During the past three years Arkansas has created a task force of stakeholders, commissioned a comprehensive review of its juvenile justice system, developed a vision and set long-term goals for system change, and held regional meetings to discuss the comprehensive strategy for making changes and reforming the state’s approach to juvenile justice. These include redirecting resources  from incarceration and punishment to prevention and treatment to ensure more effective and less costly services, leading to greater public safety for the citizens of the state. This means that youth and their families receive services in the community where they live, that these services are evidence-based and show effective outcomes, and that they are strength-based and empower youth and families to succeed.

This Microsoft Word document serves as a good template for composing your own letter in support of the reforms for the Arkansas juvenile justice system.