Ohio Announces the Release of Fact-finding Report, Prompting Continued Reforms of Ohio’s Juvenile Justice System COLUMBUS, December 31, 2007 – A fact-finding report released today by nationally recognized independent consultant Fred Cohen outlines a foundation for future reforms of Ohio’s juvenile corrections system. As a result of a class-action lawsuit that originated in December 2004, […]
Loren Warboys Unsung Heroes 2007
Each year, the Youth Law Center presents the Loren Warboys Unsung Hero Award to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to improve the lives of at-risk youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. This year’s awardees are: RON CLEMENT Ron Clement was the CEO and sole staff of the “spent-out” and recently dissolved […]
Drive to Give Youth Time
By Jocelyn Wiener | Sacramento Bee — Three years ago, Christopher Rambadt was stabbed to death along the American River. He was 22 years old and homeless, an emotionally disturbed, developmentally delayed young man who had been a ward of the state until he was 18. What would have happened if he had stayed in the state's care […]
Federal Judge Favors Juvenile Parolees in Due Process Suit
By Linda Rapattoni | Daily Journal — SACRAMENTO – A federal judge ruled Wednesday the state's parole revocation system for juveniles unconstitutionally denies them their due process rights, and he ordered the state to come up with a new plan within 30 days. U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton granted a partial summary judgment motion in a class action […]
Visitors to Juvenile Hall Feel Stuck Too
By Susannah Rosenblatt | The Los Angeles Times — On a typical Sunday morning in an industrial patch of the northern San Fernando Valley, a couple of dozen mothers and fathers huddle together a few hours after sunrise. Armed with camp chairs, snacks and magazines, the early-bird crowd, eager to visit their sons and daughters at Barry J. […]
Young Offender Camp a Possibility for Area
By EMILIE RAGUSO | Sacramento Bee — Stanislaus and neighboring counties will keep more youthful offenders closer to home if a monumental change to the state’s juvenile justice system is approved with this year’s budget. “I’ve been in this business for 34 years, and this has been the biggest thing I’ve seen happen,” said Brian L. Cooley, Merced […]
2007 KIDS COUNT Data Book Now Available
The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 18th annual KIDS COUNT Data Book is now available. The annual Data Book is a national and state-by-state profile of the well-being of America’s children that seeks to enrich discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all kids. The Data Book ranks states on 10 key measures and provides […]
The Incompletion Rule
San Francisco Chronicle — JOSHUA LEONARD, executive director of an East Bay nonprofit agency that serves foster children, has filed a lawsuit alleging that California discriminates against foster children with disabilities. The current “completion rule” states that foster children who have not completed high school by the age of 18, but have a strong possibility of […]
Foster Care Policy Unfair, Groups Say
By Alexa Hyland | Daily Journal — Three nonprofit advocacy groups are claiming the California Department of Social Services' policy requiring foster children to show whether they will complete their high school education by age 19 violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and state anti-disability laws. The Public Interest Law Project of Oakland, Youth Law Center in San […]
Article re Leonard v. Wagner
Suit Demands California Stop Forcing Children with Disabilities Out of Foster Care at Age 18 (San Francisco, CA – July 25, 2007) – A lawsuit filed in state court today in San Francisco charges state officials with violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and state anti-disability laws by refusing to allow foster children with disabilities […]
California Foster Children with Disabilities Lawsuit
Legal action taken against the California Department of Social Services by three nonprofit advocacy groups. (San Francisco, CA – July 25, 2007) – A lawsuit filed in state court today in San Francisco charges state officials with violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and state anti-disability laws by refusing to allow foster children with disabilities […]
Article re Clark County Child Welfare System
Outlook Improves for Child Welfare System Overload in Child Welfare Has a Brutal Backlash. By Lisa Kim Bach | Las Vegas Review-Journal — Infants born exposed to illegal drugs begin stacking up in local hospital nurseries when Clark County runs out of foster homes and shelter space. Juvenile victims of neglect end up sleeping on cots in Child […]
CJJRP Press Release
California Juvenile Reentry Partnership Aims To Improve Outcomes For Youth FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 21, 2007 Contact: Laurie Kappe i.e. communications, LLC (415) 616-3930 Privately funded $780,000 initiative for policy and practice reform San Francisco (CA) – The California Juvenile Justice Reentry Partnership (CJJRP), a collaborative effort to improve outcomes for youth released from juvenile […]
Sue Burrell Honored by the SF Public Defender’s Office
At the San Francisco Public Defender’s 4th Annual Juvenile Justice Summit, “Youth Justice: School, Gangs & Leadership”, Sue Burrell received an award for her steadfast commitment and advocacy of youth within the juvenile justice system. Books Not Bars were also honored for for their advocacy for youth and families.
Press Release on Juvenile Justice Data Project
Unprecedented Collaborative Effort Provides Data on County & State Programs The Juvenile Justice Data Project (JJDP) today released the results of the first ever statewide survey of California’s juvenile justice system, providing a snapshot of 100,000 youth under the jurisdiction of both county probation departments and the state Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). “Investing in […]
Fire at L.A. Juvenile Hall Signals Wider Issue for Youth Lockups
By Susan McRae | The San Francisco Daily Journal — LOS ANGELES – Despite federal monitoring of Los Angeles County's three juvenile halls, critics say a recent fire that sent one youth to the hospital in critical condition reveals some disturbing oversights. In its report, city fire officials noted that 14 of the 18 locked living units at […]
Press Release re L.H. v. Schwarzennegger
Judge Denies State’s Motion To Dismiss Federal Lawsuit Challenging California’s Unconstitutional Juvenile Parole System Sacramento, CA – February 28, 2007 – Federal district Judge Lawrence Karlton today denied the State of California’s attempt to have the court throw out a lawsuit challenging the state’s unconstitutional parole system. The opinion also certified a class of 4000 […]