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Are there any proposed reforms for the Juvenile justice system?

Rakeem Stopforth

Hey folks! How's everyone doing today?

I've got a question for you that's been on my mind for a while now. Have you guys heard anything about any proposed reforms for the Juvenile justice system?

I mean, let's be real, the system has always been a bit of a hot mess. Too many kids are getting locked up for way too long, and it's not like they're being rehabilitated or anything. And don't even get me started on the racial disparities in the system.

But finally, it seems like there might be some changes on the horizon. I've been hearing rumblings about some interesting proposals that could really shake things up.

First off, there's talk of significantly reducing the number of kids who are sent to juvenile detention centers. Instead, judges would have more discretion to give out alternative punishments that actually make sense for the individual offender.

For example, a kid who gets caught spraying graffiti might be required to do community service and pay restitution to the affected property owners instead of being thrown in a cell. Makes sense, right? Punishment that fits the crime and all that.

Another proposal that's been gaining some traction is to increase the age at which kids can be tried as adults. Currently, in many states, kids as young as 14 can be transferred to adult court for certain offenses. But research has shown that kids' brains aren't fully developed until their mid-20s, which means they don't necessarily fully comprehend the consequences of their actions.

So, some advocates are arguing that the age should be raised to 18 or even 21 in some cases. That way, kids would have a better chance of being rehabilitated instead of being stuck in the adult criminal justice system for the rest of their lives.

And of course, there's always the issue of racial disparities. Studies have shown that Black and Brown kids are far more likely to be incarcerated in the Juvenile justice system than their white peers, even when they've committed the same offenses.

So, some folks are proposing changes to help level the playing field. That could mean requiring juvenile justice professionals to undergo anti-racism training, implementing implicit bias screenings, or even providing more funding to community-based programs that have a proven track record of working with young people of color.

All in all, there are some pretty exciting developments happening in the world of Juvenile justice reform. I can't wait to see what actually gets implemented and how it impacts the lives of young people across the country. What do you guys think? Are you as pumped as I am about the potential for change? Let's chat!