Juvenile Justice
Information and Resources
Families have the potential to be the greatest source of positive change and support for youth with disabilities involved in the juvenile justice system. Vermont Family Network’s goal is to provide information to youth with disabilities and their families to enable them to become better informed about their legal rights and options for the education, treatment and rehabilitation of youthful offenders. We seek to provide information and resources that can assist in preventing youth from entering the juvenile justice system and assist them on their path to find work, go on to college, and be part of their communities. Below you will find links to some helpful resources regarding youth with disabilities and juvenile justice. For further information or support please call our Family Support Program at 1-800-800-4005.
Other useful Resources:
1999 National Report Series: Juvenile Justice Bulletin
“As the Nation moves into the 21st century, the reduction of juvenile crime, violence, and victimization constitutes one of the most crucial challenges of the new millennium. To meet that challenge, reliable information is essential. Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 1999 National Report offers a comprehensive overview of these pervasive problems and the response of the juvenile justice system. The National Report brings together statistics from a variety of sources on a wide array of topics, presenting the information in clear, nontechnical text enhanced by more than 350 easy-to-read tables, graphs, and maps.
This Bulletin series is designed to give readers quick, focused access to some of the most critical findings from the wealth of data in the National Report. Each Bulletin in the series highlights selected themes at the forefront of juvenile justice policymaking and extracts relevant National Report sections (including selected graphs and tables).”
http://www.vermontfamilynetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Juvenile_Justice_Flowchart.pdf
http://www.vermontfamilynetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/JuvenileJustice_Glossary.pdf
American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section Juvenile Justice Committee
“The Juvenile Juctice Committee of the ABA Criminal Justice Section is an active voice in promoting changes in the juvenile justice system. The Committee is an interdisciplinary forum of defenders, judges, prosecutors, corrections staff, law students, and other interested in improving the juvenile justice system for kids, parents, and the professionals who serve them.”
The National Center on Education, Disability and Juvenile Justice
“EDJJ examines the overrepresentation of youth with disabilities at-risk for contact with the courts or already involved in the juvenile delinquency system. We provide professional development and technical assistance, conduct research and disseminate resources in three areas of national significance: prevention of school failure and delinquency, education and special education for detained and committed youth, and transition services for youth returning to schools and communities.”
Guidepost document: Meeting Needs of Youth In JJ
National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center
“The mission of the NYVPRC is to provide key leaders in communities—local government leaders and community leaders—with dynamic resources to help support their efforts to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate effective youth violence prevention efforts.”
Engaging Young People in Juvenile Justice Reform
PACER Center’s Juvenile Justice Program
“PACER Center’s Juvenile Justice Project serves parents and professionals through individual advocacy, training, and the ongoing development of new resources. PACER assists parents and professionals by helping parents work with the courts, informing parents and professionals on the educational rights of children and youth in short and long term correctional placements, and training police officers about mental health issues and youth’s rights under federal law.
“PACER is committed to providing information about the overrepresentation of youth with disabilities in the justice system, the disproportionate number of persons of color in the justice system, the increasing number of youth referred to court for behaviors that should be addressed through an IEP, matching disability needs with appropriate consequences, including educational and mental health services, ensuring that youth receive special education and transition services while incarcerated, the development of outcome-based standards that promote accountability for both the child and the service providers.”
Parents as Guardians Ad Litem in Delinquency Cases: What to expect from the court and what the court expects from you
“This is a booklet for parents who serve as their child’s Guardian ad Litem when their child is involved in a delinquency case in the Vermont Family Court. Sometimes the court process may be confusing. This booklet is designed to help you know what to expect from the court system and your child’s attorney. You may want to keep this booklet with you to help answer your questions during your child’s case.”
http://www.vermontjudiciary.org/GTC/Family/Juvenile.aspx
What You Should Know About Your Rights
Parents in CHINS Cases: What to expect from your lawyer and the court
“Being involved in a child abuse and neglect case can be very confusing and stressful for a family. Not knowing what to expect can make it even harder. This handbook will help you to start to understand what to expect from your lawyer and the family court. Keep this handbook with you so that you can write the names of the people who will be helping you and the dates of meetings and court hearings.”
http://www.vermontjudiciary.org/GTC/Family/SharedDocuments/Family-ChinsBookletForWeb.pdf.pdf
What Youth Need to Know if Questioned by Police
What Parents Need to Know About Children with Disabilities and the Delinquency System
“This fact sheet contains a brief summary of useful information for parents of incarcerated youth with disabilities. It includes information about how parents can be involved in ensuring that incarcerated youth receive the special education and related services to which they are entitled.”
Parent Communication with Correction System
Special Ed in Juvenile Justice System
Youth with Disabilities in Juvenile Justice System
