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Evidence-based practices

Editorial: Fighting crime the smart way: 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: 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: 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…
Two Major Juvenile Justice Bills Passed in Illinois Senate: 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: 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: 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: 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: 5/6/2013 by Campaign for Youth Justice; by Neelum Arya; Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 …
Tavis Smiley Spotlights Washington Models for Change Programs on National Stage: 5/2/2013 by PBS; by Washington Models for Change; Truancy is a major issue in Washington state and is at the forefront of Washington Models for Change efforts. These efforts now have more national recognition thanks to the recent Tavis Smiley…
Juvenile Justice: Program in Illinois leaves some wondering whether the concept of fairness is being served: 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: 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…
Raise the Age; Don't Split the Difference: 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…
Jefferson Parish Completes Probation Review and Converts Recommendations into Practice: 4/2/2013; by Kim Cusimano, Louisiana Models for Change; Louisiana Models for Change awarded a grant to the Jefferson Parish Department of Juvenile Services to conduct a comprehensive probation review and provide a list of recommendations to improve the…
Editorial: Raise age for charging youths as adults: 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…
The Crucial Role of Prosecutors in Juvenile Justice: 3/13/2013 by Juvenile Justice Information Exchange; by Susan Broderick; Having spent my entire professional career involved in the criminal and juvenile justice systems, I have had the opportunity to see tremendous changes in the fields. I began working as an assistant…
We are the System: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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?: 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?: 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…
Screen to Save: Youth Assessment Conserves Resources and Improves Outcomes for Youth: 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: 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…
Juvenile Justice Sees Progress: 12/27/2012 by The Advocate; by Justice Catherine Kimball; Juvenile justice sees progress Some good news about Louisiana’s success on the juvenile justice reform front was announced last week in the results of a nationwide study. While the news did…
Our View: In Louisiana, A Friend for Youth and a Model for Change: 12/23/2012 by The Town Talk, Alexandria; by Opinion; Louisiana knows only too well about the “school to prison” pipeline and the lifelong deleterious effects it has on young people who get run through it. Louisiana needs to know that…
Redeploy Illinois Savings Pass $40 Million As State Officials Advocate Expansion: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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…
Letter: Much done, much to do on juvenile justice: 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…
MacArthur Foundation's Models for Change Initiative Announces its Knowledge Brief Series: 10/18/2012; by Models for Change; The Knowledge Brief Series describes new knowledge emerging from the Models for Change initiative, a multi-state juvenile justice initiative. Models for Change is accelerating movement toward a more…
Campaign for Youth Justice Recognizes National Youth Justice Awareness Month: 10/1/2012; by Campaign for Youth Justice; During the month of October, thousands of people are participating in National Youth Justice Awareness Month (Y-JAM) activities throughout the country. The Campaign for Youth Justice (CFYJ) and…
Thousands to Participate in National Youth Justice Awareness Month Activities throughout the Country: 10/1/2012; by Campaign for Youth Justice; Thousands to Participate in National Youth Justice Awareness Month Activities throughout the Country Twenty-eight Events in 20 States are designed to Raise Awareness around the Issue of Youth…
Agreement Could Lead to Additional Improvements for Incarcerated Youth in Illinois: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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…
Short Film Captures the Gravity of Truancy and the Need to Invest in Solutions that Work: 8/20/2012; by Models for Change Washington; Truancy is a major issue in Washington state, and has been at the forefront of Washington Models for Change work since the program’s inception. Programs developed by Models for Change partners…
Illinois Increases Efforts to Reduce Youth Recidivism: 8/18/2012 by NPR; by Illinois Models for Change; NPR's All Things Considered program recently reported on states reexamining how to "make sure kids who've committed a crime once don't end up in a juvenile facility again." Reporter Cheryl Corley's…
Illinois Summit Examines Ways to Help Youth Leaving Prison Succeed and End the Cycle of Prison Recidivism: 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: 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: 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…
JJI Urges Congress to Ban Solitary Confinement of Juveniles: 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: 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…
Louisiana Legislature Passes Two Positive Reform Measures: 6/1/2012; by Louisiana Models for Change; Background: Families in Need of Services or FINS is the approach designed to bring together various resources for the purpose of helping families (troubled youth and their parents) to remedy…
Nationally Recognized Expert in Juvenile Justice, Delinquency Prevention and Sentencing Touts Louisiana for Implementation of Family-based Interventions: 6/1/2012; by Louisiana Models for Change; The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Institute for Public Health and Justice and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation via funding from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur…
La. Among Leaders in Helping Juveniles: 5/23/2012 by The Baton Rouge Advocate; by Mark Ballard; Louisiana, which a short time ago was accused of running gladiator camps for young offenders, now is among the best states in the nation for setting up programs aimed at helping juveniles who find…
Models for Change Success: Redeploy Illinois: 5/20/2012; by Lauren Jones; In high poverty and high crime cities like East St. Louis, Illinois, teenagers have many opportunities to make bad decisions, and second chances with positive outcomes can be rare. One of those…
Closing 2 Adult, Juvenile Prisons is the Right Move: 5/7/2012 by Chicago Sun-Times; by Paula Wolff; Despite a drop in crime and the need to close a multibillion-dollar budget hole, politics again threaten to derail plans to cut spending on prisons. Bowing to pressure by those opposed to closing…
Redeploy Illinois Program Helps Juvenile Offenders Stay Out of Jail: 5/3/2012 by Belleville News-Democrat (Illinois); by Jennifer A. Bowen; EAST ST. LOUIS, IL -- A federal government official, state officials, judges and local leaders met in East St. Louis Wednesday to discuss and learn about Redeploy Illinois, a state program that works…
4th District Court a Model for Change: 4/30/2012 by The Monroe News Star; by Louisiana Models for Change; 4th District court a model for change Written by Sarah Eddington The 4th Judicial District Court has become the state's model for change in the juvenile justice system thanks to the efforts of…
Sustaining Models for Change Initiatives Through Pennsylvania’s Juvenile Justice System Enhancement Strategy: 4/19/2012; by Pennsylvania Models for Change; Pennsylvania has a long history of working to improve its juvenile justice system through sustained leadership, strong partnerships at both the state and local levels, and cooperation with both…
Washington Native Communities Engaged for Juvenile Justice Reform – Cultural Enhancement Model Guides Work: 4/19/2012; by Washington Models for Change; A new, collaborative effort out of the University of Washington (UW) is bringing evidence-based juvenile justice reform practices to Native American communities. The University of Washington…
Minority Youth Arrested at Disproportional Rate: 4/9/2012 by The News Tribune; by Eric Francavilla; Tri-City minority youth are being arrested at a disporportional rate, which is similar to a statewide trend that recently gained the attention of the Washington State Supreme Court. Last week,…
Commission Releases Recommendations to Improve Systems that Support Youth: 4/2/2012; by Louisiana Models for Change; The Louisiana Legislature in the 2011 Regular Legislative Session passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 44 requesting the chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court create a Families in Need of…
Youth Advocates Applaud Quinn's Plan to Close 2 Juvenile Detention Centers: 2/25/2012 by Associated Press; by Karen Hawkins; Illinois houses juvenile offenders in eight detention centers across the state, including one in downstate Murphysboro that is only a third full, has little outdoor recreation space and costs $84,000…
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: 1/26/2012; by Department of Justice, MacArthur Foundation; FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Office of Justice Programs (OJP) January 26, 2012 …
Editorial: Non-Violent Juveniles Should not be Locked Up: 1/3/2012 by Chicago Sun-Times; Illinois has long been a pioneer in juvenile justice, creating the nation’s first juvenile court as long ago as 1899. But in recent years, Illinois hasn’t looked so much like a pioneer…
New Illinois Law Will Require Judges To Consider Sentencing Juvenile Offenders To Treatment In Their Communities: 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…
Latino Youth “Virtually Invisible” in the Illinois Juvenile Justice System Report Calls for Collecting Accurate Information: 12/16/2011; by Illinois Models for Change; CHICAGO -- Latino youth comprise one of the fastest growing segments of Illinois’ population, but accurate statistical information about Latino youth in the state’s juvenile justice…
Illinois Report Recommends Extensive Changes to Reverse Juvenile Recidivism Trend: 12/16/2011; by Illinois Models for Change; CHICAGO – While noting progress has been made on several reforms within the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), an Illinois state commission has issued a road map of additional…
'ILLINOIS IS FAILING' Shocking Problems Found In Youth Prison System: 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…
Editorial: Time for an Intelligent Approach to Juvenile Justice: 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 Probe Finds Rushed, Unmeasured Process for Juvenile Release, Reentry and Parole: 12/13/2011 by Youth Today; by John Kelly; Illinois has seen significant changes to the front-end of its juvenile justice system, but its system of releasing and assisting incarcerated juveniles is a procedural mess, according to a report…
Preckwinkle's New Approach to Juvenile Detention Center: Clear It Out: 12/9/2011 by Chicago Tribune; by Erika Slife and Duaa Eldeib; For decades, Cook County's Juvenile Temporary Detention Center has been blasted as a depot for children who were locked up in violent, unsanitary, overcrowded conditions without much consideration…
West Valley Truancy Board a Model Program: 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…
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…
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,…
Watchdog Reports Some Progress in Reform of Illinois Juvenile Prison System and Identifies Additional Steps Needed: 11/28/2011; by Illinois Models for Change; In a year-end assessment of Illinois’ juvenile prison system, the state’s top independent prison watchdog reported the state has made some progress in making reforms inside the prisons…
Editorial: Teen Alternatives to Jail Good for All: 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…
Editorial: Illinois Should Close at Least One Juvenile Prison: 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…
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: 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…
Looking for Savings, (Illinois Gov. Pat) Quinn Has a Good Idea: 10/2/2011 by New York Times; by James Warren; Locking up juvenile offenders isn’t working. What is working, both here and nationally, are community-based rehabilitation alternatives to punishment and isolation, notably with nonviolent…
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…
Evidence Based Practice and Cultural Competency: 9/15/2011; by Zerline Hughes, Justice Policy Institute; As the juvenile justice field nationwide increasingly adopts the use of evidence-based practices, local practitioners are grappling with whether these programs are culturally appropriate for their…
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…
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…
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: 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…
Quinn's Youth Prisons Proposal Fades Away: 7/14/2011 by WEBZ-FM; by Sam Hudzik; A major change for Illinois' youth prisons is on hold. Gov. Pat Quinn last year pushed to merge the Department of Juvenile Justice into another agency, the Department of Children and Family Services.…
Calcasieu Children and Youth Planning Board and Louisiana Models for Change launch innovative MARC center: 7/7/2011; by Louisiana Models for Change; Representatives from various juvenile justice agencies and statewide organizations were on hand in Lake Charles today as the ribbon was cut on the brand new Calcasieu Parish Multi-Agency Resource…
MacArthur Foundation director helps to unveil LSUHSC Institute for Public Health and Justice: 7/7/2011; by Louisiana Models for Change; Juvenile justice reform stakeholders from across the nation gathered at a recent John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation-sponsored meeting to hear the first public announcement regarding the…
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…
Senate approves corruption bills: 6/11/2011 by Standard Speaker; by Robert Swift; HARRISBURG - A slew of bills to address fallout from the courthouse scandal and other corruption probes in Luzerne County won approval Wednesday from state lawmakers. By unanimous votes, the Senate…
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…
Funding, Implementing Evidence-Based Practices: 6/2/2011; by Zerline Hughes, Justice Policy Institute; Now more than ever, cash-strapped states are looking into ways to shave expenses. Nationally, there are 81,000 youth in juvenile facilities; 70 percent of these youth are held in state-funded,…
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…
Profile for Change: Arthur D. Bishop: 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…
Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Catherine "Kitty" Kimball Addresses Joint Session of the Louisiana Legislature: 5/16/2011; by Louisiana Models for Change; Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Catherine “Kitty” Kimball addressed the legislative joint session of the House and Senate on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. During her remarks, Kimball…
All-Sites Meeting Highlights Successes, Ramps Up Energy for Next Phase of Work: 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: 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…
Illinois State Bar Association Provides New Guide to Help Communities Reduce Juvenile Delinquency: 4/5/2011; by Illinois Models for Change; SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) is encouraging more citizens to get involved in juvenile justice reform in their communities and is offering a free booklet…
Louisiana Moves Full Steam Ahead in Coordinating Aid to At-Risk Youth: 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…
Transforming Juvenile Justice: Lawyers Making A Difference: 2/1/2011 by Illinois Bar Journal; by Mark Hassikis, President of the Illinois State Bar Association, and Lisa Jacobs, Illinois Models for Change; A look at three lawyers who are helping to create a more fair, effective, and rational juvenile justice system in Illinois, often by starting in their own communities. Last month's President's Page…
Dually Involved Youth Require a Coordinated Effort: 1/25/2011; by Keith Wallington, Justice Policy Institute; Children that come into contact with both the juvenile justice and child welfare systems are classified in one of three ways depending on the jurisdiction, according to author John A. Tuell. These…
Pre-adjudication Diversion Efforts Improve Juvenile Justice Outcomes in Pennsylvania: 1/5/2011; by Amy Ruff, Lourdes Rosado, George Mosee and Michael Pennington; The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Committee (JJDPC) of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, which advises the Commission on the distribution of federal and state…
Louisiana's Top Juvenile Justice Official Sees Improvement at Youth Center: 1/5/2011; by Louisiana Models for Change; Mary Livers, Deputy Secretary of the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ), along with the director of Monroe's Swanson Center for Youth say conditions at the center continue to improve, despite…
New Laws in Illinois Reform Juvenile Justice System and Provide Added Protections for Juveniles: 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…
JJDPC Addresses Diversion: 1/1/2011 by The Newsletter of The Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission; The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Committee (JJDPC) of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, which advises the Commission on the distribution of federal and state…
What if it Were Your Child?: 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: 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…
Timberlake Honored for Work in Juvenile Justice System: 12/20/2010 by The Southern Illinoisan; George W. Timberlake of Mount Carmel, retired chief judge of the Second Judicial Circuit, has been honored for his dedication and accomplishments in improving the juvenile justice system in Illinois.…
Supporting Young People Out of the Justice System: 12/15/2010 by The Guardian (UK); by Randeep Ramesh; Clay Yeager spent two decades in America's criminal justice system getting more disillusioned every day as children who had been alienated, disturbed and living in households too poor to do anything…
Voice of Leadership Award Presented to Illinois Models for Change Leader: 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…
Jeff Juvenile Services Director Named Champion of Change: 12/10/2010 by Times-Picayune; by Andrea Shaw; Jefferson Parish Juvenile Services director Roy Juncker has been named a "Champion for Change'' by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for his work in seeking to reform the juvenile…
Roy Juncker Honored as Champion for Change in Juvenile Justice Reform: 12/7/2010; by Louisiana Models for Change; For Immediate Release Contact: Elliot Hutchinson (225) 344-0381 ehutchinson@hdaissues.com December 7, 2010 Roy Juncker Honored as Champion for Change in Juvenile Justice Reform Will Be…
Rick Velasquez, Veteran Chicago Youth Justice Advocate, Honored as Champion for Change in Juvenile Justice Reform: 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…
Jason Witt-Disproportionate Minority Contact Action Network Champion for Change: 12/1/2010; by DMC Action Network; Jason Witt Deputy Director Rock County, Wisconsin Human Services Department “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” So says Jason Witt, a true believer in…
Honorable Linda Tucci Teodosio-Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Action Network Champion for Change: 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…
Roy L. Juncker, Jr.-Louisiana Champion for Change: 12/1/2010; by Louisiana Models for Change; Roy L. Juncker, Jr. Director, Jefferson Parish. Louisiana Department of Juvenile Services Roy Juncker, once the Chief of Police in the small Jefferson Parish city of Westwego, is now one of…
2010 Champions for Change: 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…
Jetson Center for Youth Shows Off Its Reformed Ways: 11/10/2010; by Louisiana Models for Change; Several years ago, a common sight at Jetson Center for Youth was shackled and handcuffed teenagers clad in orange jumpsuits shuffling across the prison campus under the watchful eyes of uniformed…
Damon Baldone: Models for Change Profile of the Month: 11/3/2010; by Louisiana Models for Change; Louisiana District 53 State Representative Damon Baldone from Houma, Louisiana As a Louisiana state representative, Baldone has garnered a reputation for handling tough issues related to crime…
Illinois Makes Progress But Has Not Achieved the Juvenile Justice System Envisioned by Jane Addams: 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…
Summit Addresses Juvenile Justice: 9/30/2010 by The News-Star; by Staci Parks; The goal to create a model juvenile drug court in the 4th District was a main topic of discussion Wednesday at the Joint Juvenile Justice Summit. District attorneys, judges, attorneys and probation…
What “Sustainability” Means for Juvenile Justice Reform: 9/23/2010; by Jason Szanyi, Skadden Fellow, Center for Children's Law and Policy; What “Sustainability” Means for Juvenile Justice Reform Innovative Strategies to Make Reforms Last in the DMC Action Network When the MacArthur Foundation launched the Disproportionate…
Text of Julie L. Biehl's Keynote Address at the Jane Addams Hull House Association: 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: 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…
Norwegians Learn Discipline Strategies at Kiefer School: 9/15/2010 by Peoria Journal Star (Peoria, IL); by Pam Adams; Bodo, a town in Norway just north of the Arctic Circle, lies in a region of about 75,000 people where gun violence is so rare police officers keep their guns in their cars until needed. The region…
Stolen Futures - Seventeen: 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…
Calcasieu Sets Standards for Juvenile Justice: 8/29/2010; by Louisiana Models for Change; Calcasieu Parish has been asked to help develop standards for juvenile justice detention centers around the state. House Bill 1477, enacted this summer, outlines the development of “best…
Juvenile Detention Reform Helping to Ease Overcrowding: 8/6/2010; by Louisiana Models for Change; In Shreveport, Louisiana, 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…
Editorial: Recommit to Serving Troubled Teens: 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: 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: 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: 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…
Your Mail: Uniform Standards Coming: 7/14/2010 by The Alexandria Town Talk; by Louisiana State Representative Damon Baldone; During the recent session, the Legislature took a long-awaited -- and very necessary -- step toward juvenile justice reform. In collaboration with the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana and the…
Reform Helps Ease Overcrowding: 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…
Fast Forward Call Center Funded: 6/29/2010; by Washington State Models for Change; Benton and Franklin counties received fantastic news in support of their truancy efforts. The Eastern Washington Models for Change site recently learned that United Way has awarded over 65% of the…
Law Enforcement-Based Diversion: Helping Youth at a Critical Stage: 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…
Juvenile Detention Standards Bill Hits Governor's Desk: 6/18/2010; by Louisiana Models for Change; A major, long-awaited step in reform of Louisiana's juvenile justice system is now an imminent reality. The Senate voted unanimously in late June to pass Rep. Damon Baldone's House Bill 1477, which…
Semi-Annual Juvenile Probation Manager Conference: 5/27/2010; by Washington State Models for Change; In order to create a body of support for probation managers from across the state, court officials in Washington State hold a semi-annual Juvenile Probation Manager Conference. The goal of the…
Investigations into Suicides in Juvenile System Leave Families Wanting More: 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: 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…
National Juvenile Justice Network to present Jefferson Parish's Children and Youth Planning Board with Award for Leadership in Juvenile Justice Reform: 5/20/2010; by Louisiana Models for Change; The National Juvenile Justice Network will present the Jefferson Parish Children and Youth Planning Board with its Award for Leadership in Juvenile Justice Reform. This is the inaugural year for the…
Bryan Stevenson on Juveniles Sentenced to Life Without Parole: 5/17/2010; by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on May 17, 2010, that juveniles may not be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for a non-homicide. Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of…
Ogle County Juvenile Diversion Programs See Success: 5/15/2010 by Freeport Journal-Standard; by Travis Morse; Oregon, Ill. — To Sherri Egan, Ogle County’s new emphasis on diversion programs for non-violent juvenile offenders, as opposed to incarceration, has had a positive impact on the community…
Juvenile Justice Program Working in Ogle County: 5/11/2010 by WREX-TV, Rockford, Illinois; by Bill Miston; Ogle County's States Attorney says an effort to keep kids out of court is working. In 2007, the county moved away from traditional punishment for youth offenders focusing more on community…
Juvenile Justice Reform Works, at Lower Cost: 4/30/2010 by Tri-Parish Times; by Donald Cravins Jr.; Far too often, the newspaper arrives bearing news of yet another state budget hole. During the current legislative session, lawmakers will have to make decisions about — and deep cuts to…
Kids in Prison: Fixing Illinois' Juvenile Justice System: 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…
The Hard Labor of Reform: Despite Progress, Juvenile Justice Overhaul Still Lags Original Vision: 4/26/2010 by The News Star; by Matthew Hamilton; Louisiana's juvenile justice reformers put the fate of children above all else in their founding document. "The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the children and families of Louisiana are…
Jefferson Parish Department of Juvenile Services Director Roy Juncker Jr. Shines Light on a Dark Subject: 4/19/2010; by Louisiana Models for Change; Jefferson Parish Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) Director Roy L. Juncker Jr. received the Light of Hope Award for Outstanding Community Professional by the Court Appointed Special Advocates…
Effective Strategy on Juvenile Crime Has Southern Illinois Roots: 4/8/2010 by The Southern Illinoisan, Carbondale, Illinois; by The Southern Illinoisan; Our View: New approach to juvenile justice in Illinois is neither "soft" nor "tough" on crime. It looks at the whole juvenile and is "smart" on crime. When Chief Circuit Judge George Timberlake…
Retired Judge Leads State's Juvenile Justice System: 4/5/2010 by The Southern Illinoisan; by Adam Testa; CARBONDALE - Retired Chief Circuit Court Judge George Timberlake believes Illinois has taken great strides in improving judicial treatment of youth in recent years and hopes to see further…
ULM Hosts Fourth Meeting of Juvenile Justice Summit: 4/1/2010 by The News-Star; by Stephen Largen; Louisiana juvenile justice stakeholders gathered at the University of Louisiana at Monroe on Wednesday for the fourth in a series of six meetings discussing alternative methods for handling troubled…
The 30th Annual Louisiana Governor’s Conference on Juvenile Justice Showcases the Best and Brightest of the Juvenile Justice Reform Movement: 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…
Helping Prisoners Can Cut Recidivism: 3/19/2010; by Louisiana Models for Change (Courtesy of Dane Bolin, Director of Calcasieu Parish Office of Juvenile Justice Services); Letter to the Editor For the Lake Charles American Press March 18, 2010 RE: Editorial – Helping prisoners can cut recidivism In a recent editorial, some statistics were presented…
Acadia Youth Council Hears Advice: 3/19/2010; by Louisiana Models for Change (Howell Dennis); Acadia Youth Council hears advice By Howell Dennis NEWS EDITOR, The Crowley Post Signal Members of the Acadia Youth Council gathered at the Sheriff’s Department Thursday afternoon…
Behavior Strategists Help Students in Tough Times: 3/15/2010; by Louisiana Models for Change (courtesy of Karina Donica); From Alexandria, Louisiana newspaper The Town Talk: Diahn Fleury still remembers her days teaching a group of emotionally disturbed children 12 years ago at North Bayou Elementary School and…
Kids Killing kids: 3/15/2010 by Chicago Tribune; The lost boys look crisp in T-shirts and desert-tan dungarees. The black letters that spill down one leg of each trousers, "IDOC," mark Bill Bigeck and Eddie Morfin as wards of the Illinois…
Illinois Increases Juvenile Court Age Cutoff to 17: 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…
New Data on Sanctions and Services Supports the Use of Non-Institutional Alternatives: 3/9/2010; by LaWanda Johnson; Does placing youth who commit offenses in expensive, out-of-home placements improve their chances of not reoffending? New preliminary data from the Pathways to Desistance study reported by the…
Scandals Highlight the Need for Juvenile Justice Reform: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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…
New Law Helps Teeens Avoid Criminal Record: 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: 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…
Mental Health Court Keeps Children out of Jail: 2/2/2010; by Louisiana Models for Change (courtesy of Loresha Wilson); Taken from a report in the Shreveport Louisiana newspaper, The Shreveport Times: Wearing shorts and a T-shirt, the teenager sat on the sofa in his home in Shreveport's Caddo Heights neighborhood…
Reforming Juvenile Justice: 2/1/2010 by The New York Times; by Tracy Velázquez; To the Editor: Re “Seeking to Send Fewer Youths to Jail, City Shifts Strategy on Delinquency” (news article, Jan. 21): It’s past time for acknowledging that America’s…
Models for Change Forum Focuses on Aftercare for Juveniles: 1/28/2010; by Pennsylvania Models for Change; The fifth annual Aftercare Forum training was held December 3rd and 4th at the Days Inn at State College, PA. The forum, which was focused on highlighting the ongoing work of the Models for Change…
Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court Leads Way With Children and Youth Planning Board: 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: 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: 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…
Conference Highlights Successes in Models for Change States: 1/8/2010; by LaWanda Johnson; Hundreds of Models for Change representatives from sixteen states were on hand to highlight reform progress in their states and share experiences with peers during the 4th annual Models for Change…
Beyond the Classroom: Patricia Evans Koch, 9th District Court Judge: 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…
Juvenile Law Center Strives for Justice Reform: 12/28/2009 by The Legal Intelligencer; by Robert Schwartz; The Juvenile Law Center's highly publicized work on behalf of thousands of Luzerne County teens is of obvious import. It also has its ironies. Since 2004, the Juvenile Law Center has been the "lead…
Rapides Parish Judge Nationally Honored: 12/13/2009; by Louisiana Models for Change (courtesy of Elliot A. Hutchinson)); Ninth Judicial District Judge Patricia Evans Koch will be honored as a 2009 Champion for Change in juvenile justice reform for her work locally and across the state. Koch will be recognized by…
OJJDP Invites Comments on Proposed FY 2010 Program Plan: 12/2/2009 by The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has published a Notice of its Proposed Plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 …
James Rieland Honored for Exceptional Contributions to Juvenile Justice Reform in Pennsylvania: 11/23/2009; by Models for Change Pennsylvania; James J. Rieland, Director of Allegheny County Probation and critical fixture in Pennsylvania’s Models for Change initiative, has been awarded the Dennis M. Maloney Award for his exceptional…
Two Systems Come Together in Illinois with a Common Goal of Helping Juveniles in Trouble: 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: 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…
Teen: Jetson changed his life: 10/15/2009; by Louisiana Models for Change (courtesy of SANDY DAVIS); A 16-year-old, Brodrick E., said Wednesday he would never have pictured himself singing in a choir. “I used to be thugging it out on the street,” he said. But his street life ended…
What is Working around Illinois: 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: 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…
Council OKs New Therapeutic Facility: 10/2/2009; by Louisiana Models for Change; The St. Landry Parish Council voted 12-1 Thursday, October 1, to allow the parish to become home to a new therapeutic juvenile center. The $20 million facility will be constructed near Opelousas,…
Promising Models for Reforming Juvenile Justice Systems: 9/8/2009 by The Huffington Post; by Marian Wright Edelman; Nationally, one in three Black boys and one in six Latino boys born in 2001 are at risk of going to prison during their lifetimes. Although boys are more than five times as likely to be incarcerated…
Berks County pioneers an alternative to detention for juvenile offenders: 7/25/2009 by Reading Eagle; by Holly Herman; A 16-year-old Reading boy misses a three-point shot but runs off the basketball court glowing nevertheless. "I turned my life around," the youth said proudly during a break in a basketball game…
ULM awarded $385K grant: 7/20/2009 by The News-Star; by By Stephen Largen; ULM awarded $385K grant   Funds to help address teen substance abuse   By Stephen Largen  slargen@monroe.gannett.com The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has awarded a $385,000…
Extraordinary Assessment Research Database supports juvenile justice reform and system improvements in Washington State: 7/2/2009; by Washington Models for Change; To further reform and improve the system of juvenile offender assessment, tracking, and treatment in Washington state; Washington Models for Change state partner, the Administrative Office of the…
Focus on juvenile-justice reform: 6/19/2009 by Houman Today; by Catherine Kimball; The Louisiana Legislature is currently considering a number of measures that would change the way our juvenile justice system works. Some would change the way parole is addressed for juvenile…
An early intervention success story: 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: 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…
Column: Old before their time; Why it is counterproductive to try juveniles as adults: 2/3/2009 by New Orleans Times-Picayne; by Dana Kaplan, Director of the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana; It is a mistake of thinking that treating children as though they are adults will help, not hinder, efforts to improve public safety. Evidence demonstrates that monitoring and support services that…
Juncker honored for juvenile justice reform work in Louisiana: 1/29/2009; by Models for Change Louisiana; Increasing use of evidence-based treatment in Jefferson Parish Roy Juncker, Director of the Jefferson Parish Department of Juvenile Services, was recognized Wednesday, January 28, 2009 by the…
Illinois expands community-based program for juvenile offenders: 1/27/2009; by Juvenile Justice Initiative/Models for Change Illinois; Based on efforts of a broad coalition including Models for Change grantees and partners, the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation to expand a state program that supports community-based…
Third Models for Change working conference gathers forces and champions juvenile justice reform: 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…
She was a teenager heading the wrong way: 12/14/2008 by Williamsport Sun Gazette; by Mark Maroney; She was a teenager heading in the wrong direction. Not a career criminal. Just a rebellious kid. At 14, she committed a retail theft, taking an item valued at less than $25, then lied to police…
Jacqueline van Wormer honored as Champion for Change: 12/8/2008 by WSU Today Online: Washington State University; KENNEWICK - Jacqueline van Wormer, a former WSU graduate is being honored as a Champion for Change in juvenile justice reform for her work in Benton and Franklin Counties to improve the lives of…
Ogle County Gets Juvenile Justice Grant: 10/28/2008 by WREX Roxford News; by Marissa Sherer; OGLE COUNTY - The MacArthur Foundation is giving Ogle County $300,000 over the next two years to help expand its juvenile justice program. Back in 2006 the foundation chose Ogle County as one of…
MacArthur Foundation Awards More Than $1.5 Million For Juvenile Justice Reform: 7/18/2003 by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2003 Media Contact Jennifer Humke Communications Officer Phone (312) 726-8000 Email: jhumke at macfound dot org Chicago, IL - The John D. and Catherine T.…

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