July 26, 2023
By Eric Brewer
Recent announcements from courts show that courts are trying to improve outcomes for those in their formative years. This is part of the Children in the Courts Trending Topic series.
The Iowa Supreme Court's Juvenile Justice Task Force produced a report with practical recommendations to improve its decentralized juvenile justice system. While the complete list of 55 recommendations is too extensive to list here, some key recommendations include a continuous reassessment to screen for bias, the usage of age-appropriate language to explain the legal process, and a plan to establish housing and follow up care after discharge. Key observations from the report include:
- Youth of color are disproportionately overrepresented in the justice system;
- Youth and their families are not able to access the support they need;
- There are not enough providers, particularly in mental and behavioral health treatment;
- Youth are being pushed deeper into the justice system than necessary; and
- Timely screening and assessment are critical parts of serving youth.
Juvenile justice training sessions were conducted by several states that focused on information and best practices, including:
- Youth courts: California held its Annual Youth Court Summit in June 2023. Presented by the California Association of Youth Courts and the Judicial Council of California, the summit's theme was Justice 101. Mississippi held Youth Court Listening Sessions in May 2023 as part of a project to provide "targeted support to Mississippi for delinquency court improvements."
- Youth and Trauma: Florida's Office of Family Courts held a series of training on issues related to juvenile and family law cases. April 2023's session focused on How to Apply Trauma-Informed Practices to Dispositions, Especially Involving "Dually Served Youth." Kansas also has a similar training program that will focus on a “Trauma-Informed Approach to Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice” in November 2023.
How is your court improving services for youth in the justice system? Share your experiences with us. For more information, contact Knowledge@ncsc.org or call 800-616-6164. Follow the National Center for State Courts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.