Page 24 - If Not The Adult System,Then Where? Alternatives to Adult Incarceration For Youth Certified As Adults

Conclusion Communities across the country are changing their policies and practices to keep youth from entering the juvenile justice system unnecessarily and, when youth do enter their systems, to provide more appropriate responses. States and localities are also considering how to keep youth who would otherwise be charged as adults in the juvenile justice system, resulting in lower recidivism and improved public safety outcomes. State legislatures are passing laws that send fewer youth to the adult system in the first place, in addition to laws that allow juvenile systems to “take back” youth who have already been certified as adults. These states recognize that many youth charged as adults can be safely served in their homes and communities. Several strong, evidence-based, and promising community programs have emerged as successful interventions for older youth and youth who commit more serious crimes, as well as youth charged as adults. However, there are still far too many youth unnecessarily held in the adult system, and there is still much work to be done to ensure that these youth are served appropriately. In addition to the recommendations above, CFYJ will publish several resources with guidance on why and how youth should be served in the juvenile justice system. We stand ready to work directly with states and localities to achieve these goals. For more information, contact Marcy Mistrett at mmistrett@cfyj.org. 24 Alternatives to Adult Incarceration for Youth Charged as Adults