A Positive Youth Justice System

The National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR) is designing a transformed juvenile justice system that is rooted in communities, that is based on restorative justice practices, and that invests in youth, families, and communities. This NICJR report lays out ten steps to transform the juvenile justice system to improve outcomes for youth and protect public safety. One of the recommendations is to replace current facilities with education-focused, therapeutic programs close to the youth’s home, and to use such facilities only when the youth has been adjudicated for a serious offense, the youth is a serious risk to public safety, and all community-based alternatives have been exhausted.