Families and Friends of Louisiana Incarcerated Children (FFLIC) and Citizens for Second Chances (CFSC) partnered with Justice for Families to participate in the release of a comprehensive report, Families Unlocking Futures: Solutions to the Crisis in Juvenile Justice, about how placing youth into the justice system affects families. Families Unlocking Futures: Solutions to the Crisis in Juvenile Justice was based on over 1,000 surveys with parents and family members of incarcerated youth nationwide. FFLIC and CFSC hosted surveys in Louisiana, including New Orleans and Lake Charles. FFLIC and CFSC are organizations focused on advocating, educating, and providing services to family members impacted by the juvenile and criminal justice systems.
Families Unlocking Futures: Solutions to the Crisis in Juvenile Justice aims to correct misperceptions about system-involved youth and their families; demonstrates the need for families’ active participation in redesigning juvenile justice systems; and uncovers crucial flaws in the system that burden, alienate and exclude families from the treatment of system-involved youth.
The report details how the rapid growth of the prison system, zero-tolerance policies, and aggressive police tactics, coupled with the decline of social services and public education have wreaked havoc on low-income communities and communities of color. In addition, the report also puts forth viable, proven solutions and offers a Blueprint for Youth Justice Transformation that includes:
• Prohibit questioning of youth by police prior to parent or guardian notification and consultation
• Hold court appearances when it is easier for families to attend hearings
• Discontinue taking away visits for misconduct in the facility
• Consult and involve families in post-release planning
• Locate facilities/programs closer to family residences
• Have more visitation opportunities and fewer limits on who can visit
The goal of this report is “to correct misperceptions about system-involved youth and their families; to demonstrate the depth of engagement by system-involved youth and their families; and to assert the critical need for these families’ active participation and leadership in redesigning the youth justice system in order to secure safer and more prosperous communities.”
FFLIC and CFSC welcome all members of the community to the report release event located at 1600 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans LA 70113 on Thursday, October 4, 2012 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm.
Download the report at www.justice4families.org