Juvenile Justice

Making a Difference for Incarcerated Youth

October 20, 2014 Young people incarcerated in New Jersey’s juvenile correctional institutions have, historically, been treated as statistics. From being subject to unduly harsh punishments to being denied access to lawyers to advise them of their rights, youth have been forgotten in a system that until recently, was shielded from public scrutiny and, therefore, from accountability.…

Author Argues Against Juvenile Incarceration

June 9, 2014 If it costs $88,000 per year to incarcerate one young person for one year, it’s worth asking the question, “what’s the return on investment?”  The question is one of many author Nell Bernstein asks – and attempts to answer – in her new book, Burning Down the House: The End of Juvenile Prison.…

New York Times: Solitary Confinement Needs to Go

June 9, 2014 The New York Times editorial board this week argues that “solitary confinement […] is especially damaging for children” and solitary policies must change to as to “humaniz[e] juvenile detention.”  Scroll down for the full editorial and be sure to click here for more on what the Community Foundation’s donors are doing to reform New Jersey’s juvenile justice system (and how you can help).…

NJ 101.5: Fewer Crimes Committed by Young Offenders in NJ

April 11, 2014 Fewer crimes are being committed by young offenders in New Jersey.  That’s the headline from our friends at NJ 101.5, who say that, “more kids who commit crimes are being kept in their communities, instead of being locked up in a detention center, and the result has been a significant drop in the number of crimes committed by young offenders.”…

Juvenile Justice: R.T.’s Story

March 20, 2014 The following is a client narrative from the Post-Disposition Advocacy Project (“the Clinic”). For more on this important issue, click here. R.T., age 17, was involved in a fight with another resident at the Juvenile Medium Secure Facility. …

Juvenile Justice: Q.D.’s Story

March 20, 2014 The following is a client narrative from the Post-Disposition Advocacy Project (“the Clinic”). For more on this important issue, click the “Juvenile Justice” tag below. Q.D., age 19, while in custody of the Juvenile Justice Commission, was experiencing an excruciating toothache that made the entire left side of her face feel piercing pain. …

Juvenile Justice: L.B.’s Story

March 20, 2014 The following is a client narrative from the Post-Disposition Advocacy Project (“the Clinic”).  For more on this important issue, click the “Juvenile Justice” tag below.  L.B., age 18, is a special education child with a below 80 I.Q. …