In Arizona, a radical change in juvenile detention hcn.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from hcn.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
SALT LAKE CITY – The Juvenile Justice Services Division in Utah is reporting a 46% drop in kids detained for low-level crimes.
Division Director Brett Peterson says Utah reformed its juvenile justice system three years ago. That means low-level offenders are being diverted into therapy and job training programs instead.
Peterson believes throwing kids in jail for every crime has unintended consequences. When you introduce a youth into the formal justice system, they have worse mental health outcomes. They have worse physical health outcomes. They have worse educational outcomes. And, then, the big one: they re-offend at a higher rate, Peterson said.