Why Solitary Confinement Hurts Juveniles More Than Adults; News Roundup

Juvenile Justice Reform

• In Their Own Words, Inmates Discuss the Riddle of Juvenile Justice (JJIE)
  The John Howard Association of Illinois, an independent prison watchdog and justice reform advocate, recently published a report introducing ways to reform the criminal justice system for youth prosecuted for serious offenses. This report takes a unique approach in asking the population in question about their experiences in the judicial system.

• Seattle City Council OKs Rezone for New Juvenile Hall (The Seattle Times)
  The Seattle City Council voted Monday to approve a zoning change that will give King County more design flexibility in building its new juvenile courthouse and jail.

• Seven Charged in Sayreville Hazing Case Could Be Tried as Adults (The New York Times)
  The acts of violent sexual hazing that seven New Jersey high school football players are accused of committing have been called “horrendous” by school officials and “extraordinarily disturbing” by Gov. Chris Christie. Now, as the players from Sayreville War Memorial High School await their first court hearing this week, Middlesex County authorities face a daunting question under escalating scrutiny: whether to charge some or all of the boys as adults.
• Why Solitary Confinement Hurts Juveniles More Than Adults (Pacific Standard)
  In a long-awaited move, New York City’s Department of Correction has finally decided to end its practice of putting teenaged offenders in solitary confinement cells. Currently, fights and other infractions can land kids in solitary for weeks, months, sometimes years.

Jobs, Grants, Events and Webinars

• Please share the Reclaiming Futures Opportunity Board with your colleagues in the juvenile justice, adolescent substance abuse and teen mental health areas. It’s free to browse and post!

Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment and Mental Health

• Kids Whose Parents Understand Their Daily Experiences Have Better Mental Health (Business Standard)
  A new study has revealed that kids whose parents can better understand the daily experiences of teens have better psychological adjustment and mental health.

• Christie Announces $12M in New Addiction Treatment Funds (NorthJersey.com)
  “If we continue to work together to remove the stigma, to promote addiction treatment rather than addiction as a societal issue that denigrates and lowers people, then than we have an opportunity to have more and more people realize what a gift their life really is,” Governor Christie said.

• Teen Challenge Begins to Make a Difference in Madison County (The Jackson Sun)
  "The courts are seeing the advantages of putting them in a program like this rather than putting them in jail," Teen Challenge sponsor and Madison County Commissioner Gary Deaton said. "If they can put them in a program like this, they won't be in court anymore. It'll change their life."