The Campaign for Youth Justice (CFYJ) is a national campaign in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 dedicated to ending the practice of trying, sentencing, and incarcerating children under age 18 in the adult justice system. Founded in 2005, CFYJ has become a national clearinghouse on the issue of trying youth in adult court. It is also one of the leading advocates for the reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 is a United States federal law providing funds to states that follow a series of federal protections, known as the "core protections," on the care and treatment of youth in the justice system...

. CFYJ is an advocacy group with nonprofit status.

Mission

The mission of the Campaign for Youth Justice is to end the practice of prosecuting, sentencing and incarcerating youth (under 18) in the adult criminal justice system. CFYJ also seeks to promote research-based, developmentally-appropriate rehabilitative programs and services for youth as an alternative to the adult criminal justice system.

Organization

The Campaign for Youth Justice was founded in 2005 by current President and CEO Liz Ryan to reform the juvenile justice system. CFYJ has an office in Washington, D.C. and also works with many state-based campaigns.

Reauthorization of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974

With the support of CFYJ and its allies, federal legislation was introduced to reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 is a United States federal law providing funds to states that follow a series of federal protections, known as the "core protections," on the care and treatment of youth in the justice system...

by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Herb Kohl (D-WI) S. 678, included many of the major strengthening amendments to expand federal protections for children recommended by CFYJ and its allies. For the first time, provisions to extend the “Jail Removal” and “Sight and Sound” protections to children in the adult criminal justice system were included in the bill as well as incentives to keep children out of adult prisons. The bill was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and awaits introduction to the floor. No companion bill has been introduced in the House.

National Parent Caucus

In July, 2009, CFYJ initiated the “National Parents’ Caucus” to provide a space in which families can come together for support, information and to share ideas. The National Parent Caucus has become a clearinghouse of information for parents needing specific information and support for their individual needs as well as linking them to a larger movement focused on making change in their communities, their states and on the national level. Parents from 30 states have participated to date.

State-Based Efforts

CFYJ has, on a state-by-state basis, focused on reducing the prosecution of youth in adult court and the placement of youth in adult jails and prisons. Here are some examples of current campaigns. A full list can be found on their website, campaignforyouthjustice.org

Connecticut

The Connecticut Junvenile Justice Alliance (CTJJA) in partnership with CFYJ launched a campaign to end the practice of automatically prosecuting all 16 & 17 year olds as adults in Connecticut. On January 1, 2010 Connecticut's new law removing 16 year olds from adult court went into effect. CTJJA and CFYJ are working to ensure that the new law is enforced and that the January 1, 2012 deadline to remove all 17 year olds from adult court is met.

North Carolina

North Carolina is one of two states where youths ages 16 & 17 are automatically tried as adults. Action for Children North Carolina, CFYJ's North Carolina partner, is leading a statewide campaign to end this practice. The North Carolina General Assembly established a Youth Accountability Task Force in 2009 to make recommendations on how to implement changes to NC's law by January 2011. The North Carolina Raise the Age Campaign is actively working to raise the age of juvenile court jurisdiction from 16 to 18.

Original Research and Reports

CFYJ has sponsored, conducted and released numerous reports and studies illustrating what it believes to be are the problems with prosecuting youth as adults. In 2008, CFYJ released a report finding that in any given year around 150,000 youth under age 18 are held in adult jails . Another 2008 study documented the disparities in arrests and prison sentences between black and white youth . The study found that black youth were disproportionately more likely to be arrested and receive harsher sentences then were white youth charged with similar offenses. A 2007 report by CFYJ found that youth are more likely to be sexually and physically assaulted in adult prisons than in juvenile facilities . Another 2007 report, titled "The Consequences Aren't Minor: The Impact of Trying Youth as Adults and Strategies for Reform," found that in the state of Virginia one out of every four minors incarcerated in the adult justice system was there for a nonviolent crime .

Media Coverage

CFYJ has received coverage in a variety of radio, television and print media outlets including The Dr. Phil Show, Black Entertainment Television (BET),The New York Times, The Washington Post, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, San Francisco Chronicle, Associated Press, Congressional Quarterly, The Baltimore Sun, DC Examiner, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Youth Today, Salt Lake Tribune, Standard-Examiner, Afro-American newspaper, and The News Journal.

External links

• campaignforyouthjustice.org