Citizens for Juvenile Justice's mission is to advocate for statewide systemic reform that achieves equitable youth justice. CfJJ is at the forefront of youth justice advocacy in Massachusetts, consistently combating harsh and negative narratives in the media that vilify youth, leading the fight for transformative legislative and policy reform that promotes positive development and successful outcomes for youth and pushing back on harmful policies that promote punishment and incarceration over addressing the root causes of youth behavior. To learn more about our advocacy efforts, check out the following articles featuring CfJJ.
"Raise the Age” in the Media
The Boston Celtics launched a campaign with CfJJ in support of the passage of the “Raise the Age” bill in Massachusetts. The Boston Celtics launched this campaign at their November 10, 2023 game where players wore “Raise the Age” t-shirts, Jaylen Brown spoke about the importance of this legislation, and CfJJ’s Executive Director, Leon Smith, was honored with the “Hero Among Us” award.
The Boston Celtics, including three-time All-Star Jaylen Brown, CfJJ, and CPCS met with legislative leadership January 31, 2024 at the MA State House to discuss the importance of Raise the Age.
CfJJ in the News in 2024
Brockton students need support, not the National Guard
In this op-ed, CfJJ’s Leon Smith, Michaela Lauture with the Brockton Coalition for Education Justice, and Marlies Spanjaard with the Committee for Public Counsel Services, address the troubling dialogue that frames students at Brockton High School as problems to be managed rather than kids who need support, guidance, and care. They advocate for the faithful implementation of approaches that address students’ needs.
Here are ways to end high school violence in Brockton, MA
CfJJ’s Executive Director, Leon Smith, joins Micheal Curry, NAACP national board member, and Crystal Haynes, Boston 25 News journalist, to discuss alternative ways to address school violence. “You have support services that are there, that can directly address the underlying needs and the roots causes of this behavior, and they're not being let in" - Leon Smith
The number of youth entering the juvenile justice system increased for the second straight year in 2023
CfJJ and fellow advocates discuss the importance of diversion as research reveals youth interactions with the justice system increased in Massachusetts for the second straight year. “This is happening when there’s long-standing research that establishes that youth who participate in diversionary programs are less likely to offend than youth that get processed through juvenile court,” - Leon Smith
Dr. King's 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' is a timeless call to action
Leon Smith and Dr. Tasia Cerezo, the CEO and co-founder of Meryl’s Safe Haven, reflect on Dr. King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. “The type of racism and injustice and intolerance that Dr.King fought against wasn't just fixed to Alabama and the rural south, and it wasn't just fixed to that period in the 1960s. It continues to permeate our society to this day.”- Leon Smith
Fewer prisoners, but bigger racial gaps. What’s the future of Mass. criminal justice reform?
Leon Smith discusses the positive impact of the Criminal Justice Reform Act. “…really the picture of criminal justice reform is about long term public safety because you’re not breaking young people, you’re providing support to young people who are still developing…” - Leon Smith
Crighton bill a slam dunk with Celtics
CfJJ partnered with the Boston Celtics and the Committee for Public Counsel Services to advocate for the passage of Raise the Age legislation. “There’s an overrepresentation of young people of color in the adult system. And again, we want the best outcome for our youth which, with less recidivism and less crime, would be better for society as a whole,” - Sen. Crighton
CfJJ in the News in 2023
Would police and metal detectors make Boston’s public schools safer?
CfJJ’s Executive Director, Leon Smith, discusses the disproportionate impact of school hardening measures on students of color. Leon Smith poses the question, “Is safety merely responding to a conflict that escalates, or is safety having the impended resources in place that your able to get to those conflicts before they arise, and before they escalate..”
“Celtics' Malcolm Brogdon talks Raise The Age Legislation with Citizens For Juvenile Justice”
“The treatment of 18 to 20 year-olds currently in the criminal legal system is really our biggest systematic failure. We spend the most money, yet that population of young people currently gets the worst outcomes through having the worst recidivism rate in the entire criminal justice system.” - Leon Smith
“Equity in Education: The push to keep local schools safe amid nationwide spike in violence”
Leon Smith calls out surveillance and school hardening measures as “security theater”. “It’s perplexing that metal detectors are being pushed so hard as a solution to issues around school safety because there is a substantial body of research which establishes that they don’t make schools less violent and they don’t make schools safer.”
‘If We Don’t Support Our Young People, What Future Do We Have’: Pastor Jamal Bryant, NAACP, Call for Tougher Stance By Community on Black Teen Killings In Atlanta”
CfJJ’s Executive Director, Leon Smith, and others discuss the devastating impact of gun violence on Black youth and the need for community support. “Black youth access and possess guns for the same reason many Americans do: because many do not feel safe” - Leon Smith
“An unfinished piece of criminal justice reform business: Raising the age for juvenile offenders”
A report by CfJJ’s provides evidence that raising the age of juvenile jurisdiction creates better outcomes for youth. “Since raising the age in 2013 to include 17-year-olds, Massachusetts has seen a reduction in juvenile crime, a decrease in [the] number of cases arraigned and a decrease in new commitments to DYS (through 2022)”
“Boston 25 Gets Real: Equity in Education”
Leon Smith pushes back against school hardening measures, citing research that proves these practices do not improve safety outcomes. “Let’s not go with this sizzle of what sounds good. let’s go with the steak of what actually will get our young people better and will actually make our school safer,” - Leon Smith
“City councilors call for police, metal detectors in Boston Public Schools”
CfJJ pushes back against calls for school hardening measures in Boston Public Schools. “It would be unfortunate to see Boston move in a regressive way, doubling down on approaches that research shows are not effective rather than shifting resources to approaches shown to both address student need and improve school safety and climate,” - Leon Smith
“A drumbeat call for cops in schools, Youth advocates say there’s no evidence police prevent crime”
CfJJ’s 2020 study conducted in conjunction with Strategies for Youth found police presence in schools has no positive impact on school safety outcomes. “When you talk about policies that impact entire systems, they should be rooted ultimately in research, in data,” - Leon Smith
“MALN Opinion+: Leon Smith”
Leon Smith discusses CfJJ’s work and youth justice issues in Massachusetts and nationwide. “We really focus on…young people in the juvenile justice system [and] young people who are at risk of being pushed into pipelines like the school-to-prison pipeline or the child welfare-to-prison pipeline,” - Leon Smith
“Advocates want more focus on educational needs of foster children in Massachusetts”
Leon Smith advocates for better support and recourses in schools districts for students involved in the foster care system, “So you may have a young person who certainly comes into the foster care system with challenges, but once they're in that system and they experience this even greater level of instability, it leads to even worse outcomes," - Leon Smith
“BPS, police proceeding without community input”
Leon Smith and other advocates urge officials to listen to and respond properly to the community’s safety needs. “Rather than engage in an inclusive process that centers and validates the viewpoints of those who are directly affected, BPS officials have chosen to proceed outside of public awareness and scrutiny.”
“As Second Chance Pell Grant program grows, more incarcerated people can get degrees – but there’s a difference between prison-run and college-run education behind bars”
Joshua Dankoff’s, CfJJ’s Director of Strategic Initiatives, research highlights the need for higher education expansion in prisons. In Massachusetts, “nearly 2,000 of the 5,300 people in Department of Correction custody are on college or vocational education waitlists. Only 213 are enrolled in some form of postsecondary education. Just 77 are enrolled in a bachelor’s program.”
“Police can’t be the only option for Boston school safety”
Leon Smith addresses how survey results can misrepresent public opinion when alternative school safety strategies are not presented. “Extensive research shows that police and metal detectors do not increase school safety. Yet these were the only strategies parents were questioned on. This frames school safety as a choice between policing and hardening schools and doing nothing. This false dichotomy ignores practices that address student needs and improve school safety without criminalizing students.”
“Students stage ‘die-in’ in Dorchester, advocating against community violence”
CfJJ, Massachusetts Advocates for Children, and Teen Empowerment support students staging a “die-in” advocating against community violence. “What’s real safety? Real safety is meeting the needs of our young people where they are, getting what they need when they need it.” - Leon Smith
“George Floyd’s murder ushered in big talk of equity and justice. 3 years later, this work is still a matter of life and death”
“We must actually reconstruct the systems and practices that have historically protected racial, social and economic disparities. The opportunities here are myriad, but one where Massachusetts could set a national example is raising the age of juvenile jurisdiction from 18 to 21..” - Makeeba McCreary
“Boston police agree to eliminate public records backlog within 6 months, settling lawsuit”
Leon Smith discusses delays in public records requests referencing a public record request submitted by CfJJ that took Boston police 235 days to respond to. “A requestor should not have to wait for such egregiously long periods beyond the statutory mandate to receive a prompt response,” - Leon Smith
“Hardening schools is not the best solution to promote safety”
Leon Smith and fellow advocates address how survey results can mispresent public opinion when alternative school safety strategies are not presented, “In a meta-analysis of 12 studies, none of the studies showed that police made schools safer; rather, their presence was found to lead to students being arrested for behaviors traditionally handled as school disciplinary matters. The column painted a narrow, one-sided view of school safety that excludes the most effective solutions.”
“Do diversion programs actually curb youth violence? Experts say yes.”
“These types of fights and conflicts, diversion programs do a really good job at getting young people to understand the harm they’ve caused, but also the underlying causes that led them to act out, whether through anger management or counseling … We can’t overlook the importance of diversion just because we’ve had these viral video moments.” - Leon Smith
“25 Investigates: Data on policing in MA schools is spotty as mental health needs rise”
“When you’re looking at a mental health crisis amongst young people — which is really what we’re dealing with right now — you simply can’t have law enforcement as the frontline of addressing that… You cannot police and arrest your way through a mental health crisis.”, “If you’re going to weigh the impact of police in schools, you have to look at who’s being arrested, who’s being stopped and searched,” - Leon Smith
“Massachusetts criminal justice system ‘failing’ young adults, bill would treat offenders 18 to 21 as juveniles”
CfJJ’s Deputy Director, Sana Fadel, discusses the importance of “Raise the Age” legislation in reducing recidivism, “This is a harm reduction campaign.. We’re talking about cutting the recidivism rate for this age group in half — that’s a pretty significant change,”
“Creating a Springfield that is safe for all amid crisis in gun violence (Commentary)”
“Research shows that gun violence is a symptom of the deeper systemic issues of limited economic opportunity, structural racism, and unemployment. In short, most community violence stems from a lack of equitable access to resources, such as quality education, safe housing, adequate healthcare, or living wage jobs.”
“Boston Regional Intelligence Center receives additional funding despite concerns about over policing communities of color”
Leon Smith and allies voice concerns over increased surveillance efforts disproportionately impacting people of color. “I don’t believe something that’s as racially biased to such a degree as the BRIC is, can simply be moderated by the good intentions of one actor like the chief of police.. When we look at research on overall policing practices, there’s this belief that simply diversifying a police force will somehow lead to greater equity and that’s not really what research bears out.” - Leon Smith
“Report identifies racial disparities in arrests made in Springfield Public Schools”
CfJJ’s report, “Arrested Futures Revisited: Springfield” demonstrates Springfield has significant work to do to slow and ultimately stop the school to prison pipeline in Springfield Public Schools.
“Emerson CPLA hosts gun safety rally in Boston Common”
CfJJ joins CPLA, community advocates, students, and Boston residents to raise awareness about gun violence. “We’re creating a world where young children are doing active shooter drills instead of learning the ABCs… We cannot harden our schools to safety. We have to deal with the issues of firearms.” - Leon Smith