Not the Battle, to Address Truancy
-
8/23/2011
by Shreveport Times
- by Angie White, Member of the Volunteers for Youth Justice Board of Directors
- The Volunteers for Youth Justice (VYJ) Board of Directors recently made the difficult decision to end the ACT-Now Truancy Program. The program provided direct services to Caddo public schools in…
- King County’s Academic Awareness Awards Ceremony Recognizes Remarkable Turnarounds in Student Performance
-
8/23/2011
- by Washington State Models for Change
- The remarkable transformations of select King County students, from chronic truancy and failing grades to regular attendance and high achievement, were recognized at this year’s Academic…
- Watchdog Monitors Transition of Illinois Juvenile Prisons from Punitive to Rehabilitative
-
8/19/2011
- by Illinois Models for Change
- SPRINGFIELD, IL -- Unless you work for the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice or you’ve been ordered to serve time as a juvenile, chances are you’ve never set foot inside any of the…
- Editorial: Prison Not Only Choice for Justice
-
8/17/2011
by The Alton Telegraph and The Jacksonville Courier-News (Illinois)
- The tough-love approach to juvenile justice undertaken in the 1980s and ‘90s was designed to send a message to frighten would-be young criminals.
You get caught, you go to jail.
To an extent…
- Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn Signs Legislation Requiring Consideration of Community Treatment Before Incarceration in All Juvenile Cases
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8/16/2011
- by Illinois Models for Change
- SPRINGFIELD, IL – Before sentencing a youth to time in a state prison, juvenile court judges in Illinois will soon be required to review several factors, including the youth’s mental…
- Northwestern Prof Works to Give Convicted Teens Second Chances
-
7/21/2011
by Chicago Tribune
- by Melissa Harris
- By the time Bernardine Dohrn drove more than 100 miles in her silver Buick with two lawyers to the Pontiac Correctional Center, a quarter-century had passed since Mark Clements began serving four…
- Profile for Change: Mark D. Hassakis
-
7/19/2011
- by Illinois Models for Change
- Mark D. Hassakis, attorney from Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and past president of the Illinois State Bar Association.
CHICAGO -- When elected a year ago as President of the Illinois State Bar…
- Work Beats Prison: Redeploy Illinois Keeps Juveniles Out of Jail
-
6/30/2011
by Illinois Times (Springfield, IL)
- by Holly Dillemuth
- Three Decatur teens watch as a cloud of sawdust erupts from power tools operated by their wood shop instructor, Jim Taylor, in a warehouse used by Macon County Probation. For two hours on Tuesdays…
- Save Truant Youth Before They Get to Court
-
6/23/2011
by Seattle Times
- by Bobbe Bridge
- EARLIER this month, the Washington Supreme Court reversed an appeals court ruling that truant students must be represented by attorneys at the earliest stage of truancy hearings.
Many of us from…
- Profile for Change: Judge Arthur Grim
-
6/17/2011
- by Pennsylvania Models for Change
- For more than 35 years, Judge Arthur Grim of Berks County Pennsylvania has been working hard to help kids find the path to successful adulthood. In 1975, Grim was a young graduate of Duquesne…
- WA Praised for Efforts to Reduce School Dropout Rates
-
6/8/2011
by Public News Services
- by Chris Thomas
- SEATTLE - While most students and parents are thinking about summer vacation, one nonprofit group already is looking ahead to the next school year - and how to keep more Washington youths from…
- Redeploy Illinois Saving Millions and Changing Lives
-
6/3/2011
- by Illinois Models for Change
- CHICAGO – By helping counties offer comprehensive services to delinquent youth, the state of Illinois was able to save more than $9 million in 2010 by diverting 184 juveniles away from…
- Awards Presented to Chicago News Media For Coverage of Juvenile Justice System
-
6/3/2011
- by Illinois Models for Change
- CHICAGO -- A Chicago radio station and magazine have received awards for news media excellence in recognition of their in-depth reporting about the Illinois juvenile justice system.
The Chicago…
- Juvenile Justice for Parents
-
6/2/2011
by KPLU 88.5 NPR
- by Paula Wissel
- It’s late Saturday night and you get a phone call. Your teenage son has been arrested. You show up for court on Monday morning unsure what to do or say. Now there’s help for parents…
- Illinois Legislature Approves Bill Encouraging Local Treatment for Juveniles When in Best Interest of the Youth and Their Communities
-
5/25/2011
- by Illinois Models for Change
- SPRINGFIELD, IL -- The Illinois General Assembly has approved legislation directing juvenile court judges to consider whether treatment in a youth's community would be a better option than sentencing…
- Speaker in Tri-Cities to Talk About Gangs
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5/20/2011
by KNDU
- KENNEWICK, Wash. -- A nationally recognized speaker stopped in the Tri-Cities Friday to talk about gangs. More than 200 community leaders, including police officers, educators, and mental health…
- Profile for Change: Arthur D. Bishop
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5/18/2011
- by Illinois Models for Change
- Arthur D. Bishop Director, Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice
For more than 35 years, social service has been a part of Arthur D. Bishop’s daily life.
Bishop, the Director of the…
- All-Sites Meeting Highlights Successes, Ramps Up Energy for Next Phase of Work
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5/9/2011
- by Washington State Models for Change
- Twice yearly, the Center for Children & Youth Justice (CCYJ) hosts a Washington Models for Change (WA-MfC) All-Sites meeting, an all-day event wherein participants can share successes and ideas,…
- Statistics Don't Tell Total Child Abuse Story
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5/8/2011
by The Patriot-News
- by Jeanette Krebs
- Recently the state released its annual report on child abuse.
As Gov. Tom Corbett wrote in one of the first pages, the number of cases of substantiated child abuse reports declined to 14.9 percent…
- The importance of juvenile court
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4/30/2011
by The Daily News
- by Tierra A. Busby
- In a recent Daily News interview, Superior Court appointee Gary Bashor noted that some of a judge's most important work takes place in juvenile court. He advocated more funds for juvenile courts,…
- Louisiana Moves Full Steam Ahead in Coordinating Aid to At-Risk Youth
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3/30/2011
- by Louisiana Models for Change
- Four state agencies in Louisiana are collaborating to improve aid for children with emotional and mental needs, with the goal of keeping more youth with behavior problems in their homes, as well as…
- Juvenile Justice Changes in Illinois Praised
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3/20/2011
by Associated Press
- CHICAGO -- A national organization that advocates keeping youth younger than 18 out of the adult court system is applauding Illinois for recent legislative changes.
The Campaign for Youth Justice…
- New “Juvenile Justice 101” Program Provides Assistance to Washington Families
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3/8/2011
- by Washington State Models for Change
- It’s a call that is frightening for any parent to receive: a probation screener is on the line, informing a mother or father that a child is in police detention.
But now in Washington…
- New Laws in Illinois Reform Juvenile Justice System and Provide Added Protections for Juveniles
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1/4/2011
- by Illinois Models for Change
- Reforms aimed at improving the juvenile parole system and encouraging early delivery of mental health treatment and other services took effect in Illinois with the start of the new year, and the…
- What if it Were Your Child?
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1/1/2011
by Illinois Bar Journal
- by By Mark Hassikis, President of the Illinois State Bar Association, and Lisa Jacobs, Illinois Models for Change
- What would the juvenile justice system look like if we knew our sons, daughters, and grandchildren would go through it?
Remember the really stupid things you did as a teenager? If pressed, virtually…
- Judge Honored for Juvenile Justice Reform
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12/30/2010
by West Side Leader
- DOWNTOWN AKRON — The MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change initiative honored Summit County Juvenile Court Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio as a Champion for Change in juvenile justice…
- Voice of Leadership Award Presented to Illinois Models for Change Leader
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12/15/2010
- by Illinois Models for Change
- Pictured from left to right: Pamela F. Rodriguez, president of Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC); George W. Timberlake, Chair of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission; and Colleen…
- Rick Velasquez, Veteran Chicago Youth Justice Advocate, Honored as Champion for Change in Juvenile Justice Reform
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12/6/2010
- by Illinois Models for Change
- CHICAGO – Rick Velasquez, executive director of Youth Outreach Services (YOS), is being honored by the MacArthur Foundation-supported Models for Change juvenile justice systems reform…
- Honorable Linda Tucci Teodosio-Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Action Network Champion for Change
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12/1/2010
- by Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Action Network
- Honorable Linda Tucci Teodosio Judge Summit County, Ohio Juvenile Court Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio is a compassionate leader, who understands the need for accountability but recognizes that the…
- 2010 Champions for Change
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12/1/2010
- The Champions for Change recognizes one Models for Change leader or partner from each of the four core Models for Change states (Illinois, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Washington) and each of the Models…
- Illinois Makes Progress But Has Not Achieved the Juvenile Justice System Envisioned by Jane Addams
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10/7/2010
- by Illinois Models for Change
- By the time the keynote speaker at the annual Jane Addams Symposium had finished explaining what is right and wrong about the juvenile justice system in America and in Illinois in particular, the…
- Text of Julie L. Biehl's Keynote Address at the Jane Addams Hull House Association
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9/16/2010
- by Julie L. Biehl
- Jane Addams Hull House Association Jane Addams Symposium Chicago, Illinois
September 16, 2010
Keynote Address by Julie L. Biehl Director, Children & Family Justice Center Northwestern…
- Illinois Juvenile Justice Reform Leader to Address International Conference
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9/15/2010
- by Illinois Models for Change
- Elizabeth Clarke, founder and president of the Juvenile Justice Initiative (JJI) in Illinois, has accepted an invitation to address an international audience of juvenile justice reform advocates.
In…
- Stolen Futures - Seventeen
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8/31/2010
by The Chicago Reporter
- by Angela Caputo
- As police pinned Derrick Reed to the hood of a squad car, one thought raced through his mind: “Oh, man. I’m going to go away. I’m 17 now.” The East Garfield Park teen’s…
- Editorial: Recommit to Serving Troubled Teens
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8/3/2010
by The Daily Herald
- It's been nearly a year since a 16-year-old boy took his own life inside a state youth prison in St. Charles. Nearly a year to look at what went wrong. Nearly a year for change to happen. We've…
- ISBA President Will Work on Juvenile Justice Reform
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7/22/2010
by Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
- by Mark D. Hassakis
- To the editor:
The appointment last week of a new state juvenile justice chief — a veteran of the state's child welfare system — signals a new era in juvenile justice reform. Mr. Arthur…
- Illinois Governor Quinn Signs “Sexting” Law
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7/19/2010
by Illinois Statehouse News
- by Kevin Lee
- (Illinois Models for Change note: The Juvenile Justice Initiative and other Illinois Models for Change partners helped educate lawmakers about the need to revise sex offender laws and provide…
- Illinois Governor Quinn Names Acting Juvenile Justice Director
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7/16/2010
by Office of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 16, 2010
Governor Quinn Names Acting Juvenile Justice Director
Veteran Administrator, Child Welfare Expert Arthur Bishop to Lead Agency Merger with the Department of…
- Reform Helps Ease Overcrowding
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7/9/2010
by The Shreveport Times
- by Loresha Wilson
- SHREVEPORT, La. — Caddo Juvenile Detention Center's small cell blocks are reserved mostly for teens charged with armed robbery, sex crimes and other violent felony offenses.
Despite a reported…
- Law Enforcement-Based Diversion: Helping Youth at a Critical Stage
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6/28/2010
- by Kathy Skowyra, Associate Director, Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network
- Young people in the juvenile justice system are experiencing mental health disorders at a rate that is three times that of youth who are not in the system. Studies have shown that the majority of…
- Investigations into Suicides in Juvenile System Leave Families Wanting More
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5/27/2010
by Chicago Tribune
- by Steve Mills and Louise Kiernan, Tribune reporters
- On a cold, gray February morning, Cheryl Miller sat on a bus cradling the gym bag that held the box with her son's ashes.
For five months, the ashes had sat in the embalming room of a Chicago…
- Suicides by Troubled Teens Expose Safety Breakdowns Behind Bars
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5/25/2010
by Chicago Tribune
- by Steve Mills and Louise Kiernan, Tribune reporters
- Sometime before 3:09 a.m. on Sept. 1, 2009, Jamal Miller began to tear the bedsheet in his room at the Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles.
The stocky 16-year-old tied the sheet to a sock and tied…
- Kids in Prison: Fixing Illinois' Juvenile Justice System
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4/29/2010
by Illinois Times
- by Patrick Yeagle
- What do you do when you catch a criminal? Conventional wisdom says you lock them up and hope prison scares them straight. But what if that doesn’t work, and what if that criminal is only 13…
- Young Offenders Need Help -- Not Handcuffs
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4/15/2010
by Chicago Sun-Times
- More than a few young people caught up in crime, when you get right down to it, suffer from a mental illness or are drug abusers. They may become hardened criminals some day, but they are more lost…
- The 30th Annual Louisiana Governor’s Conference on Juvenile Justice Showcases the Best and Brightest of the Juvenile Justice Reform Movement
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3/29/2010
- by Louisiana Models for Change
- The 30th Annual Louisiana Governor’s Conference on Juvenile Justice, held earlier this month in New Orleans, Louisiana, proved to be a defining moment in the state’s juvenile justice…
- Illinois Increases Juvenile Court Age Cutoff to 17
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3/12/2010
by Chicago Tribune
- by Jeff Long
- When a 17-year-old girl was caught stealing $300 worth of clothing at a mall a few weeks ago, she was charged with a misdemeanor in juvenile court. Before Jan. 1, she could have been in even bigger…
- Scandals Highlight the Need for Juvenile Justice Reform
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3/4/2010
by Illinois Issues
- by Jamey Dunn
- Just a few months ago, it looked as if the scandal surrounding the “Meritorious Good Time Push” prisoner-release program could cost Gov. Pat Quinn a win in the primary election. Under the…
- Illinois Models for Change Leader Honored as Faculty Member of the Year at Loyola University Chicago
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3/1/2010
- by Illinois Models for Change
- Diane Geraghty, a leader of the Illinois Models for Change, has been recognized as the 2009 Faculty Member of the Year at Loyola University Chicago.
Geraghty is founder and director of the Loyola…
- Illinois Governor Taps Models for Change Leaders to Help Shape Juvenile Justice Policy
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2/24/2010
- by Illinois Models for Change
- Illinois Governor Pat Quinn recently reinvigorated the state’s Juvenile Justice Commission (IJJC) by naming 16 new members to the 25-member advisory group. Several of the new commission members…
- New Chair of Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission Talks About Future of Reform in Illinois
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2/24/2010
- by Illinois Models for Change
- Retired Judge George W. Timberlake, who is a member of the Illinois Models for Change Coordinating Council, recently was named Chair of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission (IJJC).
Timberlake…
- Outreach Group Matches Homeless Teens With Adults
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2/24/2010
by WBBM-TV, Chicago
- by Kristyn Hartman
- CHICAGO -- It's tough enough growing up, but imagine having to find your way to adulthood homeless, and without a mom or dad. It happens to thousands of kids in Chicago each year. Would you be…
- The 2010 CMHS National GAINS Center Conference
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2/22/2010
- Every two years, the National GAINS Center organizes a conference for mental health and criminal justice professionals, policymakers, consumers, family members, administrators, and researchers. The…
- New Law Helps Teeens Avoid Criminal Record
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2/12/2010
by WBBM-TV, Chicago
- by Dorothy Tucker
- CHICAGO -- You're arrested. You're charged. But thanks to a new law in Illinois, you won't have a criminal record. CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports on the new life-changing rules for thousands of…
- Chicago Public Radio Tells the Story of Life "Inside and Out" of the Juvenile Justice System
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2/3/2010
- by Illinois Models for Change
- Chicago Public Radio station WBEZ-FM has begun a series of reports examining how young people get caught up in the juvenile justice system, their life inside juvenile prisons and what happens to them…
- Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court Leads Way With Children and Youth Planning Board
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1/22/2010
- by Louisiana Models for Change
- In October 2006, after being selected as one of the first MacArthur Foundation Louisiana grant sites, the Jefferson Parish Children and Youth Planning Board formed working committees designed to meet…
- Rapides Parish - Structured Decision Making Tools for Better Alternatives
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1/22/2010
- by Louisiana Models for Change
- Judge Patricia Koch and other judges of the 9th Judicial District Court are active partners in communitywide reform made possible with the financial support of the MacArthur Foundation's Models for…
- Juvenile Justice Reform Initiatives Taking Place Across Louisiana
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1/15/2010
- by Louisiana Models for Change (courtesy of Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Catherine D. Kimball)
- I applaud the member judges of the Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges for their active support and ongoing efforts to improve and reform Louisiana’s juvenile justice…
- Beyond the Classroom: Patricia Evans Koch, 9th District Court Judge
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1/4/2010
- by Louisiana Models for Change
- Taken from Alexandria, Louisiana newspaper The Town Talk:
Beyond the Classroom: Patricia Evans Koch, 9th District Court judge
Patricia Evans Koch
Age: 49
Native of: Desoto…
- SAMHSA Seeks Applicants for Juvenile Treatment Drug Courts Program
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1/4/2010
- by National Juvenile Defender Center
- SAMHSA Seeks Applicants for Juvenile Treatment Drug Courts Program The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting…
- Keith Snyder Honored for Mental Health Reform Efforts
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12/20/2009
by Juvenile Court Judges' Commission Newsletter
- by Marie Yeager
- Keith Snyder, Deputy Director of the Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission, was honored by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation as a Champion for Change in juvenile justice reform for…
- Re-Arrest Rate Lower for Illinois Juveniles Receiving Mental Health Treatment
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11/18/2009
- by Juvenile Justice Initiative
- According to a project funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, 66 percent of youth involved in the juvenile justice system had a diagnosable psychiatric condition.
The Mental Health…
- Models for Change Mental Health Coordinator Named PA Juvenile Probation Supervisor of the Year
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11/4/2009
by Juvenile Court Judges' Commission
- Mary Gaspari began her career with the Chester County Juvenile Probation Department in 1998 as a juvenile probation officer. From 2000 to 2003 she was the Balanced and Restorative Justice…
- Two Systems Come Together in Illinois with a Common Goal of Helping Juveniles in Trouble
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10/22/2009
- by Illinois Models for Change
- DuPage County, Illinois’ second largest county, is well known as an economic and political powerhouse. More recently, the county also is earning a reputation as a leader in the field of…
- Saving young offenders is project's goal
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10/21/2009
by Sauk Valley Newspapers, Dixon and Sterling, Illinois
- The criminal justice system in Ogle County is trying a new cooperative approach to discourage juvenile offenders from committing more crimes. The initiative is an effort by the Ogle County…
- What is Working around Illinois
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10/14/2009
- by Lisa Jacobs
- Models for Change is a national initiative funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to accelerate reform of juvenile justice systems across the country (www.modelsforchange.net).…
- Unprecedented Agreement Reached to Assist Juveniles
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10/13/2009
- by Ogle County Juvenile Justice Council
- OREGON, IL – Juveniles running into trouble with the law in Ogle County are finding law enforcement and probation officers coming to their assistance.
Members of the Ogle County Juvenile…
- MH/JJ Action Network State of Texas Awarded One Million Dollar Grant
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9/17/2009
- by The Texas Juvenile Justice TBI Partnership Project
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently awarded the state of Texas with a 4-year, $1 million dollar multi-agency grant to help identify youth in the juvenile justice system who may…
- Reform Efforts Improving Mental Health Services and Coordination for Youth
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8/18/2009
- by Joe Cocozza
- Solomon Moore’s article New York Times article illustrates the problems with using juvenile justice systems to meet the mental health needs of youth. Fortunately, there are growing efforts to…
- Young, Mentally Ill and Behind Bars
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8/17/2009
by New York Times
- by Letters to the Editor
- Re “Mentally Ill Offenders Stretch the Limits of Juvenile Justice” (front page, Aug. 10): Solitary confinement is among the harshest legal punishments that American society inflicts on…
- Mentally Ill Offenders Strain Juvenile Justice Systems
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8/9/2009
by New York Times
- by Solomon Moore
- FRANKLIN FURNACE, Ohio — The teenager in the padded smock sat in his solitary confinement cell here in this state’s most secure juvenile prison and screamed obscenities.
The youth,…
- Project Seeks Early Identification of Mental Health Needs of Youth in Contact with the Juvenile Justice System
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7/2/2009
- Our country’s juvenile justice system was designed to hold young people accountable for their behavior and provide individualized treatment, supervision, and rehabilitation to prevent future…
- An early intervention success story
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5/26/2009
- by 16th Judicial District
- Ms. Jennifer Smith* is a case manager for the school-based Prosecutor's Early Intervention Program (PEIP) in Louisiana's 16th Judicial District. The 16th JD has been working with the Models for…
- Reducing the incarceration of youth of color in Berks County
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5/13/2009
- Reducing the incarceration of youth of color in Berks County through structured decision-making and community-based alternatives
Models for Change support has assisted Berks County’s juvenile…
- Untreated Mental Health Needs Fuels School to Jail Pipeline
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1/5/2009
by New York Times
- by Joseph J. Cocozza, Ph.D.
- Letter to the Editor
NY Times
RE: The Principal's Office First
To The Editor:
Thank you for drawing attention to the issue of increasing school arrests. Frequently, arrested youth have untreated…
- Third Models for Change working conference gathers forces and champions juvenile justice reform
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1/1/2009
- The Third Annual Models for Change Working Conference, in December 2008, provided a unique opportunity for representatives from all areas of the initiative to come together and share knowledge, tools…
- MacArthur Action Networks to Address Racial and Ethnic Disparities and Mental Health in Juvenile Justice
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6/19/2007
by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- Chicago, IL (June 19, 2007) – The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, which is investing $100 million to support and accelerate promising models of juvenile justice reform, is…