Growing Up Behind Bars

The United States was the only country to condemn minors to life in prison with no chance for parole. In recent years the Supreme Court has ruled this unconstitutional. Yet more than 2,000 so-called juvenile lifers remain in prison in what the court says is cruel and unusual punishment. Howard Center for Investigative Journalism | … Continue reading Growing Up Behind Bars →

Gov. Tom Wolf announces effort to overhaul juvenile justice in Pennsylvania

by Lisa Gartner, Updated: December 16, 2019- 5:39 PM The Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania leaders will spend the next year studying the state’s juvenile justice system and how to improve the safety of youths in its care, Gov. Tom Wolf said Monday. State lawmakers and county judges will work with the Pew Charitable Trusts to create the Juvenile … Continue reading Gov. Tom Wolf announces effort to overhaul juvenile justice in Pennsylvania →

Teen accused of role in murder of Barnard student Tessa Majors appears in court

By TREVOR BOYER and LEONARD GREENE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS |DEC 13, 2019 A 13-year-old boy appeared in court Friday as part of the police investigation into the grisly stabbing murder of a promising Barnard College student, whose random, violent death put the campus on edge. The suspect, just five years younger than 18-year-old victim Tessa Majors, stood before … Continue reading Teen accused of role in murder of Barnard student Tessa Majors appears in court →

After Glen Mills, legal center warns Pa.: Juvenile programs do more harm than good

by Lisa Gartner, Updated: November 1, 2019 The Philadelphia Inquirer One of the organizations suing Pennsylvania officials over violence at the Glen Mills Schools will on Friday attempt to persuade state leaders to stop sending children to juvenile institutions like Glen Mills, saying these programs do more to harm youth than reform them. The nonprofit, Philadelphia-based Juvenile Law Center, a national … Continue reading After Glen Mills, legal center warns Pa.: Juvenile programs do more harm than good →

Luciano: In court, a little boy hears enormous charges

By Phil Lucianoof the Journal StarPosted Oct 21, 2019 at 1:13 PM EUREKA — Much like other school kids, the 9-year-old got a lesson Monday. But in this surreal scenario, there was no teacher in a classroom, but a judge in a courtroom. There, in Woodford County Circuit Court, the boy was read a juvenile indictment — slowly, so as he … Continue reading Luciano: In court, a little boy hears enormous charges →