Recent Law Enforcement Meeting Aimed at Bettering the Juvenile Justice System

 Posted on November 06, 2015 in Juvenile Crimes

In the early 1990s, the juvenile justice system was at its worst. Adolescents, many as young as 16, were being tried as adults, and even those that were not lived in overcrowded, unsanitary facilities that were harsh and overly punitive. Thankfully, the system has learned a lot about juvenile crime over the years, and has responded in a positive way. But there is still more to be done. A recent meeting in Washington D.C., attended by New Haven’s police chief, may be an important step to making those changes happen.

Former Issues Within the Juvenile Justice System

Of all the states in the U.S., Connecticut had probably one of the worst juvenile justice divisions. Teens were routinely arrested and locked into unsafe facilities with little to no hope of rehabilitation or treatment. Many were never even accused, let alone convicted of serious crimes, and 16- and 17-year-olds were tried in adult courts with open records and placed in adult prisons. In effect, the Connecticut juvenile justice system was flooded with uneducated teens that were unlikely to ever find productive jobs or become contributing members of society.

It was in 2002 that law enforcement began to realize that something needed to be done about the juvenile justice system, but they simply did not know what. Almost nothing about its system had been set up to achieve positive results and, even if it had, no one had any idea what might have worked or what hindered progress. There were no studies, examinations, or analysis that compared cost or action against benefits or success. Yet Connecticut forged forward and, today, the state has one of the healthiest juvenile justice systems in the country.

Behind the Success of Connecticut’s Juvenile Justice System

There were a number of changes made to Connecticut’s juvenile justice system. The most influential are thought to be:

• Reduced reliance on confinement as punishment;
• Separation between “status offenders” (truancy, running away, possession of alcohol) and those that committed violent or serious crimes;
• Improved conditions in juvenile facilities, including the implementation of education and treatment programs;
• Development of community-based treatment programs for delinquent or behaviorally troubled youth;
• And movement away from routinely trying adolescents as adults.

The Need for More Improvement

Although the juvenile justice system has come a long way since the early 1990s—not just in Connecticut, but across the country—there is still a great deal of room for improvement. Black and Hispanic youth are still facing overly harsh discipline, both in the justice system and in schools. They, along with emotionally-challenged youths, are also still facing an excessive number of arrests for low-level misbehaviors that, in the case of an adult, might not have otherwise been considered an offense. More treatment programs are also needed for troubled youths, both in and out of juvenile facilities. Additionally, consideration must still given to the difference in treatment and rehabilitation between violent and nonviolent offenders.

It is the hope of making these changes—both in the juvenile and adult courts—that were addressed at the recent meeting in Washington D.C. Though still in the preliminary stages, there is a great deal of optimism and awareness surrounding the subject. But regardless of how long it takes to make further improvements, parents should know that they do have options if their teen has been arrested.

Need Help? Hire a Juvenile Defense Attorney Today

You do not have to go it alone, nor should you. The Law Offices of Daniel P. Weiner can help. We have handled thousands of juvenile cases, including those involving bullying, drug possession, property theft, traffic violations, sex crimes, assault, and more. To schedule your free consultation with a skilled and experienced Connecticut juvenile defense attorney, call 203-348-5846 today.

Sources:

http://wtnh.com/2015/10/29/new-haven-chief-meets-with-pres-obama/

http://www.justicepolicy.org/uploads/justicepolicy/documents/jpi_juvenile_justice_reform_in_ct.pdf