The prevention of juvenile crime through after-school and summer programs, access to mental health care and early intervention services is cost effective and it is being "smart on crime." A child's capacity to fully understand the implications of their actions is not the same as an adult. A system developed to deal with juvenile offenders must be restorative and treatment oriented.
Publications
Arkansas is at a critical turning point in juvenile justice reform, according to a new report from Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. The state should take advantage of a drop in juvenile crime rates to move from an institution-based system to one that allows youth to be treated for underlying problems in their communities, according to the report.
Juvenile Justice in Arkansas: A Long Road to a Promising Future (January 2009)