Juvenile Justice Project

The Correctional Association founded the Juvenile Justice Project in 1997 in response to increasing calls for more punitive and harsh responses to youths who become involved in the juvenile justice system.

Through its work, the Project seeks to reorient the justice system away from a punitive approach toward a stronger emphasis on community-based prevention and alternatives to jail and prison.

More specifically, the Project:

  • coordinates the Juvenile Justice Coalition to advocate and lobby for fair and effective responses to youth crime;
  • produces reports, position papers and fact sheets, which analyze existing juvenile justice policies and explore alternatives;
  • educates the public and state and local legislators about juvenile justice issues through media outreach, public forums, advocacy days in Albany, and other public events; and
  • trains young people to become leaders in the movement to transform juvenile justice policies in New York.

For more information, contact DeAvery Irons, Acting Director of the Juvenile Justice Project, at (212) 254-5700 ext. 316.

PROJECT NEWS

Task Force Report CoverCrisis in the Juvenile Jails

Just three months after a federal investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) found that excessive force was routinely used at four New York youth detention facilities—resulting in children suffering from broken bones, knocked out teeth, concussions and other serious injuries—Governor Paterson’s Task Force on Transforming Juvenile Justice has released its own report shining more light on the state's badly broken system. [read more]

 

Confronting Homphobia on the Inside

For the estimated ten percent of young people confined in New York’s youth prisons and jails who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ), every day can be a struggle. After facing rejection from their families, abuse on the street, and discrimination at school, once caught up in the criminal justice system, LGBTQ young people report being slapped, hit, punched, kicked, threatened and called names by facility residents and sometimes even staff. [read more]

2010 POLICY AGENDA

Diverting youth to alternative programs

Protecting the rights of youth in care

Closing juvenile prisons