Model and Strategy
Commonweal’s Juvenile Justice Program will promote policy and practice reforms to improve outcomes for juveniles and young adults in the California justice system. It will integrate findings in adolescent research into the wider framework of juvenile justice law and practice. Commonweal applies proven advocacy strategies to change policy, increase funding and alter practices to reduce youth penetration into jails and prisons.
Impact
System reform to improve outcomes for justice-controlled youth including: a) law reform expanding access to mainstream schools and lowering dropout rates for juvenile offenders, b) expansion of state juvenile justice/mental health funds and promotion of a new court dispositional path in mental health cases and c) assured auto-sealing of most juvenile crime records to open doors to education and employment.
A statewide effort to upgrade California’s outmoded Juvenile Justice data systems and promote new “wellness” performance measures for state-funded programs and agencies.
Augmentation of CA Board of State and Community Corrections capacity to fund and implement alternative-to-custody options and developmentally-based care standards for juveniles.
Training on neuroscience and the law. Commonweal will refine content for, and increase audiences for delivery of presentations on adolescent science and related U.S. Supreme Court cases. The goal is to support policy and practice changes at all levels of the justice system.
Leadership
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David Steinhart
Program Director