An amended law that took effect July 1 made Mississippi the latest state to rethink how youth under the age of 18 are handled in criminal court. The new measure prevents most 17-year-old misdemeanor and nonviolent felony offenders from being tried as adults. Certain felonies including rape, murder and armed robbery may still warrant charges…

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Programs, the Office of Justice Programs and the Department of Justice offer the Second Chance Act Juvenile Offender Reentry Program for Planning and Demonstration Projects. This program tries to help kids who’ve been in jail to successfully reintegrate into society as a law-abiding citizen. Due to the increasing…

The House subcommittee that oversees Justice Department funding produced an appropriations bill this week that would slash activities authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act in 2012. The draft bill, marked up by the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and State (CJS), would not fund demonstration grants, Juvenile Accountability Block Grants…

For Kids Only grants fund programs with faith based components. These programs must be focused on at-risk kids younger than 12. Programs awarded must have specific measurable spiritual and academic outcome. They must also serve as a model in their local community. Typical funding for the grant is between $1,000-$8,000. The deadline for this grant…

A new proposal in California may provide a second chance for the roughly 227 inmates serving the sentence of life without parole for crimes committed before their 18th birthday. Under California’s Senate Bill 9, inmates sentenced to life without parole (LWOP) for crimes committed as a juvenile have the option to submit a petition for…