Found 23 matches.
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Op-ed: A second chance: Youth justice reform = safer state
Tags: Arkansas | Member Publications
Paul Kelly of Arkansas argues for community-based alternatives over lockup for youth in trouble with the law. Cites specific examples of recent positive reforms.
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Why Detention is Not Always the Answer: A Closer Look at Youth Lock-Up in Arkansas
Tags: Arkansas | Deinstitutionalization | Risk Assessment and Screening | Member Publications
Reviews the harmful impact of juvenile detention, its use and misuse in Arkansas. Makes recommendations for detention reform.
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Arkansas Eliminates Mandatory Sentence of Life without Parole for Youth Convicted of Capital Murder, H.B. 1993
Tags: Arkansas | Life Without Parole and Parole Issues | Legislation
Pursuant to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Miller v. Alabama, Arkansas passed legislation that eliminates mandatory life without parole sentences for youth convicted of capital murder for offenses committed prior to the age of 18. The new law allows instead a sentence of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 28 years. Prior to this revision, any youth convicted of capital murder received a mandatory sentence of life without parole. The law is not retroactive. H.B. 1993/Act No. 1490, signed into law and effective April 22, 2013.
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Arkansas Moves to Decriminalize Youth Victims of Sex Trafficking, S.B. 869
Tags: Arkansas | Victims | Legislation
Finding that “the criminal justice system is not the appropriate place for sexually exploited children because it serves to retraumatize them and increase their feelings of low self-esteem,” the Arkansas Legislature passed the “Safe Harbor Victims Act” to help protect children who are victims of sex trafficking. The law mandates an interim study on child sex trafficking and creates a fund to help pay for services and treatment for youth who are trafficked. Additionally, the law requires the state Department of Human Services to develop a statewide protocol for the delivery of services to sexually exploited children and encourages training of law enforcement and prosecutors in how to identify and provide services for sexually exploited children. S.B. 869/Act No.1267, signed into law April 16, 2013; effective August 16, 2013.
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Arkansas Youth Justice: The Architecture of Reform
Tags: Arkansas | General System Reform | Reports
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Amicus Brief in Support of Petitioners (Miller v. Alabama and Jackson v. Hobbs)
Tags: Federal | Alabama | Arkansas | Life Without Parole and Parole Issues | Youth in the Adult System | Court Decisions and Related Documents
Juvenile Law Center and National Juvenile Defender Center, NJJN partners, filed an amicus brief in support of protecting youth from life sentences.
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Jackson v. Hobbs - Brief for Petitioner
Tags: Federal | Arkansas | Life Without Parole and Parole Issues | Youth in the Adult System | Court Decisions and Related Documents
Brief for Petitioner, Kuntrell Jackson, in the case of Jackson v. Hobbs. Also see, Miller v. Alabama.
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Little Rock, Arkansas One-Cent Sales Tax Provides an Additional $3 Million for Community-Based Youth Programming
Tags: Arkansas | Community-Based Alternatives and Supervision | Fiscal Issues and Funding | Prevention | Administrative/Regulatory Policies
On September 6, 2011, the city of Little Rock passed a one-cent sales tax increase that included, in the public safety section of the proposal, $3 million in additional revenue for prevention, intervention and treatment (PIT) programs to reduce juvenile crime.
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Arkansas Juvenile Court Fees to Be Used for Youth Programs, H.B. 1812
Tags: Arkansas | General System Reform | Legislation
The fees collected from participants in juvenile court are now used to fund and support youth and court programs. The law provides that the funds in each county may be used to support juvenile drug courts, teen courts, volunteer probation programs, court-appointed special advocates, and after-school and community-based programs. Prior to the law, only limited types of funds collected could be spent on juvenile court programs. The new law broadens the categories of fees that can be used to support youth programs and clarifies which types of juvenile court programs may be supported by the fees.
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DYS and Arkansas’ Juvenile Justice System, Truth of Youth Toolkit
General description of Arkansas DYS and juvenile justice system processing.
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Harms of Detention, Truth of Youth Toolkit
Tags: Arkansas | Deinstitutionalization | Detention | Reports
Fact sheet from Arkansas on the negative effects of detention of youth.
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Programs that Work for Everyone, Truth of Youth Toolkit
Tags: Arkansas | Community-Based Alternatives and Supervision | Reports
Fact sheet from Arkansas on benefits of community-based programs.
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Snapshot of Youth Involved in the Juvenile Justice System, Truth of Youth Toolkit
Tags: Arkansas | Crime Data and Statistics | Reports
Fact sheet including national and Arkansas-specific data on youth in the justice system.
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Why Does Arkansas' Juvenile Justice System Need Reform?, Truth of Youth Toolkit
Tags: Arkansas | General System Reform | Reports
Fact sheet detailing the reasons reform is needed in Arkansas, including high expenses, negative impacts on public safety, and poor outcomes for youth.
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Arkansas Mandates New Education System for Youth Residential Facilities, H.B. 1932
Tags: Arkansas | Institutional Conditions | Legislation
Finding the current education program of the Arkansas Division of Youth Services (DYS) "lacking," the General Assembly passed a law that requires the Arkansas Department of Education to establish guidelines for and monitor DYS' education system for youth in its residential facilities.
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Arkansas Requires Detailed Treatment Plans for Committed Youth, S.B. 776
Tags: Arkansas | Institutional Conditions | Legislation
The Arkansas Division of Youth Services must file with the court a treatment plan for all committed youth no later than 30 days from the commitment order or before the youth's release, whichever is sooner. Treatment plans must detail the type of programs and services to be provided to the youth; state the anticipated length of commitment; include recommendations as to the most appropriate post-commitment placement for the youth; detail any post-commitment community-based services that will be offered to the youth and his or her family; and outline an aftercare plan.
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Arkansas Sets Forth Factors to Determine Whether a Juvenile's Confession Is Voluntary, Arkansas, S.B. 788/Act 759
Tags: Arkansas | Juvenile Defense and Court Process | Legislation
Sets factors including the juvenile's maturity, whether the confession was coerced, whether the juvenile's parent or guardian who may have agreed to the interrogation had an interest adverse to the juvenile, and whether the confession was audio or video recorded. Additionally, in regard to a determination of whether a juvenile voluntarily waived counsel, the statute specifically requires the court to consider whether the waiver was recorded in audio or video format.
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Arkansas Codifies Factors Used to Determine Whether a Youth’s Confession Is Voluntary, S.B. 788
Tags: Arkansas | Juvenile Defense and Court Process | Legislation
The Arkansas General Assembly codified factors for the court to consider when determining if a youth's confession was made voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently. The factors include the youth's maturity, whether the confession was coerced, whether a parent or guardian who agreed to the youth's interrogation had an interest adverse to the youth, and whether the confession was audio- or video-recorded. Additionally, with regard to a determination of whether a youth voluntarily waived counsel, the statute specifically requires the court to consider whether the waiver was recorded in audio or video format.
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Juvenile Justice in Arkansas: A Long Road to a Promising Future, Paul Kelly, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
Tags: Arkansas | Community-Based Alternatives and Supervision | Deinstitutionalization | Reports
Report urging Arkansas to take advantage of a drop in juvenile crime rates to move from an institution-based system to one that allows youth to be treated for underlying problems in their communities. The report calls on the state to move from incarcerating youth in far-away prisons where their problems may be exacerbated, to treating and preventing their conduct, behavior, and substance-abuse problems in community-based programs and facilities.
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Juvenile Justice Reform in Arkansas: Building a Better Future for Youth, Their Families, and the Community, Pat Arthur and Tim Roche, in Collaboration with the Arkansas Division of Youth Services
Tags: Arkansas | Community-Based Alternatives and Supervision | Deinstitutionalization | Reports
Report calling for widespread reform of Arkansas' juvenile justice system. The report finds that many non-violent youthful offenders are being confined simply because there is not an adequate array of community-based interventions available for them and their families. The authors identify factors that lead to over-reliance on secure confinement and make specific recommendations to address each. Additionally, the report identifies specific steps that can be immediately taken to better serve youth and streamline the system.
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Arkansas Limits Sources to Whom Juvenile Records May Be Released, Arkansas, H.B. 2248/Act 742
Tags: Arkansas | Confidentiality | Legislation
Provides the Division of Youth Services and any community organizations working with the Division a list of parties to whom they may release records that personally identify a juvenile.
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Arkansas Requires Placement Decisions for Dually Involved Youth to Be Made by One Judge, Arkansas, S.B. 370/Act 587
Tags: Arkansas | Crossover and Dual Jurisdiction Youth | Legislation
Aims to ensure that all matters relating to the placement of children who are in foster care and have been sent to a different jurisdiction remain with one judge.
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Arkansas Closes Loophole that Allowed Some Juveniles to Be Tried in Adult Criminal Court, Arkansas, H.B. 1475/Act 257
Tags: Arkansas | Youth in the Adult System | Legislation
Ensures juvenile court jurisdiction for all juveniles who are charged with committing illegal acts prior to turning 18, regardless of whether the actual trial occurs after their 18th birthday.