Learning about restorative justice involves examining conventional thinking about crime (or wrongdoing generally), values in relation to how people associated with wrongdoing are treated, and best responses when a wrongdoing occurs. In this introductory article, the author highlights key developments in the restorative movement and main…

The largest population of youth at risk for involvement in the juvenile justice system are those with disabilities and mental illness. There has been scant research into the pathways that these students take from home, school and the community to involvement in the justice system in Australia. This paper utilises insights from critical disability…

It's not easy to keep young people on task for learning in a youth prison, but David Domenici, the principal of the Maya Angelou Academy, a charter-like school serving incarcerated juveniles, is trying to do it while at the same time creating a model program for improving educational services for young offenders. Located at the New Beginnings…

In Pakistan, there are 7,000 children in 70 jails. From observations on why children commit crime, the author offers that the core cause is poverty; 99 per cent of young prisoners belong to deprived sections of society. They do not have access to education; living in prison is difficult; the degrading and harsh treatment adversely affects the…

The state of Connecticut detained 1,444 children and youth and committed approximately 270 to the Department of Children and Families for out of home placement in the 2007-2008 calendar year. A significant number of children and youth have special education needs that are often unidentified by home school districts. State and federal law mandate…

The Outward Bound Experience has a strong yet time-limited impact on delinquent youths. Social workers can help maintain the impact by establishing community-based follow-up programs to reinforce and sustain the positive attitudes and behaviors developed. (SE)

Describes a delinquency prevention program where young boys were taken to jail following minor law offenses. With a counselor, they talked to police and prisoners about what it was like to be in jail. None of the 19 children who participated committed any serious crimes in the six years since the program began. (JAC)

Some rehabilitative programs can reduce recidivism and justify the time, money, and effort required to sustain them. Youth programs, such as diversion, probation, group counseling, and academic and vocational education efforts, with documented successes, are described, as well as educational and vocatonal programs that have been successful with…

Two groups of 30 randomly selected male students in a state industrial school for youthful offenders were tested with a battery of physiological and psychological measures. The experimental group received a systematic physical fitness program. Significant differences on the posttest measures were found in favor of experimental students. (Author)

How art education was used in a girls' juvenile correctional institution to nurture and develop the self-esteem of these troubled youth is described. One of the most successful lessons was based upon discovery learning and dealt with pop videos. (RM)

Found that states prohibiting institutionalization of status offenders and juvenile delinquents were no more likely to provide high levels of child foster care and protective services under Title XX than states not prohibiting institutionalization. (Author)

Describes the principles of the Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) model and how these principles are expressed in a program serving delinquent and dependent youth in Pennsylvania. Discusses creating a BARJ culture, competency-based curriculum, unique features of the Pennsylvania program, and student discipline. (SR)

Evaluates an Illinois statewide program to remove status offenders from detention. Found substantially fewer youths were referred to detention but more youths than expected were classified as detainable and subjected to court and agency processing. Suggest this may be due to organizational self-interest and the weakness of community structure.…

Discusses the use of law-related education as an alternative to formal court in Kentucky's juvenile justice system focusing on the Court-Designated Worker (CDW) Program that processes public and status complaints on individuals under 18 years old. Encourages practitioners in similar settings to pilot a law-related education program. (CMK)

Delinquency and vandalism are serious problems in secondary schools today. These problems, coupled with the fear of retaliation and the complications of the present legal system, are examined for causes and possible solutions in this newsletter article. Some causes of this delinquency are listed as: (1) alienation from society due to economic…