New ‘Ban the Box’ Bill Would Improve Access to Federal Jobs for Youth With Records; News Roundup

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

New ‘Ban the Box’ Bill Would Improve Access to Federal Jobs for Youth With Records (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange)
The new Fair Chance To Compete for Jobs Act would help youth with criminal histories gain employment by prohibiting employers from asking about criminal history until a conditional offer of employment is received. The hope is that this will help qualified candidates avoid the stigma of past conviction when seeking out employment. As many as 70 million people with criminal histories may face barriers to employment.

OJJDP Releases Research on Youth's Mental Health Needs and Long-Term Outcomes After Detention (PR Newswire)
Earlier this week the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) released four research bulletins based on an investigation of the mental health needs and long-term outcomes of juvenile detainees.

Teen charged with killing two in wreck while high on 'Poor Man's PCP' will face adult court (The Morning Call)
A Northampton County judge ruled Tuesday that teenage Brandon R. Creyer will be tried as an adult for charges of killing two people, due to causing a three-vehicle crash while high on cough syrup. Creyer was 17 years old at the time of the crash last November. The decision to transfer the case to adult court, less focused on rehabilitation, was made based on new charges that Creyer robbed a neighbor at gunpoint not long after the crash.

Attorneys in Slender Man case appeal decision on adult prosecution (Journal Sentinel)
Last Friday, attorneys for the 13- year-old girls charged with the Slender Man stabbing case filed an emergency petition with the Court of Appeals to suspend the trial pending an appeal of a judge's decision last month not to transfer the case to juvenile court.

The Cost of a Broken Juvenile Justice System (WhoWhatWhy)
This new podcast interview features a story from Nell Bernstein, author of Burning Down the House: The End of Juvenile Prison.

Learning classical guitar helps kids in trouble change their tune (PBS NewsHour)
Five years ago, a nonprofit partnered with a juvenile justice center in Texas to help incarcerated youth finish high school by learning classical guitar. The PBS video documenting its success was released on Tuesday.

Jobs, Grants, Events and Webinars

Please share the Reclaiming Futures Opportunity Board with your colleagues in the juvenile justice, adolescent substance abuse and teen mental health areas. We encourage you to browse, and to post!