National Center for Youth Law

Juvenile Justice

NCYL believes that children are different from adults and should be treated appropriately for their age, level of development, and ability to change. We advocate for community based services as an alternative to incarceration, and work to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities within the juvenile justice system.

Campaigns

Economic Justice in the Juvenile Delinquency System

August 19, 2020
Juvenile court fines, fees and restitution create long-term significant harm to young people and their families, harm that often occurs without public knowledge or attention. The high financial burden of these charges often upends the lives of young people even longer than the other, better-known…

Release & Reconnect - Protect California’s Youth (2020)

May 14, 2020
Initiative Leaders are calling for Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature to adopt the following four recommendations to protect California’s youth who may come into contact with the juvenile justice system during the COVID-19 pandemic:
  • Recommendation #1: Increase Investments In Local Diversion Programming through
…

Alternative Education Settings in California

January 24, 2020
California students who experience the “school to prison pipeline” often find themselves in alternative education settings, such as continuation high schools, community day schools, county-run community schools, juvenile detention schools, and independent study programs. While alternative education settings are intended to provide additional educational options…

Youth Justice Initiative

December 21, 2016
NCYL is leading a campaign that ensures California’s justice system treats youth in a manner appropriate for their age, cognitive development and ability to change.

Shutting Down the School to Prison Pipeline - California

December 21, 2016
NCYL has launched a campaign to interrupt the “school-to-prison pipeline” through early interventions focused on creating positive school environments that address students’ academic and behavioral needs.

Ensuring Vulnerable Students Can Attend Their Community School - Texas

December 21, 2016
By improving probation agency and school district policy and practice; and building the capacity of community based organizations, this project will ensure students exiting juvenile detention are quickly enrolled in their community school and vulnerable populations of students remain in their community school.

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