skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic snow amounts are falling in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas as a once-in-a-generation storm hits; CO Worker's coalition aims to address climate emergency, economic inequality; Report: proposed cuts to Medi-Cal will hurt rural CA the most; Bill aims to broaden Indiana Lifeline Law.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump pardons January 6th rioters including those convicted of violent crimes, Democrat-led states challenge his executive order to end birthright citizenship, and federal employees warn against moves to privatize government services.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

"We can't eat gold," warn opponents of a proposed Alaskan gold mine who say salmon will be decimated. Ahead of what could be mass deportations, immigrants get training about their rights. And a national coalition grants money to keep local news afloat.

AL sees fewer kids incarcerated; their advocates say more could be done

play audio
Play

Monday, September 25, 2023   

The number of children locked behind bars in Alabama has declined, but their advocates said more needs to be done to create alternatives to incarceration.

A one-day count of detained youths in 2021 was nearly 25,000 nationwide, which is a 60% decline over the past decade, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Josh Rovner, director of youth justice for The Sentencing Project, said while the trend is positive, he does not expect it to continue. He pointed out at least part of the decrease was because of the pandemic.

"When you think about the things that kids get arrested for, it's often school-based referrals," Rovner observed. "And if virtual school is happening, then kids aren't going to be referred by their school resource officers. They're not going to be shoplifting if all the stores are closed; they're not going to be getting into fights f they're all staying at home."

In Alabama, a one-day count of young people behind bars in 2019 saw almost 800 detained. By 2021, the number had dropped to 678. Data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation's study showed young people released from correctional confinement have high rates of rearrest and new convictions.

Research has shown children who are incarcerated often experience significant long-term consequences, which Rovner noted persist into adulthood.

"Whether there's one child who is locked up -- or 10,000 or 100,000 -- it's important to realize just how toxic these facilities are for kids," Rovner contended. "They have much worse outcomes, not only on their education and career achievements, but also much more likely to reoffend."

Recognizing the adverse effects, experts and activists are asking for a more compassionate approach to juvenile justice. Reforms focusing on rehabilitation and community-based support systems have proven to be more effective in addressing the underlying issues than locking juveniles up.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
California's Proposition 12 mandated minimum space requirements for egg-laying hens but does not apply to chickens raised for meat. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…


Social Issues

play sound

Finding appropriate placements for youths entering Ohio's child welfare system has become increasingly difficult. Rachel Reedy, outreach and member …

Health and Wellness

play sound

The Medicaid and CHIP programs are vital to rural Missouri, according to a report that says reliance on this safety-net health coverage is much …


Opponents of genetically engineered fish say if they escaped into the wild, they could bring disease and competition to the 25% of freshwater fish, including Atlantic salmon, already at risk of extinction. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Conservation groups are celebrating the end of a Massachusetts-based biotech company's pursuit of bringing genetically altered Atlantic salmon to mark…

Health and Wellness

play sound

More than 1 million Coloradans are living with a diagnosed mental health condition but insurance companies are denying coverage for care their policie…

One in seven hospitalized patients will need a blood transfusion. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

This month is National Blood Donor Month, and blood donor groups are making sure people know the importance of giving blood. Blood can't be …

Environment

play sound

Kane County officials plan to launch four composting programs at large-scale facilities to reduce food waste, as part of meeting the county's climate …

Social Issues

play sound

The Service Employees International Union is joining the AFL-CIO, a move both groups said will make it easier for more workers to unionize. SEIU is …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021