Justice

The challenges of youth justice in particular

The juvenile justice system has two primary responsibilities: 1) to keep the public safe and 2) to care for and rehabilitate young people. For decades, a corrections-based model has fallen short in both protecting the public and caring for young people. There is a growing consensus and extensive research suggesting that punitive practices and over-reliance on incarceration do not work.

A better system is within reach. By addressing the historical and current harms of the system – while also supporting the wellbeing of young people and their families – we can enable youth, families and communities to thrive while keeping everyone safe.

KEY INSIGHTS

Reimagining justice systems to create true justice for all

1. The solution is not more lawyers or more prisons.
2. The solution is to shift power and transform the processes, procedures, laws and policies to center wellbeing – resulting in a fair, equitable and accountable justice system.
3. A wellbeing framework can provide a pathway for reform, addressing structural and policy changes so justice applies to everyone.
4. This is not aspirational; justice change agents across the country are demonstrating that it is possible to keep youth in their homes and communities, with the support of their families, all while promoting public safety. For example:
   • Ohio and Illinois have invested in community-based alternatives to reduce their juvenile corrections populations, thereby addressing the root causes of delinquency.
   • Missouri takes a rehabilitative instead of a punitive approach for youth who are institutionalized by providing group and family therapy, opportunities for youth development, and supports to help youth transition back to their communities.

Find inspiration in the legal & justice systems

Looking for organizations and initiatives that are advancing wellbeing in the legal and justice systems? Here are some places to start:

DC Bar Foundation

Our partner DC Bar Foundation is promoting a more just civil legal aid system by applying a wellbeing orientation to new projects and initiatives. Through network building, community engagement, evaluation, prioritization of racial equity, and greater coordination within the legal aid community, the DC Bar Foundation is eliminating the challenges that prevent DC residents from experiencing wellbeing, justice and liberty in the civil legal aid system.

Debt Free Justice

By charging fees and fines, the juvenile legal system drowns youth and their families in debt and pushes them deeper into poverty. Because of targeted policing and over-surveillance of Black, brown and Indigenous communities, these youth are overrepresented and over-punished in the justice system. As a result, fees and fines disproportionately hurt youth of color and their families. Debt Free Justice works with partners at the local, state and federal levels to end juvenile fees and fines nationwide to promote community health, economic stability and reestablish trust in public systems.

St. Louis Family Court

Systems can force tradeoffs that undermine wellbeing and sustainable change. To acknowledge and address these tradeoffs, the juvenile division of the St. Louis County Family Court supports youth in setting their own goals instead of deciding goals for youth.