News Summary May 29 – June 11, 2010 Models for Change Mentioned The Herald-Review (IL)
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Models for Change Mentioned The Herald-Review (IL) ‘Connecting Youth and the Community conference considers fair, effective punishment’ – June 3, 2010
‘Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on "best practices" in the juvenile justice system’ – June 8, 2010
‘Expert: End zero tolerance policies’ – May 29, 2010 http://www.timesleader.com/news/Expert__End_zero_tolerance_policies_05-28-2010.html An education-law advocacy group said ending zero-tolerance policies in schools as recommended in the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice on Thursday would have benefits far beyond the commission’s goal of preventing a recurrence of the “kids-for-cash” scandal seen in Luzerne County… Allentown Morning Call ‘'Zero tolerance' was the culprit’ – May 30, 2010 http://articles.mcall.com/2010-05-30/news/all-whiteboxnw5sf6orzwon.7288341may30_1_zero-tolerance-juvenile-justice-juvenile-law-center Think back to your school days. Did you ever engage in misconduct as serious as taking nail clippers to school or flicking a spitball at somebody else during class?... The Patriot-News (Harrisburg) ‘Juvenile justice: Blueprint helps provide checks and balances’ – May 30, 2010 http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2010/05/juvenile_justice_blueprint_hel.html There is no doubt how devastating the “cash for kids” scandal has been for the families involved and for the reputation of our state’s entire juvenile justice system… The Standard Speaker (Hazleton) ‘Chief defender plans changes’ – May 30, 2010 http://standardspeaker.com/news/chief-defender-plans-changes-1.821535 Luzerne County Chief Public Defender Al Flora Jr. is reallocating resources in the office to improve legal representation of juveniles, but he isn't sure what the long-term cost will be and whether the changes can continue… The Philadelphia Inquirer ‘Editorial: Justice for juveniles’ – May 31, 2010 http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20100531_Editorial__Justice_for_juveniles.html#axzz0phoIpb00 Now that a state panel has reported its findings from investigating Luzerne County's "kids for cash" scandal, Gov. Rendell and court officials should act swiftly to implement needed reforms… Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre) ‘Commentary: There can be no delay in restoring juvenile justice Commentary Sen. Lisa Baker’ – June 1, 2010
‘Opinion: Young criminals, appropriate punishment’ – June 1, 2010 http://www.philly.com/dailynews/opinion/20100601_Young_criminals__appropriate_punishment.html#axzz0phrGLN2I THE U.S. SUPREME COURT last month ruled 5 to 4 that juveniles convicted of non-homicide crimes may not be sentenced to life without parole… Allentown Morning Call ‘Kids need independent watchdog’ – June 2, 2010 http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-quote-c.7291388jun02,0,1662489.column The old Pennsylvania Crime Commission had no prosecutorial power. What made it dangerous to corrupt politicians and their friends in organized crime was its independence… Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ‘Editorial - Kids for cash: Statewide reform is the only way to right this wrong’ – June 02, 2010 http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10153/1062332-192.stm The report issued Thursday by the commission that investigated Luzerne County's juvenile justice system said its corrupt practices haven't spread statewide. That's good news… Reading Eagle ‘Holly Herman: To prevent corruption, juvenile courts should be open’ – June 3, 2010 http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=224447 If there is nothing to hide, why not let the public into juvenile court?... Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre) ‘Attorney: Agency deprives rights’ – June 3, 2010 http://www.timesleader.com/news/Attorney__Agency_deprives_rights_06-02-2010.html A local attorney said he plans to file a federal lawsuit today on behalf of approximately 25 parents who allege Luzerne County Children and Youth violated their constitutional rights in placing their children in foster care… Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre) ‘PA Child Care wants to block destruction of juvenile records’ – June 5, 2010 http://www.timesleader.com/news/PA_Child_Care_wants_to_block_destruction_of_juvenile_records_06-04-2010.html An attorney for PA Child Care presented three witnesses and sifted through nearly 600 pages of documents Friday in an effort to get a federal judge to block the destruction of juvenile records as ordered by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court… Citizens’ Voice (Wilkes-Barre) ‘Lawyers: Orders on kids-for-cash records conflict each other’ – June 5, 2010 http://citizensvoice.com/news/lawyers-orders-on-kids-for-cash-records-conflict-each-other-1.831670 Attorneys in civil-rights suits filed by hundreds of juveniles jailed in the kids-for-cash scandal tangled Friday over the enforcement of two seemingly contradictory orders issued by a federal judge and the state Supreme Court… Associated Press (AP) – Harrisburg Bureau ‘'Sexting' Leads To Child Porn Charges For Teens’ – June 5, 2010 Posted on: http://cbs3.com/topstories/sexting.child.porn.2.1735080.html At Susquenita High School, 15 miles outside of Harrisburg, Pa., eight students, ranging in age from 13 to 17, have learned a tough lesson about "sexting."… Scranton Times Tribune ‘Editorial: Fix state JCB’ – June 6, 2010 http://thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/fix-state-jcb-1.832497 One of the ways in which the juvenile court scandal in Luzerne County spread far beyond the county border was its exposure of flaws in the statewide system for disciplining judges - a key element in the administration of justice… Citizens’ Voice (Wilkes-Barre) ‘Justice meltdown seen at all levels’ – June 7, 2010 http://citizensvoice.com/news/justice-meltdown-seen-at-all-levels-1.832940 One of the ways in which the juvenile court scandal in Luzerne County spread far beyond the county border was its exposure of flaws in the statewide system for disciplining judges - a key element in the administration of justice… Citizens’ Voice (Wilkes-Barre) ‘Panel chairman: Juveniles must retain waiver rights, with safeguards’ – June 9, 2010 http://citizensvoice.com/news/panel-chairman-juveniles-must-retain-waiver-rights-with-safeguards-1.836646 Juvenile defendants should be able to waive legal representation, but safeguards are needed so it doesn't become commonplace like it did in Luzerne County under two former judges, the chairman of an investigating commission told the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday… Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre) ‘Area lawmakers follow up juvie commission report’ – June 10, 2010 http://www.timesleader.com/news/Area_lawmakers_follow_up_juvie_commission_report_06-09-2010.html Two area legislators want to make sure the work of the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice has lasting effects on the juvenile justice system… Scranton Times Tribune ‘Eachus introduces juvenile Justice reform bills’ – June 10, 2010 http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/eachus-introduces-juvenile-justice-reform-bills-1.838715 Two initial bills to put the recommendations of the state commission investigating the Luzerne County courthouse scandal into effect were introduced Wednesday by House Majority Leader Todd Eachus… Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre) ‘Records to remain for defendants in “kids for cash” suits, judge rules.’ – June 10, 2010 http://www.timesleader.com/news/Juvie_papers_rsquo__destruction_blocked_06-09-2010.html A federal judge has granted a motion filed by some of the defendants in the “kids for cash” lawsuits that sought to prevent the destruction of records they say are crucial to the defense of the cases… Citizens’ Voice (Wilkes-Barre) ‘Judge's ruling preserves detention centers' records’ – June 10, 2010 http://citizensvoice.com/news/judge-s-ruling-preserves-detention-centers-records-1.838496 A federal judge issued an injunction Wednesday allowing the operators of two for-profit juvenile detention centers at the heart of the kids-for-cash scandal to preserve records they claim are subject to destruction under a state Supreme Court order… Scranton Times Tribune ‘Opinion: Don't let kids waive counsel’ – June 10, 2010 http://thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/don-t-let-kids-waive-counsel-1.838332 One of the most appalling aspects of the Luzerne County juvenile justice scandal was that so many professionals within the legal system facilitated it… Erie Times-News ‘Your view: Bereaved Erie mom urges new approach to juvenile justice’ – June 11, 2010 http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100611/OPINION08/306119994/-1/opinion02 Changing juvenile laws will help our children become a mold for success… National Summary San Jose Mercury News (CA) ‘Opinion: County policy on young juveniles sets model for the nation’ – May 29, 2010 http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_15190529?nclick_check=1 Although there may be competing theories about the effectiveness of our juvenile justice system, one point on which we should all agree is that incarcerating kids 12 and younger in jail-like facilities is wrong, period… The Battle Creek Enquirer (MI) ‘Your Opinions: Not all juveniles treated the same’ – June 1, 2010 http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20100601/OPINION03/6010301/Your-Opinions-Not-all-juveniles-treated-the-same Your editorial discussing the recent Supreme Court opinion barring juvenile life without parole for non-homicide cases ("Holding Out Hope," May 20) notes that Missouri is the gold standard in responding to juvenile delinquency… The New York Times - Online ‘Paterson Proposes Juvenile Justice Overhaul’ – June 2, 2010 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/paterson-proposes-juvenile-justice-overhaul/ Gov. David A. Paterson introduced legislation on Wednesday to begin overhauling New York’s troubled juvenile prison system, in what aides described at a first step toward broader changes long sought by critics of the system… Associated Press (AP) – Baltimore Bureau (MD) ‘Third of kids don't finish troubled-youth program’ – June 4, 2010 Posted on: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-silver-oak-failure-rate-20100604,0,1491318.story More than a third of kids failed to complete a treatment program at a center for troubled youth that reopened last year after a resident died in 2007, Maryland's juvenile justice watchdog group said this week… The Washington Post – Online ‘'Juvenile justice reform' -- or a clear-and-present threat?’ – June 4, 2010 http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/06/juvenile_justice_reform_--_or.html Manuel D. Sanchez, 29, of Capitol Heights was with a crew of people hired a week ago to clean up the area in the rear of an apartment house in the 4600 block of Hillside Road in Southeast Washington. Sanchez didn't make it home. Just after 2:00 p.m. last Friday he was shot to death. Sad how things happen… WRTV-TV (IN) ‘Top Prison Official Defends Juvenile Justice System’ – June 4, 2010 http://www.theindychannel.com/news/23798706/detail.html The head of the Indiana Department of Correction told 6News that real change is being made within the state's juvenile prisons, which have been plagued with allegations of sexual abuse and filthy conditions… CBS News ‘"Sexting" Leads to Child Porn Charges for Teens’ – June 5, 2010 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/05/eveningnews/main6552438.shtml?tag=contentBody;featuredPost-PE At Susquenita High School, 15 miles outside of Harrisburg, Pa., eight students, ranging in age from 13 to 17, have learned a tough lesson about "sexting."… The Post-Standard - Online (NY) ‘Overdue Justice: Gov. Paterson's bill a strong start in fixing youth prison system’ – June 6, 2010 http://blog.syracuse.com/opinion/2010/06/overdue_justice_gov_patersons.html Gov. David Paterson proposed bold legislation Wednesday that would begin to overhaul how New York treats children who break the law… Associated Press (AP) – Wales Bureau (WI) ‘States closing youth prisons as arrests plunge’ – June 7, 2010 http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hSdbz67zNVY31vVu-FE-HzRP4n4gD9G64L9G0 After struggling for years to treat young criminals in razor wire-ringed institutions, states across the country are quietly shuttering dozens of reformatories amid plunging juvenile arrests, softer treatment policies and bleak budgets… Center for Juvenile Justice Reform, Georgetown Public Policy Institute ‘Addressing the Unmet Educational Needs of Children and Youth in the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems’ – June 7, 2010 Youths who go through both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems often leave school without the skills necessary for success in the 21st century, according to this report from the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform… San Jose Mercury News (CA) ‘Opinion: The cost of locking up California's juveniles’ – June 8, 2010 http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_15254555 California essentially gave up on Maria Santana's son when he was 15 years old and was locked up in the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) youth prisons. Initially told he would be released in four years, Maria's son has been languishing for nearly 10 years…. WAFB-TV (LA) ‘Legislators shoot down bill to clarify role of juvenile court’ – June 8, 2010 http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=12618013 A bill backed by the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney's Office was shot down in a Senate committee on Tuesday. The measure was supposed to clarify the role of juvenile court in the most extreme criminal cases… The Advocate (LA) ‘Sexting’ legislation clears Senate committee – June 9, 2010 http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/95928019.html A state Senate committee advanced legislation Tuesday that would make “sexting” punishable by at least 10 days in jail… The San Bernardino Sun (CA) ‘Opinion: Questioning how well juvenile justice system works’ – June 9, 2010 http://www.sbsun.com/pointofview/ci_15263759 When a 16-year-old Apple Valley boy escaped from the Indio Juvenile Hall on May 9 and was shot by police the next day, it made me wonder how well the current juvenile justice system works… The New York Times ‘Editorial: Real Justice for Juveniles’ – June 11, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/opinion/11fri3.html Gov. David Paterson of New York has sent the Legislature a juvenile justice bill that would achieve two urgently important goals. It would improve the quality of the leadership and care in the state’s often dangerous and inhumane juvenile facilities. And it would ensure that only children who need to be institutionalized — because they present a risk to the public — end up in the facilities… Top Stories – Models for Change Mentioned Connecting Youth and the Community conference considers fair, effective punishment The Herald-Review (IL) By VALERIE WELLS June 3, 2010
June 8, 2010 To access videos, visit Senator Greenleaf’s homepage at: http://www.senatorgreenleaf.com/ OR View email attachments Excerpt from Hearing: Berks County Senior Judge Arthur Grim: In November of 2005, the MacArthur Foundation indicated that Pennsylvania was the bellwether state of juvenile justice in the United States and that they wanted to form a partnership with Pennsylvania in order to take it a step further in hopes that the way we do business in Pennsylvania could be replicated throughout the nation… The next hearing relating to the “best practices" in juvenile justice will be held on Tuesday, June 15th at 10:30 am. Top Stories - Pennsylvania Expert: End zero tolerance policies Involving police quickly with student misbehavior has been a common policy since the Columbine shootings. Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre) By Mark Guydish May 29, 2010 http://www.timesleader.com/news/Expert__End_zero_tolerance_policies_05-28-2010.html An education-law advocacy group said ending zero-tolerance policies in schools as recommended in the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice on Thursday would have benefits far beyond the commission’s goal of preventing a recurrence of the “kids-for-cash” scandal seen in Luzerne County. “Statistics show that any contact students have with police increases the likelihood of future contacts,” Education Law Center staff attorney David Lapp said. “People have termed it the ‘prison pipeline.’” Zero tolerance became popular after the 1999 Columbine High School shootings in Colorado, and former county Juvenile Court judge Mark Ciavarella openly advocated zero tolerance for many students who were brought to his bench. Ciavarella and former county judge Michael Conahan are accused of accepting millions of dollars for actions that benefited a private juvenile detention facility in Pittston Township. The Interbranch Commission report argues that “schools in Luzerne County too quickly turned to the juvenile justice system as a vehicle to address school climate and learning conditions. As a result, too many youth unnecessarily entered the juvenile justice system.” It is a claim repeatedly disputed by local school administrators ever since witnesses started making it last year during commission hearings held in Wilkes-Barre Township. But Lapp pointed to statistics his organization compiled from state data. “In the last decade the number of school-based arrests in Pennsylvania tripled from 4,000 to 12,000,” he said. It came down a little over the last two years but still is significantly higher than a decade ago. “I don’t think there is a deliberate intent by anybody at the school level to harm students,” Lapp added. “I think it’s more that this was an easy, quick fix. As the Interbranch Commission said, they were able to get the troublemakers out of their hair, and we’re learning that’s just not an appropriate role for schools.” Lapp contends the Interbranch Commission’s report bolsters his organization’s argument that schools must move away from what has become overuse of punitive discipline. There are methods that have been shown to work much better, shifting emphasis from “punitive retribution to changing student attitudes and future actions.” Several Pennsylvania high schools have had “remarkable success with restorative practices,” Lapp said. There are various models, but they often involve mediation, with an opportunity for the victim “to communicate to the offender why something was painful or hurtful, and an opportunity for the offender to figure out future ways to handle problems differently.” The Education Law Center is also using the Interbranch Commission report in a fight to alter state Senate Bill 56, which is designed to make the school safety reports more uniform. The state has compiled the safety data annually for more than a decade, but the weakness has always been that the information is self-reported by the schools. Different administrators may report the same type of incident under different categories – one person’s harassment may be another person’s assault. The state tightened the reporting procedures in 2005, but problems continued. Lapp said SB 56 attempts to fix the problem by involving police more. “When it first came out it in 2009, it basically required schools to call them for anything that could remotely be considered a crime,” he said. The bill has been “favorably amended,” but there is still a high risk administrators will simply opt to call police whenever they are unsure an incident matches the requirements, Lapp said. “A principal may not know the difference between aggravated assault and simple assault. “We think it’s important that the data be accurately collected, but police don’t seem to be a necessary part of that, especially for incidents not of a violent or overly serious nature,” Lapp said. 'Zero tolerance' was the culprit Allentown Morning Call By Paul Carpenter May 30, 2010
Two judges there are charged with taking payoffs to put hundreds of children in commercial juvenile detention facilities. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which oversees all courts in the state, knew about the problem but refused to take action until forced to do so last year when federal authorities got involved. Coincidentally, the owner of the commercial jail is the son of a former chief justice. According to Friday's story, the ICJJ report said corruption in Luzerne County's court system ''has been deeply ingrained for many years.'' It said the ICJJ ''also revealed failures in state oversight of the court system,'' specifically referring to the state's Judicial Conduct Board, a puppet of the Supreme Court and the governor. I looked at the report and it is indeed scathing, and it includes one finding not mentioned in the story. The ICJJ noted that Luzerne County Juvenile Court Judge Mark Ciavarella was ''a zero tolerance judge who took a hard line on juvenile crime, particularly when crime occurred in schools.'' (Ciavarella is now awaiting trial on federal charges. A fellow Luzerne County judge has agreed to plead guilty.) The ''zero tolerance'' theme is a major component of another even more scathing report by the Juvenile Law Center, the Philadelphia-based organization that gave the Supreme Court evidence about wrongdoing in Luzerne County in the first place (to no immediate avail). Both reports are comprehensive and complex. For today, I'll discuss just one chapter in the JLC report, which says ''zero tolerance'' policies for weapons and drugs in school appeal to the public, and ''in large part, the widespread acceptance of zero tolerance policies in Luzerne County allowed Ciavarella to easily traffic children from their homes and schools to detention centers.'' You may have seen other stories about students who got in trouble under ''zero tolerance'' rules for having such things as nail clippers, butter knives or aspirin. Meaningful discipline, however, is difficult in schools, so they get rid of students they don't like by shunting them somewhere else. Juvenile courts, the JLC says, ''allow schools to use the justice system as the school disciplinarian.'' It quotes Luzerne District Attorney Jacqueline Carroll as saying that ''if you threw a spitball, they got the police, and you ended up in juvenile court and got sent away.'' The JLC report said, ''In Luzerne County, school referrals made under zero tolerance policies were an integral element of the overall [payoff] scheme as they ensured a constant stream of children to be placed into detention.'' I have discussed similar referrals at length. I focused on the way county juvenile caseworkers profit by making referrals to their own private therapy mills, but the lack of due process is the same. Also, in March, I discussed laws that restrict school discipline. If schools want to take a thug out of class, they have to provide a very expensive alternate education. ''Let teachers show hoodlums and lazy bums the door,'' I urged. So how is the school-court symbiosis in Luzerne County different from that of any other county? That's the problem. It isn't, except that the Luzerne judges drew attention to themselves by going overboard. (They are accused of pocketing $2.8 million in bribes by jailing ridiculous percentages of juvie defendants.) And who has the ultimate duty to look out for the rights of juveniles? Why, it's the state Supreme Court, which is the same as saying nobody at all. Do you think such a thing can happen to your kids even if they are innocent or pull picayune pranks? You're damned right it can, unless changes are made. Think about that the next time you hear a judicial candidate brag about being tough -- while saying nothing about protecting anybody's rights. Juvenile justice: Blueprint helps provide checks and balances Directory: docs docs -> Application for acem docs -> Observational Assessment of Teaching Practices Teaching Assessment Initiative Proposal Submitted to The Teachers for a New Era project docs -> Traditional British values docs -> From Warfighters to Crimefighters: The Origins of Domestic Police Militarization docs -> Borzoi Club of America Register of Merit Program I. What is a Register Of Merit docs -> Protecting the rights of the child in the context of migration docs -> United Nations E/C. 12/Esp/5 docs -> 9th May 1950 the schuman declaration docs -> Getting To Outcomes® in Services for Homeless Veterans 10 Steps for Achieving Accountability Download 351.58 Kb. Share with your friends:
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