Poll Shows Support for Central Piece of New Juvenile Justice Bill

Article Read time:
Projects: Public Safety Performance
Poll Shows Support for Central Piece of New Juvenile Justice Bill

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced, on Dec. 11, 2014, a funding reauthorization bill for key juvenile justice programs that includes provisions to limit incarceration for “status offenses”—violations such as skipping school or running away from home that are not considered crimes for adults. These efforts are in line with what voters say they expect from the juvenile justice system, according to a national poll released by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

In the poll, conducted by the Mellman Group and Public Opinion Strategies, 85 percent of voters agreed that status offenders should not go to correctional facilities. In addition, 87 percent stated that schools, families, and social service agencies should deal with these kinds of offenses, not the justice system. The poll showed strong agreement on these points across party affiliations.

"Research shows that for many lower-level juvenile offenders, correctional facilities fail to produce better outcomes and cost more than alternative sanctions and can actually increase reoffending," said Jake Horowitz, state policy director for Pew's public safety performance project.

More than 8 in 10 voters polled said that what really matters isn’t whether youth offenders are sent to correctional facilities or are supervised in the community, but rather that the juvenile justice system does a better job of changing their behavior to ensure that they do not commit future crimes.

States including Georgia, Hawaii, and Kentucky have recently passed comprehensive legislation that reflects this growing public support for juvenile justice reform. The Georgia and Hawaii laws restrict incarceration of status offenders, and Kentucky created an enhanced pre-court process to divert status offenders from the juvenile system. These bills are expected to save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars while protecting public safety, holding juvenile offenders accountable, and improving outcomes for youth and their families.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

An eight-lane highway runs beneath a large concrete and steel overpass, which is under construction. The highway is bordered mostly by undeveloped land with predominantly low brush in various shades of brown and green.

Article

November 5, 2024 Wildlife Crossings Save Lives, Money, and the Environment
A person with long, black and blonde braids, wearing a denim jacket, stands at a white board, working with a student in a pink knit cap and black top, working on mathematical equations.

Article

October 31, 2024 Women's Employment Rates Surge But Still Lag Men's
A person in a gray suit on a stage speaks to a crowd of people in a dark room. Behind the person are four blue chairs with microphones in front of each of them, and a drum set. The wall in the back of the image is blue, and a TV screen reads, “Welcome to Climate Night Live.”

Article

October 28, 2024 Clean Energy Future Comes Into Focus

MORE FROM PEW

In a vast field of solar panels, five workers in yellow and orange vests and helmets work on a section of panels. Those panels of black and blue glass catch the sun and transform it into energy, even though it appears to be a grey day out. Climate Talks Focus on Funding, Political Will, and More
Two people stand and talk in a tunnel in a creek. University of Georgia Uses Nature to Adapt to Climate Change
Workplace Savings Program Could Help 781,000 Kentuckians
An eight-lane highway runs beneath a large concrete and steel overpass, which is under construction. The highway is bordered mostly by undeveloped land with predominantly low brush in various shades of brown and green. Wildlife Crossings Save Lives, Money, and the Environment