ACLU Report Calls for Transformation of Wyoming's Juvenile Justice System
PRESS RELEASE: 04/06/11
Contact: Linda Burt, (307) 637-4565 or acluwy@aclu.org
CHEYENNE, WY – In a report on Wyoming's Juvenile Justice System formally released today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Wyoming calls for establishing a unified juvenile court system to handle all court-involved youth throughout the state, enforcing standards for youth detention statewide, and creating a data-collection process to gauge the success of Wyoming’s youth rehabilitation services.
The report, "Inequality in the Equality State: The Damaged Juvenile Justice and Detention System in Wyoming," represents more than five years of research by the ACLU.
Wyoming has one of the highest incarceration rates in the nation for children under the age of 18, which the ACLU claims is partly due to locking up non-violent offenders who are not a danger to society. The report also cites unacceptable disparities in treatment of youth in the system, based on where they live. While the ACLU commends efforts by legislators to improve the juvenile justice system in recent years, it notes that fundamental reforms are needed now, statewide.
"The policy recommendations in the report are not meant to be applied incrementally," said Linda Burt, executive director of the ACLU of Wyoming. "Rather, 'Inequality in the Equality State' calls on the Wyoming Legislature to enact a unified juvenile court system with exclusive jurisdiction over youth immediately."
The Joint Judiciary Committee of the Wyoming legislature recently announced an interim study that will look into juvenile justice issues, and the ACLU has released the report to committee members for their consideration.
"The Committee's study is a step in the right direction," said Ms. Burt, "and it must be part of a fast-paced journey to rescue our youth from a juvenile justice system in crisis."
The report makes specific recommendations for transforming the system to one that is "based on the principle of restorative justice, accountability and protecting the community. The system should build on research-proven programs in different parts of the state and best practices across the county and should be available to all Wyoming children no matter where they live in the state."
The report begins by detailing the scope of the juvenile justice problem in Wyoming and the decisions that have brought the crisis to its current status. It examines how Wyoming'’s lack of a unified court system has contributed to the disparity of treatment among youthful offenders. It ends by offering solutions and policy recommendations to the juvenile justice predicament in Wyoming. The report also includes an addendum that takes a closer look at some of Wyoming’s detention centers.
"Inequality in the Equality State: The Damaged Juvenile Justice and Detention System in Wyoming" is available online.