bipartisan co-

sponsors for North

Carolina's HB 280

page 2

In 2016, multiple states passed legislation to reform the

juvenile justice system into a more fair and effective system.

In 2017, the Campaign for Youth Justice will continue its

dedication to ending the practice of prosecuting, sentencing,
and incarcerating youth under the age of 18 in the adult
criminal justice system.

pg.1 About Us
pg.2 Legislative Update
pg.3-4 News & Reports
"Raising the Age"
Teen Vogue
pg.5-6 Art for Justice
Art by Kate Deciccio
Free Minds Book
Club poetry
pg.7-8 Looking Forward
The Campaign for Youth
Justice (CFYJ) is a national
initiative focused entirely on
ending the practice of
prosecuting, sentencing,
and incarcerating youth
under the age of 18 in the
adult criminal justice
system.

Create campaigns that

eliminate pathways of youth
into the adult system

Reduce the number of youth

held in adult facilities

Promote research-based,
developmentally appropriate
rehabilitative programs and
services for youth as an
alternative to the adult system
President Barack Obama banned the use of solitary confinement for
juvenile offenders in federal prisons.

Passed PREA amendment in the Justice For All Reauthorization Act, that
requires states to be in full compliance with PREA and the youthful inmate
standards by 2020

Louisiana and South Carolina bothraised the age of juvenile jurisdiction to 18,
leaving only six states left to raise the age

California and Vermont both ended direct filing of youthinto the adult system

Indiana passed SB 160, reverse transfer bill

The D.C. Council passed the Comprehensive Youth Justice Amendment Act of
2016, providingsweeping reforms that included removing youth from adult jails

Arizona passed SB 1308, allowing youth awaiting trial to be held in juvenile

detention facilities if necessary

April 10, New York raised the age of juvenile jurisdiction from 16 to
18 years old, making North Carolina the only state to still automatically
tryall 16-year-olds as adults
On March 7, 2017, the Justice Policy Institute, a national nonprofit organization
dedicated to reforming the criminal justice system, released a report titled
Raising the Age: Shifting to a Safer and More Effective Juvenile Justice
System. The Campaign for Youth Justice was honored to work
inpartnershipwith JPI to release this report and promote evidence-based
practices to reform the youth justice system.

Since 2007, Connecticut,

Illinois, Louisiana,
Massachusetts,
Mississippi, New
Hampshire, and South
Carolina have all passed
laws to raise the age so
that now, the majority of
young people nationally
who are arrested will be
served by the juvenile
justice systemnot the
adult justice system.
Louisiana and South
Carolina just changed their This report highlights the impressive impact of
laws in 2016. There are raising the age to 18 in states; and is a call to action
only seven states left with for other states contemplating reforms this
lower ages of criminal legislative session," said Marcy Mistrett, CEO of the
responsibility, the fewest Campaign for Youth Justice. "Raising the Age helps
number of states in reduce costly commitments, makes communities
decades. This trend is safer by providing youth with age appropriate
gaining ground.(Extract services that gets them back on track, and promotes
of the Report's Executive fairness by helping states and localities develop more
Summary) effective justice systems. (CFYJ Press Release)
(Excerpts from article by Brittany McNamara, published March 20, 2017)
"Although you cant always walk into
any tattoo parlor and get inked when
youre under the age of 18, if you
were to be arrested in Texas or
Georgia, you would be processed by
the justice system as an adult even
though you might only be 17. In New
York and North Carolina, 16 qualifies
you as an adult in court. And know
that if these statues dont make
much sense to you, youre not alone.
According to a report recently
released by the Justice Policy
Institute, during the current
legislative session, most of the
remaining seven states that process
people under 18 as adults in criminal
court will weigh laws on raising the
age to 18. This is the first time that
the practice of prosecuting,
sentencing, and incarcerating people
under 18 as adults could be
eliminated in all 50 states, says
Marcy Mistrett, CEO of Campaign for
Youth Justice an organization
focused on raising the age that young
people are considered adults in the
justice system who adds that the
country is at a turning point in how
we treat young people.
Mistrett explains that prosecuting
young people in the juvenile justice
system is so important because the
process is totally different from the
adult criminal justice system. Instead
of focusing on punishment, she says
that the juvenile justice system is
more concerned with why someone
has behaved a certain way and on
giving that person access to
treatment or resources that could
change any underlying factors. And
while the juvenile justice system
concentrates on making the system
beneficial to young people, the
adult system is geared to enforcing
the application of the law. Putting
teens in jails or prisons with adults is
a traumatic experience for them, she
says, and oftentimes its just not
effective in helping them live a better
life once they are out
 "My work is driven by my interests in
equity, mental health, humor,
community building and of course a
passion for the activity of art-making.
Making art with people in locked
spaces like mental institutions,
prisons and juvenile detention
centers is important to me. I think
delivering meaningful arts education
to young people is a tool for coping,
improving self-esteem, developing
confidence and connection."

@k8deccio kdeciccio.wixsite.com
 Free
Min
use
s bo
wri oks,
ds:
s tin g cre
upp a
ort , and p tive
you t eer
th i o awa
Tears of Hope adu
lts
nca
to
rce
ken
rate DC
d
by LG pot their o as
ent
ial. wn
Dedicated to Free Minds Volunteers

Poetry bleeding from my instrument

Staining my canvas for years
Generosity pouring from my peers
Transforming my hope into tears
It seems like it was just yesterday
When I realized this wonderful gift
Ever since I opened my present
My life has taken a shift
When your desire for something is strong
The manifestation will come to pass
Uncontrollable emotions
As you say to yourself, At last!
Cursed since my incarceration
now blessed and highly favored
Indebted to a Free Mind
This taste will forever be savored
After a finished masterpiece
I step back and stare in awe
All thanks and glory to god
For a talent I never foresaw
Eager to encourage the world
I humbled myself with joy
With passion to strengthen the weak
Into a fortress no one can destroy
Its hard to express with words
But thank you for giving me hope
My tears describe my emotion
As a brilliant kaleidoscope
There are only six states left in the nation thatneed to raise the
age ofcriminal responsibility; three of these statescurrently have
active legislation:

North Carolina introduced HB 280, the Juvenile Justice

Reinvestment Act, with strong bipartisan support from 68 co-
sponsors, the state's Chief Justice, and NC Governor Roy Cooper

Missouri's bill, HB 274, has been heard in both the House and
Senate committees and a vote from the House Judiciary
Committee is expected shortly

Texas's bill, HB 122, passed the House Juvenile Justice & Family
Issues Committee and will hopefully be heard on the floor soon

The House introduced HR 1809,the Juvenile Justice Reform Act (JJRA)

of 2017, which would reauthorize the Juvenile Justice Delinquency
Prevention Act (JJDPA) of 1974

TheSenateintroducedS. 806, the College for All Act of 2017

Photography by Richard Ross, Juvenile In Justice
Motivate. Advocate. Activate.

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