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Juvenile Justice

Many Alabama youth detained in juvenile prisons have committed offenses that would not be considered criminal if they were 18 or older. A significant number of these youth suffer from mental health disorders and require intensive treatment to address their needs. Furthermore, research shows that placing youthful offenders in juvenile prisons has been proven to be the least effective method in reducing future offenses. Community-based treatment is less expensive and demonstrates long-term positive effects.

In recent years, the state of Alabama has made huge strides regarding the treatment of youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Effective October 2009, it is now unlawful to send a child to the Department of Youth Services for non-criminal conduct such as skipping school or disobeying a parent.  Before this provision of the Alabama Juvenile Justice Act of 2008 even went into effect, judges had nearly abandoned the practice of putting non-criminal children behind bars – and they have done so voluntarily.

Video Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation documents juvenile detention reforms across the country. 

Check out Current Juvenile Justice Resources   

2008 Alabama Kids Count Data Book chart of Division of Youth Services (DYS) commitments listed by offense type.

The Future of Childrenhas released its latest publication, Juvenile Justice (Vol. 18, No. 2). Accompanying the journal is an Executive Summary and a Policy Brief.

2008 Alabama Kids Count Data Book Essay - 2008: A Pivotal Year In Juvenile Justice for Alabama

2008 KIDS COUNT Data Book Essay - A Road Map for Juvenile Justice Reform

VOICES From the Expert - The Hidden Closet of Alabama’s Juvenile Justice System: Juvenile Detention

Learn more

Alternatives Programs for Juveniles (pdf) 
Prevention and Intervention Programs for Juvenile Offenders (pdf) 
Statistical Briefing Book: Comprehensive Review of Juvenile Statistics 
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 
2007 State Spending-Youth in DYS (pdf)
AL Treatment of Youth Offenders (pdf)
Juvenile Prisons Pay More for Less Safety (pdf)
Campaign for Youth Justice
National Juvenile Justice Network
Southern Poverty Law Center
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiatives
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act Reauthorization