When children get in trouble with the law, our system should ensure they are held accountable for their actions in an age-appropriate, fair and just way. No one should face trial and punishment without understanding their rights, the possible consequences, and the reasons why; this is particularly true for young…...
Juvenile Justice Reform Signed Into Law!
This week, Governor Ricketts signed into law a package of legislation aimed at improving our statewide system of response to children and youth who commit crimes. LB 894 is a set of positive reforms that will ensure children’s needs are met and rights protected in age-appropriate and evidence-based ways, and…...
YJAM series: Choosing not to Prosecute Children
In elementary school, children are still learning to use the dictionary, parse words and stories for meaning, and multiply and divide fractions. They have barely begun to explore American history and civics, much less crime, punishment, and legal rights and consequences. However, Nebraska has no minimum age for charging children…...
Screening for Risk: the Good, the Bad, and the Unknown in Nebraska’s RAI
A couple weeks ago, we posted an introduction to the Risk Assessment Instrument (RAI) used by probation officers to make detention determinations. We were left with a question: does the RAI accurately predict risk to miss court or reoffend before the first court appearance, in a way that will help…...
The Sexual Abuse to Prison Pipeline: The Girls’ Story
Last week, the New York Times highlighted a newly-released Georgetown University Law Center report on the “sexual abuse to prison pipeline.” The report focuses on girls who become involved with the juvenile justice system after being charged with prostitution, although they are victims of sex trafficking. The researchers estimate that approximately…...
Legislative Resolutions 2015
While most of our work during the legislative session focuses on legislative bills, we also keep an eye on legislative resolutions with the potential to impact the lives of Nebraska children. Legislative resolutions are formal, written motions that can be adopted by the Legislature. Resolutions can create committees and…...
Nebraska Needs the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act
What is the JJDPA? Congress originally enacted the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) in 1974, landmark legislation meant to encourage age-appropriate, community-based responses to delinquent and status behavior. The law contains four core compliance measures that states must meet to receive federal funding for juvenile justice: Deinstitutionalization of…...
