April Updates

Policy

Following up on their previous playbook around employment, the Council of State Governments has released a brief, Reducing Structural Barriers to School an Work for People With Juvenile Records, which provides findings and recommendations regarding education and employment barriers that people with juvenile records face. Learn more about the project here - there's a lot of good info to dig into - or read the report here.

A related resource is this National Juvenile Defender Center page, with information and tools related to the school to prison pipeline, the impact of juvenile courts, and collateral consequences.

Research

The Place Matters team has released a new report that shares lived experiences of Maine's young people and their journeys through public serving systems. This report explores some of the stories behind the data shared in previous reports in the Place Matters series. Check it out here.

Other research worth mentioning this month is a study from Northwestern University that finds psychiatric impacts on youth fifteen years after detention. See the study here. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210405113652.htm?fbclid=IwAR2rPOhBHPIW0Dm7kTFqN9Qzur1HOd4VgdxRFtqCiNTXN9SR7Rn3iEzDgL8

IN THE NEWS

Legislators eye juvenile system changes to help New Mainers transition back home
Sun Journal (4/9/21)

A new report from USM’s Cutler Institute shares the stories of Maine’s system-involved young people
The Free Press (4/6/21)

Editorial: Our View: Bill puts the end of Long Creek in sight
Portland Press Herald (4/4/21)

Report gives Maine poor rating for COVID data transparency in prisons, jails, juvenile facilities
Maine Beacon (4/2/21)

New bill aims to reduce number of youths at Long Creek Youth Development Center
WGME-13 (3/30/21)

Advocates aren’t satisfied with proposals for reforming Maine’s youth justice system
Maine Public & Bangor Daily News (3/29/21)

Legislation should require closure of Maine’s youth prison, advocates say
Portland Press Herald (3/26/21)

Practice

Maine Inside Out has announced the upcoming opening of a community site in Lewiston! Check out their video here or find out more here.

R E G I O N A L C A R E T E A M S

All three regional care teams met in March.

Region 1: Case review to support a young person with urgent housing instability.
Region 2: Discussion about Maine Youth Court work in Region 2, no case review.
Region 3: Case review to support young person with long-term housing stability.

For more information about regional care teams, click here.

S T A Y C O N N E C T E D

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