NCJFCJ Resolves to Stop Shackling of Children in Juvenile Court; News Roundup

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

New Release: The NCJFCJ Resolves to Stop Shackling of Children in Juvenile Court (Nevada Business)
The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) released its resolution on Monday stating that automatic shackling of young people in juvenile court is not a fair or trauma-informed practice, and such a practice will no longer be tolerated. This resolution builds on the NCJFCJ's 2005 guidelines calling for a continuum of effective and least intrusive responses in juvenile justice.

Police should put away the military gear and build connections with young people (The Conversation)
It has now been one year since the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, and Dr. Arthur Romano writes about the ongoing protests, and why there is a need for a shift in funding priorities away from paramilitary approaches toward strengthening community consultation, community-led prevention efforts and long-term partnerships with at-risk communities. Dr. Romano is a researcher and educator in the field of conflict resolution.

‘Slender Man’ stabbing: 13-year-old Wisconsin girls will be tried as adults (Washington Post)
On Monday, a Wisconsin judge ruled that the two teens charged with stabbing a classmate in the the high-profile 2014 "Slender Man" case will be tried as adults later this month. Advocates of juvenile justice reform, such as the National Juvenile Defender Center, believe the girls should be charged as minors. Lawyers for Geyser and Weier made efforts to return the teens to juvenile court, where the maximum sentence would be five years, and where they believed the girls would receive better mental health treatment. If convicted in adult court, they each face sentences up to 45 years, and would be moved to an adult facility at 18 years old.

Report: Certainty, Not Severity, Key in Deterring Juvenile Crime (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange)
A new report, released by the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), finds that there is a need to devote resources to change risk perceptions, rather than prisons.

Helping Black Boys Survive: What a Difference a Smile Makes (Huffington Post)
President of Children's Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman, discusses Black mental health and Black male suicide, and the importance of connectedness and building relationships, particularly for young people. Edelman emphasizes that plain kindness - even just a smile - goes a long way in building self-esteem in our children and helping a young person in crisis make it to the next step.

Citywide youth program hopes to eliminate substance abuse, crime (FOX19)
Cincinnati youth program H3Cincy began its new summer session last Friday. The basketball program hopes to bring empowerment to its community by reducing, if not eliminating, substance abuse, crime, and fatalities in Cincinnati with youth activities including mentoring, leadership development, and basketball team play. H3Cincy is a five-week educational and athletic program.

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