Casey: Time to Close ‘Youth Prisons’; News Roundup

Every week Reclaiming Futures rounds up the latest news on juvenile justice reform, adolescent substance abuse treatment, and teen mental health. 

Casey: Time to Close ‘Youth Prisons’ (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange)
The Annie E. Casey Foundation has called for an end to state juvenile correctional centers, which the foundation refers to as "youth prisons." This call to action is fueled by their recent report which finds that despite increased attention to the conditions of juvenile corrections institutions, incarcerated youth continue to be subjected to abusive, systematic maltreatment.

Michelle Obama to Native American Youth: The Country Needs You (Newsweek)
First lady Michelle Obama spoke to more than 1,000 Native American youth last week, at the first-ever Tribal Youth Gathering. The event was a collaboration between the White House and UNITY Inc., as part of President Obama's vow to remove barriers to success for Native American children.

Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2014 (Bureau Of Justice Statistics)
The annual Indicators of School Crime and Safety report was released last week,  providing "the most current detailed statistical information on the nature of crime in schools."

Hawaii Becomes Latest State to Abolish Juvenile Life Without Parole Sentences (Equal Justice Initiative)
Hawaii recently became the latest state to pass legislation in response to Miller v. Alabama, the Supreme Court decision banning mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juvenile offenders.

Schools turning to more positive disciplinary actions (Education Dive)
Education Dive reports on the shift in schools' approach to discipline, and provides insight into why this shift is now occurring.

My Teen Has Completed Treatment. Now What? (Partnership for Drug-Free Kids)
Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and the Treatment Research Institute put together this helpful, interactive guide to help parents and caregivers of teens learn how to respond to and support the recovery process that occurs after a teen completes addiction treatment.

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