Citizens for Juvenile Justice

Did you know? While the overall rate of youthful offender indictments has decreased, Black and Latine youth still make up 77% of youthful indictments, while making up only 28% of the youth population of Massachusetts. Attend CfJJ's report release next Monday from 1:00-2:00 to learn more: https://lnkd.in/egnizndD

Interested in learning more about juvenile justice issues in Massachusetts? Check out CfJJ's blog for topics on school safety, legislative advocacy efforts, and more. Check out our latest post on AI surveillance in schools. https://lnkd.in/eW2_tdT4

#GetOutTheVoteTuesday -- How and where do I vote? You can vote early in person from October 19 - November 1. Visit sec.state.ma.us - EarlyVotingWeb - EarlyVotingSearch to find the hours and locations for early voting. Or you can also vote the day of election in person, November 5th. Polls are open 7am to 8pm, this polling location is DIFFERENT than early voting. If you requested a mail in ballot but did not send it in on time, you can vote in-person instead but you can not do both.

YOUth Are Worth Racial Justice! Racial justice must always be at the center of youth justice advocacy given the embedded structural racism that exists within the legal system. We must address the harmful narratives about Black and Brown children at the root of children of color being targeted by the carceral system. Watch episode 4 of the YOUth Are Worth It! video series to hear why we must build an anti-racist youth justice movement for change! https://lnkd.in/euKsVpUx #YJAM, #YJAM2024, #youthareworthit

The 1990s ushered in a highly punitive era for criminal justice policy across the country, including the Massachusetts’ youthful offender (YO) statute, which subjects children aged 14 to 17 to adult legal sanctions when charged with certain felonies. These cases carry serious and potentially life changing sanctions, and these outcomes fall disproportionately on youth of color. Join CfJJ Oct. 28th for the release of our new report to learn more, register here: https://lnkd.in/egnizndD

Thank you to everyone who attended yesterday's 2024 Youth Justice Voter Guide release event and youth voting conversation! Thank you to our partners Boston Bar Association, More Than Words, Strategies for Youth, The Children's League of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, Center for Teen Empowerment, Inc., UTEC, I Have a Future and MassVOTE and to The New Commonwealth Fund for their generous support of this civic engagement initiative. Visit cfjj.org/2024-voter-guides to view our general election voter guides

Please join us December 3rd for our annual Leadership Celebration as we celebrate 30 years! This year's celebration will be held at the Arts at the Armory in Somerville and will showcase music and dance from youth performers. We hope to see you there! Register here: https://lnkd.in/eaZrkVQf

#GetOutTheVoteTuesday -- How do I vote? There are three ways to vote, choose only one! You can vote by mail, early in-person, or election day in-person. To vote by mail first apply by postcard or online, you will then receive your ballot. Follow instructions carefully and fill in the bubbles correctly to vote on the ballot. Place your ballot in the yellow envelope and seal, sign the yellow envelope and print your name and address below your signature. Place the signed envelope inside the white envelope and seal that envelope. You can return the ballot by mail or in-person. No postage required.

“…taking strictly punishment-based approaches actually leads to more recidivism, less public safety.” Leon Smith, Executive Director of Citizens for Juvenile Justice. Ep. 2 of our YOUTh Are Worth It! Video Series - Youth Are Worth Keeping Safe - now available to watch on YouTube—>https://lnkd.in/e5pUphPt Please watch, like and share the full video to reclaim community safety away from police and prisons toward a vision of healing and justice for all of us. #YJAM2024 #YouthAreWorthIt #Safety #Healing #Justice

Join us on October 28th for the launch of CfJJ's latest issue brief, "Rethinking the Youthful Offender Statute in Massachusetts", which analyzes data and trends on cases prosecuted under the Massachusetts Youthful Offender statute utilizing a race equity lens and makes recommendations towards rethinking policy and practice around these cases in Massachusetts. Register here! https://lnkd.in/egnizndD