Thank you to the community leaders and experts in juvenile justice reform, adolescent substance abuse treatment and mental health who contributed to a successful 2013 Leadership Institute in Asheville, N.C., May 7-9, 2013. I'm pleased to…

In celebration of National Drug Court Month, Montgomery County Juvenile Court held a graduation ceremony celebrating youth who have successfully overcome drug and alcohol abuse. National Drug Court Month is coordinated on a National level by…

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) recently released a Statistical Briefing Book that offers statistics on various juvenile justice topics. The Book documents where states stand on a plethora of juvenile justice…

This just out from Child Trends; some fascinating and sobering statistics about the high school class of 2013. BETHESDA, MD — June 11, 2013 — Imagine a senior class of 100. They’re the product of their genetic predispositions, their…

Selecting an adoptive or foster placement for a child is a major decision that has lifelong ramifications. There are numerous factors an agency must consider before approving the suitability of the placement. A comprehensive assessment of the…

Minnesota Public Radio reporter Madeleine Baran released this story today on whether private boarding school Shattuck-St. Mary's should have told police about an accused teacher's child pornography in 2003. Child pornography is increasingly…

Many of this year's graduating high school seniors already have their eyes set on a specific university, but others wonder if pursuing a postsecondary degree is really worth the time and cost. The public continues to debate whether college...

For every three people enrolled in a postsecondary institution, one person is under correctional supervision (incarcerated, on parole, or on probation). College has been part of the American Dream for decades, but prisoners and parolees have…

Recent reports underscore what many argue are serious problems with current financial aid policy. Lawmakers debate about how to handle the soon-to-expire low interest rate on federal student loans. Meanwhile, public and private colleges and…

The U.S. Supreme Court heard an important adoption case on April 16. The case, captioned Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, involves complex issues of sovereignty and statutory construction, to say nothing of the high stakes element of a little…

ABC News reports that a New Mexico man agreed to a $70,000 settlement with the county whose officials arrested and wrongfully imprisoned him for several days in 2009. Anthony Ortiz was arrested because a clerk entered his Social Security…

If the Jodi Arias trial illustrates anything to the legal community (note: it probably illustrates a lot of things), it is the importance of expert witness testimony in the contemporary trial setting.  Forensic psychologist Richard…

HB 863, which changes the way restricted-use driver’s licenses are offered to offenders, has been signed by Gov. McDonnell. It has been enacted as Chapter 522 of the 2010 Acts of Assembly, and will become effective on July 1, 2010.

Gov. McDonnell has signed into law HB 862, allowing juveniles to be immediately adjudicated as delinquent for underage alcohol, drug, or firearm offenses, and punished accordingly. It has been enacted as Chapter 569 of the 2010 Acts of…

On April 10, Governor McDonnell signed HB1121, Delegate Gilbert’s juvenile information sharing bill. The new policy will be effective on July 1, 2010.

ACLU of Michigan Juvenile Justice Times Newsletter   Please go to this link to read the entire newsletter. Here is an excerpt:In the Courts: Are Juvenile Life Without Parole Sentences Cruel and Unusual Punishment?

 by Efren Paredes, Jr. Today the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion abolishing life without parole (LWOP) sentences for the 2,500 prisoners across the U.S. who were condemned to die in prison for crimes they were convicted of as juveniles.

Juvenile life without Parole sentencing infographics at: http://infographiclist.com/2012/02/17/juvenile-life-without-parole-sentencing-infographic/#comment-1777

Inmates sentenced to life in prison for murder as juveniles are eligible for parole and must receive a “fair and meaningful” chance at leaving prison, a federal judge said Wednesday. The order from U.S. District Judge John Corbett…

In this case, Father’s rights were terminated under MCL 712A.19b(3)(a)(ii) – desertion for 91 or more days – and MCL 712A.19b(3)(g).  The Father lived in Mississippi and had scant contact with the child.  Mother had custody of the…

I am starting to see reports that Governor-elect Rick Snyder is expected to appoint Justice Maura Corrigan director of the Department of Human Services.  Tim Skubick is reporting this, so it is reliable information.  Justice Corrigan has an…