FacebookInstagramXYouTubeEmail

Youth Justice in Focus – Part One: Jailing Youth for Status Offense Behaviors

  Kentucky’s Changing Use of Incarceration for Status Offenses Kentucky has seen a steady decline in the practice of putting youth in juvenile jails (officially called secure juvenile detention centers) for status offenses (things like skipping school or running away from home) since peaking in 2007. In fact, use of this practice has fallen by 52 percent from 2007 to 2012. This is great news given the use of incarceration is the most expensive and [...]

By |2013-08-21T13:54:25-04:00August 21st, 2013|Blog, Youth Justice|
Read More

Restorative justice practices for youth

When I first learned of Restorative Justice in 2009 I could tell from descriptions that it was, by design, a much more holistic and thoughtful approach to dealing with youth misbehaviors and criminal activity than our current system of juvenile justice. So, I jumped at the opportunity to hear an expert on Restorative Justice speak at Bellarmine University in November 2009. The expert, Allan MacRae, was overseeing Family Group Conferences for Youth Justice and Care [...]

By |2013-08-20T08:37:04-04:00August 20th, 2013|Blog, Youth Justice|
Read More

Reminder – Complete the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children Survey by Monday

You have just a few more days to give input on the 2014 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children priorities. The Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children is a policy initiative supported by children’s advocates across the Commonwealth working to improve the lives of children. Please complete the 2014 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children Survey by Monday, August 19. Find the survey here. The Blueprint aims to promote safe and healthy families, a fair deal for working parents and a fair opportunity for every child in [...]

By |2013-08-15T10:47:17-04:00August 15th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|
Read More

Reader Letter: Jailing Juveniles

This guest post originally appeared as a Reader Letter in the Courier Journal. You can find it online here. Kentucky is jailing 50 percent fewer juveniles for non-criminal acts. This is progress but as the July 28 Courier-Journal article suggested, more needs to be done. Addressing the dynamics that drive children from school rather to it is why alternatives to detention work and detention does not. When trauma resulting in emotional pain in a child’s [...]

By |2013-08-12T09:54:42-04:00August 12th, 2013|Blog, Youth Justice|
Read More

Positive signs from Washington, DC: Let’s translate that to action for children

A couple Kentucky Youth Advocates staff , including myself, had the opportunity to meet with members of Kentucky’s federal delegation last week while in Washington, DC for conferences. The visits came on the same day national partners released exciting new polling numbers showing broad support among voters for Congress to take action to increase investments in early childhood education to give young children a strong start. The new polling data made for good conversations with members [...]

By |2013-08-06T15:00:17-04:00August 6th, 2013|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Youth Justice|
Read More

Complete the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children survey to help determine top 2014 Blueprint child priorities

The Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children is is beginning its 7th year. The Blueprint is a policy initiative supported by children’s advocates across the Commonwealth to improve the lives of children in Kentucky. The Blueprint aims to achieve safe and healthy families, a fair deal for working parents and a fair opportunity for every child in Kentucky. Responding to a challenge from legislators asking child advocates to speak with a common voice, children’s advocacy groups formed the Blueprint [...]

By |2013-08-05T17:23:56-04:00August 5th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|
Read More

“There has to be a better way”

“There has been a steady refrain from those who have testified before us…that there has to be a better way.” That was a quote from Representative John Tilley, co-chair of the Unified Juvenile Code Task Force, in the Sunday Courier-Journal story on Kentucky’s use of incarceration of children for things such as skipping school and running away from home. The story highlights the progress made on this issue (the trend line is going in the [...]

By |2013-08-01T10:28:07-04:00August 1st, 2013|Blog, Youth Justice|
Read More

Doing what works in youth justice

The Unified Juvenile Code Task Force spent much of last year gathering information and hearing about research and best practices for the juvenile justice field. If last week’s meeting is any indication, that groundwork is going to start paying off. You can hear the collective knowledge of members reflected in the discussions. Schools play a large role in the juvenile justice system as a substantial number of charges to young people come from schools – [...]

By |2013-07-11T15:47:53-04:00July 11th, 2013|Blog, Youth Justice|
Read More

Remember the original meaning of “The Pursuit of Happiness” this Independence Day

“The pursuit of happiness.”  That phrase animates an essay by Jon Meacham in the most recent edition of TIME. It made me remember Mary Kay Tachua – the most brilliant professor I ever experienced.  More than forty years ago, an administrative error at the University of Louisville put Dr. Tachua as the professor of an undergraduate section of American History.  Dr. Tachua was renowned as a graduate professor; social activist; and, perhaps on special and [...]

By |2013-07-03T12:12:32-04:00July 3rd, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|
Read More

Introducing the new and improved KIDS COUNT Data Center

Monday not only marked the public release of the 2013 National KIDS COUNT Data Book, it also included the unveiling of the new and improved KIDS COUNT Data Center by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The Data Center is now easier to use, featuring an improved search tool, easier tools to make maps and charts, and better ways to customize and share materials on social media. For those not familiar with the KIDS COUNT Data [...]

By |2013-06-27T16:24:42-04:00June 27th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|
Read More
Go to Top