Best Of BPR 6/13: Massachusetts Is Backsliding On Youth Justice Reform
A new report shows Massachusetts is backsliding on some aspects of juvenile justice reform. Jim Braude and Margery Eagan speak with Lisa Thurau and Kristen Wheeler of Cambridge-based nonprofit Strategies for Youth
Westbrook event empowers parents to spot online predators
WESTBROOK, Maine — Parents are increasingly concerned about how to keep their children safe from online predators, but many don’t know what signs to look for—especially with social media constantly evolving.
That’s why the “Don’t Get Groomed” initiative, an educational program hosted by Strategies for Youth, was in Westbrook this week. The event brought together parents and community advocates to learn how to recognize the early warning signs of grooming—both online and in real life.
Probation + Strategies for Youth Hosts 2nd Cohort Of Police Training on Positive Youth Interactions for Local Officers in Contra Costa County
Officers from the cities of Concord, Pittsburg and El Cerrito police departments attended a 4-day Train-the-Trainer cohort training event on April 1-4th at the Probation Department where they completed 28 hours of training on best strategies for teaching their peer officers on important principles and strategies that promote positive interactions and reduces conflict with youth.
Nonprofit group works to prevent youth arrests, improve relations between youth, police
EXETER, N.H. — A nonprofit organization is working to teach young Granite Staters about the juvenile justice system.
The Juvenile Justice Jeopardy Program is part of a statewide initiative working to prevent youth arrests and improve interactions between kids and law enforcement.
Outrage in Worcester over police response to ICE arrest
Taking a traumatized teen to the ground is not ‘de-escalation’
After watching video footage of the chaotic scene in Worcester in which a woman was taken into custody by immigration agents and her 16-year-old daughter was then arrested by police, my jaw dropped when I read the statement issued by the Worcester Police Department. The officers’ actions, according to the statement, were designed to “de-escalate the situation and keep everyone safe” (“Chaotic ICE raid leads to arrests in Worcester,” Metro, May 9).
The Rising Cost of Ignoring Juvenile Justice Reform | Opinion
Massachusetts has long been recognized as a leader in juvenile justice reform. Yet, the latest findings from the Juvenile Justice Policy and Data (JJPAD) Board’s 2024 Annual Report paint a troubling picture: We are backsliding.
Black, Latino youth more likely to be arrested, data says. What Mass. is doing about it.
Massachusetts is set to become the first state in the nation to introduce statewide regulations on how police interact with young people, a move aimed at addressing racial disparities in the juvenile justice system.
The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, which oversees police certification and training, is responsible for developing these new standards, which are designed to create fair and consistent policing practices across the state.
Fair and Impartial Policing of Youth: Race, National Origin, and Immigration Status
SFY’s Model Policy #6 – Fair and Impartial Policing of Youth: Race, National Origin, and Immigration Status – is featured in the Spring 2025 Issue of Juvenile Justice Update. This policy furthers the commitment to fair and impartial enforcement of the law and the
protection of youths’ constitutional and statutory rights. It recognizes and seeks to address the longstanding disparities in law enforcement contact with communities of color.
Cops and kids: New report shows troubling trend
Albany police focus on youth interactions to improve safety
ALBANY, N.Y (WRGB) — As Albany police ramp up efforts to recruit more officers, the focus is shifting beyond just increasing numbers. At a recent community engagement meeting, residents emphasized the importance of educational programs and enhancing interactions between police and Albany’s youth.
Building trust seen as key strategy to reduce youth violence in Albany, experts emphasize
ALBANY, N.Y. — After a string of shootings involving young people in Albany, city leaders are stressing the urgency of intervention.
Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox emphasized the need for everyone to stay engaged with youth to help prevent further violence.
“Pay attention to what’s happening with our youth,” Cox urged during a press conference on February 12th. “Help us make sure our youth are safe and don’t do something that can either get them injured or cause them to injure someone else.”
Policing of Youth with Disabilities, Experiencing Mental Health Crises, or Impaired by Drugs or Alcohol
SFY’s Model Policy #8 – Policing of Youth with Disabilities, Experiencing Mental Health Crises, or Impaired by Drugs or Alcohol – is featured in the Winter 2025 Issue of Juvenile Justice Update. This policy provides a framework for recognizing indicators of disability, mental health crisis, or drug or alcohol impairment in youth and explains how these conditions may affect youth in their encounters with law enforcement. It provides guidance on the least intrusive, most effective approach in interacting with these youth, and directs officers, wherever feasible, to avoid unnecessary arrests andjuvenile legal system involvement, and to de-escalate interactions with youth.
S.F. youth groups want more protections from police
SFY Model Policies have been recommended San Francisco Police Commission and are in the the process of being adopted by the SFPD.
Use of Force with Youth
SFY’s Model Policy #5–Use of Force with Youth– is featured in the Fall 2024 Issue of Juvenile Justice Update. This policy directs officers to use the least amount of physical force possible to effect a lawful law enforcement purpose, and recommends standards of use, including restricted use and prohibitions, for specific types of weapons, restraints and use of force on youth.
IMPD officer arrested, suspended following accusations of child molestation
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An Indianapolis police officer is in custody after he was accused of multiple counts of child molestation. Kim Simon is law enforcement training director at Strategies for Youth, a national organization that trains law enforcement to interact with youths. “When you have individuals in roles of authority and a lot of autonomy and independence, potential for that violation of trust exists.”
Three Years After Rochester Police Pepper-sprayed a 9-year-old, Here’s What’s Changed — And What Hasn’t
Three years ago, after a video of Rochester police handcuffing and pepper-spraying a schoolgirl in distress reached the public, state and local officials joined in uniform outrage, calling for immediate reforms.
“This isn’t how the police should treat anyone, let alone a 9-year-old girl,” said then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Sixth Annual P.A.T.H. Conference For Parents, Students & School Personnel, August 22nd
MISSION, Texas – The Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with the Prevention Team of Hidalgo County (P.A.T.H.); the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA); the Federal Bureau of Investigations; Mission CISD; South Texas College, and local nonprofits & volunteers will host the 2024 P.A.T.H 6th Annual Conference.
Strategies For Youth—Implementing the Three Ps: Policies, Protection, and Prevention
Among some of the top priorities in enhancing community policing efforts is refining community and police relations… specifically with youth.
The Quiet Epidemic of Predators in Uniforms
A series of recent groundbreaking investigative reports unveiled what many advocates for police accountability have known for decades: Child sex abuse by law enforcement officials is far too common across our country. Systemic failures within policing—coupled with lax oversight by police departments, prosecutors, and judges—too often shield police officers from meaningful accountability.
Miranda Warnings, Waiver of Rights and Youth Interrogations
SFY’s Model Policies are featured in the Summer 2024 Issue of Juvenile Justice Update. Model Polices covered in this issue focus on Miranda Warnings, Waiver of Rights, and Youth Interrogations.
Opinion | Cops who abuse children destroy a wider trust. They must be stopped.
Readers respond to The Post’s “Abused by the Badge” series.
Abused by the badge
A Washington Post investigation found hundreds of law enforcement officers in the United States have sexually exploited kids. Many avoid prison time.
Improving Interactions Between Cops and Kids
Strategies for Youth is one of the few organizations in the country focused on the true front door of the juvenile justice system: interactions between youth and law enforcement officers. Recently, SFY published a collection of model policies for departments to use in making those interactions safer and more productive. SFY’s Shelley Jackson, who spent decades working on guidance and policy for the federal government, joins us to describe these model policies and how they came together.
Lisa Thurau on Educating Disparate Audiences on the Chief Influencer Podcast
Quote of the Show: “We have to educate the kids and we have to educate law enforcement. And you gain legitimacy with both groups if you tell one you’re training the other.” – Lisa Thurau
SFY Press Release
Strategies for Youth endorses the statement issued today by three advocacy organizations about the harm of unjust prosecutions of Black youth, and joins them in their call for immediate reforms, including legislation and law enforcement policies prohibiting the arrest of children. In view of the selective enforcement of law, the urgency of these reforms is all the more necessary to protect Black children from becoming unnecessarily system-involved.
