For nearly two weeks, the country has had their eyes fixed on Ferguson, Missouri. The tragic killing of teen-aged Michael Brown by police and the protests that have followed have rightly raised debate about the state of our system of justice in the United States. The hardest thing to swallow…...
Adverse Childhood Experiences in Nebraska
Ensuring that all children in Nebraska grow up to be happy and healthy adults requires a framework that extends beyond the traditional. When thinking about the course of a child’s life, it is important to consider the long-term impacts of different experiences on outcomes in adulthood. New data released last…...
Why PREA matters for Nebraska’s kids
Here’s something we should all agree on: Nebraska’s children and youth deserve to be safe from sexual abuse and victimization. Last month, we lost an important opportunity to ensure the safety of youth in the juvenile justice system. On May 29, Governor Heineman announced that Nebraska would not comply with…...
The Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Act: Investing in the Future
Here in Nebraska, we know that the social and financial costs of the juvenile justice system are not insignificant. Incarceration rates in our state are the 4th highest in the country — and have been increasing while national rates have fallen. Nevertheless, promising steps forward have been made recently in the…...
Race for Results Series: African-American Children in Nebraska
Last week the Annie E. Casey Foundation published the Race for Results: building a path to opportunity for all children report. This report explores the intersection of kids, race, and opportunity and features the new Race for Results. This index is based on 12 indicators measuring children’s success and allows…...
Fairer Sentencing Ahead?
Late on Friday afternoon, the Judiciary Committee began considering how Nebraska will sentence children and youth involved in very serious crimes. Nebraska is one of 29 states that have a mandatory sentence of life without parole for certain crimes, even if the person accused is an adolescent. This past…...
The Other Side of the Tracks: Nebraska Kids in Out-of-Home Care
Take a moment and step into the shoes of a child placed in out-of-home care. Imagine being taken away from your parents, friends, and home and placed into an unfamiliar situation, most likely surrounded by strangers. Every year since 1988, Nebraska has had over 8,000 children in out-of-home care at…...
