By Benjamin Chambers, July 17 2009
Teens in the juvenile justice system are more likely to commit crimes as adults because delinquent behavior is "contagious", according to a 20-year research project in Canada. The solutions? More investments in prevention programs for pre-adolescents, and ending the practice of grouping delinquent youth together in services designed to help them. (No advice on how to accomplish the latter item.)
- UPDATE Feb. 2, 2011: A&E's recent reality TV show, "Beyond Scared Straight," actually increases teens' contact with adult prison inmates in an attempt to terrify them into “going straight." Maybe the producer's didn't read the above study, which indicates that contact with the justice system increases teen recidivism. Check out these facts about the program from the Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ).
- Call for conference proposals: The National GAINS Center conference scheduled for March 2010 is now soliciting proposals for conference topics. The theme of the conference is "Including Justice-Involved People with Mental Illness in Health Care Reform." Proposals are due September 15th.
- Rhode Island is considering legalizing marijuana.
- Failing to invest in services for children in poverty has long-term economic impacts, according to a Georgetown economist. Additionally, the National Center for Children in Poverty argues that the federal poverty standard is outdated and needs to be revised.
- Adult convicts are now working as "violence interrupters" in the streets of Kansas City and having a significant impact on reducing youth violence. Their work is based on the Cease Fire project out of Chicago, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which treats violence as a public health problem.
- A new test devised by an L.A. researcher claims to predict the likelihood that a young person will join a gang. The goal of the test is to connect these young people with gang prevention services.
- Texas recently banned life without parole for juveniles; California is considering a similar ban.
- A new study links heavy drinking by teens and mental health and behavioral problems. However, it's not clear which comes first, or if this has implications on how adolescent substance abuse and co-occurring disorders are treated.
Updated: February 08 2018