Juvenile Justice

American juvenile justice policy is in transition. After a decade of declining juvenile crime rates, the forces that fueled the “get-tough” reforms of the 1990s have waned, as has enthusiasm for the reforms that eroded the boundaries between juvenile and criminal court, exposing juvenile offenders to harsh punishments. As some politicians and some members of the public have come to question the effectiveness and expense of tough sentencing laws, more moderate policies are being considered at the state and federal level.

The antisocial acts that bring young people into contact with the justice system are often accompanied by other problems, most of which the justice system alone is ill-equipped to address. On October 15, a slate of panelists, including researchers, policy advisors, and advocates will discuss reforming juvenile justice to reflect these differences between adolescent and adult offenders. This event also marks the release of the latest volume of The Future of Children journal, “Juvenile Justice” published by Brookings and Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School.

Event Materials:
Juvenile Justice Policy Brief »
Future of Children Publication Info »

Ron Haskins at Juvenile Justice event		Hon. Denton Darrington at Juvenile Justice event