Edward Sanders MSW, LLMSW’s Post

Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ): A Comprehensive Approach to Juvenile Justice The Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) model represents a transformative approach to juvenile justice, emphasizing the restoration of the victim and community while ensuring the accountability and competency development of offenders. This model reflects a shift from traditional punitive measures to a more holistic method that addresses the needs of all parties involved in a crime. Foundations and Evolution of BARJ The BARJ model originated as a national initiative of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) in 1993, with Florida Atlantic University playing a pivotal role in its development. Through collaboration with the Center for Restorative Justice & Mediation at the University of Minnesota, the project aimed to provide comprehensive training, technical assistance, ... #BalancedandRestorativeJustice #BARJ #CommunityInvolvement #CommunitySafety #CommunityService #CompetencyDevelopment #JuvenileCodes #JuvenileCourts #JuvenileDelinquency #JuvenileJustice #JuvenileJusticeReform #JuvenileOffenders #LegalSystem #MediationPrograms #OffenderAccountability #Rehabilitation #RehabilitationPrograms #RestorativeJustice #RestorativePractices #VictimOffenderMediation

The Changing Landscape of Juvenile Detention: A Post-Pandemic Reality The post-pandemic environment has reshaped juvenile detention in profound ways. Youth are no longer cycling in and out of detention in 21 days; instead, many are staying for months, and in some cases, even years. This reality brings a critical obligation for leaders to step up and view this as an opportunity—not simply to detain but to serve as a bridge to meaningful support, fostering the best outcomes and future orientation for these young individuals. When youth touch the system, it is our duty to assess their needs holistically, ensuring that their experience is rare, fair, and ultimately beneficial. We can no longer be satisfied with traditional detention where our only focus is waiting until the next court date. In today’s society, where racial and ethnic disparities remain pervasive, failing to adopt this approach is a disservice to the field, the youth, and their communities. Youth are not “at risk”; they are “at promise.” With extended stays, the importance of trauma-informed care and treatment cannot be overstated. Many youth arrive with a history of trauma that influences their behavior and well-being. A trauma-informed approach not only supports healing but also builds resilience, helping young people find healthy ways to cope and thrive. Their needs guide us in making necessary mid-course corrections, embracing trial and error to propel juvenile justice reform forward. Let’s commit to being part of a system that not only holds youth accountable but also builds them up, addressing the complex factors in their lives so that their future holds more promise than their past. We must serve them fully, with the understanding that we are shaping lives, not just waiting for the next court date. Willie Fullilove Mark Hamlett Lashaun Jones Dontá Smith Keisha Isaacs Antonia Reason Carol Cramer Brooks Lester Young Richard Gentry Douglas White, M.A. Deon Ruben Indu Tyson-Wilson, MA Quiotis Fletcher, M.S, M.A #JuvenileJusticeReform #TraumaInformedCare #FutureLeaders #YouthDevelopment #JusticeForAll #YouthEmpowerment #RethinkDetention #BreakingTheCycle #RestorativeJustice #PositiveYouthDevelopment #HopeAndHealing

The juvenile justice system focuses on rehabilitation rather than punishment. It is crucial for parents to understand the key differences and the importance of immediate and appropriate action. #juvenilecrime #njcriminaldefense #defenseattorney https://lnkd.in/eaeKUizN

Juvenile offenses in New York don’t always have to result in harsh penalties. At Arthur L. Pressman, Attorney at Law, we explore alternative sentencing options that focus on rehabilitation and minimizing long-term consequences. Contact us today to learn how we can help protect your child’s future. https://lnkd.in/eVGY2gvW #JuvenileDefense #AlternativeSentencing #NewYorkLaw #LegalHelp #ArthurPressman

READ: The Sentencing Project report outlines five social interventions that can be implemented by America's lawmakers & community members to improve public safety without increasing the reliance on #MassIncarceration. https://lnkd.in/gyU3TBu7

Understanding the intricacies of juvenile justice can be tough. If you're a young person facing charges, know you're not alone. Get in touch with Daniel J. Fernandez at (813) 229-5353. Let's navigate this journey together! #DJFernandezLaw #TampaLawyer #CriminalDefense

Rethinking Florida's Minimum Mandatory Sentencing: A Path Toward Balanced Justice Florida's reliance on minimum mandatory sentencing laws has led to severe and disproportionate outcomes, often punishing individuals more harshly than necessary. These laws remove judicial discretion, forcing judges to impose fixed sentences, regardless of the circumstances or potential for rehabilitation. This one-size-fits-all approach fails to account for the nuances of individual cases, contributing to over-incarceration and leaving little room for restorative justice. To achieve real justice, we must reconsider these policies and allow judges to tailor sentences that reflect both the severity of the crime and the unique circumstances of the offender. Reform could include allowing judicial discretion, implementing alternative sentencing programs, and focusing on rehabilitation over incarceration for non-violent offenses. Such changes would make Florida's criminal justice system more equitable, reduce recidivism, and promote better outcomes for individuals and communities alike. It's time for Florida to move beyond punitive measures and adopt a more compassionate, common-sense approach that balances public safety with fairness. #MinimumMandatory #FAMM #CriminalJusticeReform #SentencingReform #JusticeForAll #FloridaMinimumMandatory

New Research Alert: School Justice Partnerships appear to be effective at reducing complaints to the juvenile justice system in North Carolina, but refinements could enhance their effectiveness on school exclusionary punishments (https://lnkd.in/gfgJnYrd). Using a quasi-experimental evaluation, we assessed if School Justice Partnerships could break the school to prison pipeline in North Carolina. The results showed promising effects, but more can be done to further enhance the effects. The data and code used to conduct the study is available at https://lnkd.in/gjSRatMz Additionally, if you need a copy of the paper, please email me or check out the preprint (https://lnkd.in/g-4z-bc2) Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

Thank you so much our wonderful University of Baltimore School of Law colleagues and partners for lifting up the impact of our young center's work. I am immensely proud of what we were able to accomplish this session, summarized below. Not only the impact these bills - now laws - are having in addressing the inequity and suffering perpetuated by ineffective and harmful aspects of Maryland's criminal legal system, and for their proactive advancement of true community-led safety. But also for the opportunities this work has created in teaching and inspiring the next generation of leaders to have hands-on roles in this work; in supporting our law students in working more collaboratively, courageously, and strategically towards a very different future and set of norms for our society and state. I hope you will give this piece a read to hear more about a critical theme and through line in our work: coalition and partnership. And finally, I want to acknowledge something this piece only has one clause addressing but should say much more on: “Despite disappointing outcomes on some legislation…” Our wins were GREATLY outnumbered by our losses. I know we were not alone in facing regressive headwinds, or in heartbreaking losses that flew in the face of the evidence and impacted perspectives on numerous fronts: From urgently needed changes that could not get out of committee (see, for example, our linked op ed re: lifetime barriers to expungement for probation violations), to the sheer volume of precious limited capacity spent on protection of nascent progress under rollback and attack (see, for example, our youth justice op ed with Alexis Piquero appealing unsuccessfully in broad coalition for a veto from Governor Moore). There are so many more miles to travel, and a world of insights and learning to reflect on from these defeats. This work is not for the faint of heart or the impatient. But it's all the more reason I am so very thankful for the chance to celebrate and spread the good word on WINS borne of true partnership that we can build on. And so energized by this past session’s much-needed reminders that we CAN make things better together, and that the pummeling we experienced is not the full story. We can do hard things. Onward.

Understanding the intricacies of juvenile justice can be tough. If you're a young person facing charges, know you're not alone. Get in touch with Daniel J. Fernandez at (813) 229-5353. Let's navigate this journey together! #DJFernandezLaw #TampaLawyer #CriminalDefense