Human and Community Development

Juvenile Justice

The way in which young people are treated in the criminal justice system often is at odds with research findings about how and when humans develop mature moral, psychological, and cognitive capacities. The Foundation supports research, model programs, policy analysis, and public education that promote more effective juvenile justice systems across the country.

The Foundation has launched a new effort called Models for Change to create successful and replicable models for juvenile justice system reform through targeted investments in four key states: Illinois, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and  Washington. Models for Change seeks to accelerate movement toward a more rational, fair, effective, and developmentally appropriate juvenile justice system.  Along with the MacArthur Research Network on Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice, the Models for Change initiative makes up the core of MacArthur's juvenile justice grantmaking. For more information about Models for Change, visit the website.

From the Field Illinois Reform Improves Outcomes for Youth July 8, 2008 The Illinois Juvenile Justice Initiative, a MacArthur Models for Change grantee, spearheaded a broad coalition in support of public education and advocacy efforts to limit the automatic transfer of juvenile drug offenders to adult criminal court. As a result, in 2005, Illinois repealed the law requiring 15- and 16-year olds to be automatically tried as adults for drug offenses within 1,000 feet of schools or public housing. Now, a study by the Initiative (PDF) on the impact of the repeal finds that the number of youth automatically sent to adult courts has been lowered by two-thirds, and there has been no increase in juvenile court caseloads. Illinois is one of the four core states along with Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Washington participating in the Models for Change initiative, which aims to create successful and replicable models for juvenile justice system reform.