Center concludes webinar series on juvenile courts

The National Center for State Courts will present the webinar "Supporting and Strengthening the Structure of Juvenile Courts" on Wednesday, August 17, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Living through a pandemic has significantly impacted young people, their families and the social structures that support them. Many of the individual and environmental protective factors that reduce the likelihood of juvenile court involvement including school connectedness and pro-social supports have been compromised during and because of the pandemic. The long-term impacts for adolescents, as well as our youngest children, are yet to be seen.

The field of juvenile justice practice and policy has made great strides in recent years to implement strategies that work to divert low-risk juveniles, effectively identify and address the criminogenic needs of young people and reduce recidivism. Courts need to prepare now to effectively serve young people who have experienced school disconnectedness, social isolation and exacerbated mental health needs. NCSC is presenting this webinar as the final part of a series focused on how juvenile court stakeholders can best support young people in the post-pandemic era across the justice system.

In "Supporting and Strengthening the Structure of Juvenile Courts," attendees will hear recommendations for strengthening juvenile courts from a recently released report. Josh Weber from the Council of State Governments along with Melissa Sickmund and Hunter Hurst from the National Center for Juvenile Justice share what they learned in their 50-state study.

To register for the program, visit www.ncsc.org and click on "webinars."