In 2005, the United States Supreme Court, judging it to be cruel and unusual punishment, ended the execution of juvenile offenders. But the practice of sentencing juveniles to prison for life without the possibility of parole presents a much more widespread problem. Presumably future courts will revisit the question of whether growing up in prison…

The strength-based approach is an organizing principle for a family of theories and practice strategies that encourage helping professionals to seek out clients' abilities, resources, and gifts and apply them to current life challenges. Despite its successful use in many human service sectors, this approach has not been embraced in the juvenile…

"Red Flag Interventions" address problems which are imported from elsewhere and acted out towards persons who are in effect innocent bystanders. This is commonly seen as students "carry in" problems from the home or street to school, or they "carry over" conflicts from one class to the next. A third variation of Red Flag intervention is when a…

A prominent leader in the movement towards restorative approaches in juvenile justice presents cutting-edge practices for community service. Such programs balance community safety, accountability for behavior, and development of the competency of youth. This article describes the benefits and challenges of implementing this model and suggests the…

The Developmental Audit[R] is a new strength-based assessment model for youth who are in conflict in home, school, or community. Developmental Audits involve collaboration with young persons who are seen as experts on themselves. Discussing challenging life events provides a window to the young person's private logic and goals. The audit scans…

This article compares strength-based and restorative justice philosophies for young people and their families. Restorative justice provides ways to respond to crime and harm that establish accountability while seeking to reconcile members of a community. Restorative approaches are an important subset of strength-based interventions.

Starr Commonwealth has served troubled children and youth and their families for nearly a century. Starr's Montcalm Schools operate from campuses in Michigan and Ohio, enrolling students referred by families and educational consultants. The Montcalm Outdoor Challenge Program is a key part of Starr's network of nonprofit alternative education and…

The process of growth often takes many years and is characterized by progress interrupted with setbacks. Beneath the most troubled exterior, one can find youth with great potential. This article presents the account of a gang youth and his mentor tracks the rocky pathway from problems to responsible maturity.

The PACER Center is advocating for greater involvement of parents whose children have become involved in the juvenile justice system. Coalition for Juvenile Justice reported in January 2004 that of the 300,000 to 600,000 juveniles who cycle through detention facilities after arrest awaiting legal action, more than half are under 16 years of age…

Restorative justice provides a promising alternative to punitive models in justice and education. Most programs to date have focused on "conferencing," where victims and offenders are brought together for mediation and reconciliation. This article extends the restorative model to the entire milieu of an alternative school setting. (Contains 3…

This launches a new periodic feature in Reclaiming Children and Youth. "Justice Alerts" examines current laws and policies against the twofold standards of solid science and moral values. This inaugural article explores the legal issues and political rhetoric surrounding random drug testing in schools and describes how science is being…

Drawing on perspectives from extensive experience in juvenile justice, the author inventories essential wisdom for providing all young persons with caring adults who support them through life-long connections. In addition, the author presents the effective ways to connect with these children for them to become successful adults in the future.

Providing a safe environment for youth placed out of their home is essential to the success of at-risk youth. An environment that also offers the opportunity to empower the youth to partner in his or her own healing and help others in the environment clearly builds on the strengths inherent in youth. Transferring these strengths and reconnecting…

This study compared the characteristics of girls in the juvenile justice system with their male counterparts in selected Texas counties. A relatively higher proportion of girls who are in trouble with the law experienced ineffective parental control as compared to delinquent boys. They also experienced more problems in family, school, and with…

There are many problems posed by aggressive youth, the harm to victims and the loss of young people into the criminal justice system and penal confinement. Aggression Replacement Training (ART) was developed by Arnold Goldstein and his colleagues as a means of working with aggressive young people to help them learn new, prosocial ways of behaving.…