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Juvenile Justice Publications
Juvenile Justice Testimony
Juvenile Justice Presentations
Juvenile Justice Detention Reports

PUBLICATIONS

Juvenile Justice professionals historically have overlooked some of the organic factors that are linked to delinquency and a host of other risk behaviors in adolescents.  One of those factors that we now know has had and can pose significant harm to children, and ultimately teens, is exposure to lead poisoning – that found in paint in older homes, toys that include lead in the paint, and other contaminant sources.  The Council has just posted a Policy Brief titled Lead Poisoning and Juvenile Delinquency which provides some basic information and links to where juvenile justice, child welfare, and early education professionals can go to learn more about how to prevent another generation of at-risk kids experiencing the same risk.  We’ve come to accept that childhood brain development plays a big role in the subsequent behavior of teens, and exposure to lead poisoning can reduce IQ, reduce a child’s attention span, slow health body growth and development, and increase the risk of aggressive behavior(s) (November 2009).

Reauthorizing the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act - A Big Step Forward. You may recall that Senator Kohl co-sponsored the introduction of the re-authorized Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act in March as Senate Bill 678. Senate action on this bill is still pending, but the bill reaffirms the federal commitment to sound practices in juvenile justice and provides greater direction to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in assisting states to achieve its goals. Check out Reauthorizing the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act - A Big Step Forward to learn more about what reauthorization could mean for Wisconsin (July 2009).

The Adam Walsh Act and Wisconsin: One-Size-Fits-All Registration Does Not Fit Everyone. This report provides a brief update of the Adam Walsh Act and the SORNA guidelines that have been adopted to date as well as some information about how those guidelines could impact youth in Wisconsin who have been adjudicated delinquent for a sexual offense.  The research is clear that juveniles who offend sexually are much different than adult perpetrators and should be treated differently (Summer 2009).

Risking Their Futures: Why trying nonviolent 17-year-olds as adults is bad policy for Wisconsin.  WCCF analyzed 1,000 17-year olds for over six years to track their recidivism rates after an adult conviction.  Overall 70 percent of the youth committed new crimes, and 80 percent of the youth who were jailed committed new crimes (August 2008).

The Council is working hard on returning 17-year-olds to the juvenile justice system.  To find out our main supporters in this effort, read "Returning 17-Year-Olds to Juvenile Court."

The Wiscosnin State Journal reports, “Second Thoughts on Adult Court for Violent Kids: States Respond to Research that Adult Court Makes Them Worse Off,”  Sunday, (December 2, 2007).

"Rethinking the Juvenile in Juvenile Justice," a WCCF publication about the intersection between brain research and juvenile justice (March 2006).
See Full Text or Executive Summary...

Children and the Trickle Down Economy, an essay by WCCF Board member Joseph R. Wall.

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TESTIMONY

WCCF testified at the Legislative Audit Bureau on April 10, 2008.  We focused on the deficiencies of programming in the adult system, as well as the funding needed to return 17-year-olds.  Here is our testimony.

WCCF testified in favor of restricting cell phone use by new teenage drivers.  See AB464_cell_phone_adolescent_drivers_081607.

WCCF testified at the Governor’s Commission on Reducing Racial Disparities on July 24, 2007.  Click to view WCCF testimony and the Wisconsin State Journal's coverage of WCCF’s testimony.

WCCF testimony against AB249 at the hearing on May 3, 2007.

On March 8, 2007, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee recommended unanimously an audit on the effects of criminal court jurisdiction on all Wisconsin 17-year-olds. View WCCF testimony and WCCF press release on this exciting development for juvenile justice!

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PRESENTATIONS

WCCF regularly provides presentations on juvenile justice, adolescent brain development, and using brain development in court and advocacy. Recent presentations include larger groups such as the Annual Criminal Defense Conference and the State Prosecutor’s Conference, smaller group presentations such as the Milwaukee Criminal Justice Coordinator Council and the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Commission, and national presentations to the National Juvenile Justice Network and the JustGeorgia advocacy summit. Upcoming presentations are planned for the Wisconsin Juvenile Court Intake Worker’s Association Conference and the Judicial Conference. If you are interested in a presentation on juvenile justice related issues, please contact Jim Moeser.

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DENTENTION REPORTS

The Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, with assistance from the Office of Justice Assistance, is analyzing data from all secure juvenile detention facilities throughout Wisconsin. Our quarterly reports will provide a brief overview of the underlying offenses, racial classifications and numbers of admissions statewide for each time frame. Additional pieces of information about the average length of stay, age and gender are also included.

Specific facilities are highlighted in the reports as well, according to a few key measures. WCCF examined which facilities held the highest percentage of status offenses, person offenses, and minority populations. Further specifics about the range of length of stay, property crimes percentages and percentages of girls are presented as well.

For more information on our methodology please read the Detention Report Methodology and Explanation sheet. Please check back later for the next quarter’s report. Currently available reports summarize the first and second halves of 2008, as well as 2008 as a full year. The first quarter of 2009 will be available soon, and subsequent reports will be based on quarterly time periods.

Detention Report - Second Quarter of 2009
Detention Report - First Quarter of 2009

Detention Report - End of 2008
Detention Report - Second Half of 2008
Detention Report - First Half of 2008

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