Juvenile Justice
NCSL Partners with MacArthur Foundation
The National Conference of State Legislatures announces a partnership project with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation headquartered in Chicago, Ill., to inform and assist state legislatures on juvenile justice issues. Over the next two years, NCSL's Criminal Justice Program expects to prepare briefing papers and convene site visits that respond to state legislative interests and build leadership capacity for review and reform of juvenile justice.
The MacArthur Foundation supports research, model programs, policy analysis, and public education to promote more effective juvenile justice systems across the country. The Foundation currently is working in four states to establish models for successful reform as part of its national juvenile justice initiative.
The MacArthur Foundation has created three national action networks to help to improve the nation's juvenile justice system. The Networks are part of MacArthur's overall Models for Change initiative. One Network focuses on reducing racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system - participants include Kansas, Maryland, North Carolina and Wisconsin. The second Network addresses the mental health needs of juvenile justice involved youth - participants include Colorado, Connecticut, Ohio and Texas. And the newest Network addresses legal representation for indigent juveniles. It will work to build the capacity of the juvenile defense bar and improve access to counsel and quality of representation for youth. Participating sites in the new Juvenile Indigent Action Network will be selected in June through an open application process.
Our Washington D.C. office also has a partnership with the MacArthur Foundation focusing on mental health issues.
NCSL Juvenile Justice Briefing Papers
"Minority Youth In the Juvenile Justice System" Disproportionate Minority Contact
This report is the second in a planned series of briefing papers under NCSL's partnership with the MacArthur Foundation. This report discusses possible explanations for disproportionate minority contact in the juvenile justice system and highlights approaches and strategies states are using to address the issue and reduce it. (January 2009)
Mental Health Needs of Juvenile Offenders
This is the first in a series of briefing papers under NCSL's partnership with the MacArthur Foundation. This paper discusses the mental health needs of juvenile offenders, describing state approaches to help and treat youth in the justice system -- including mental health assessments, screenings and evaluations and collaborations with the mental health community and other child-serving organizations. (June 2007)
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