A new report by Dr. Ashley Nellis, Addressing Collateral Consequences of Convictions for Young Offenders looks at the sometimes hidden problems that young people who are arrested may face. Dr. Nellis, the research analyst for The Sentencing Project found several troubling areas which include bans on accessing education, housing, and public benefits for those who are convicted as juveniles. Conviction also places many young people on community registry lists, causing further stigmatization.
The report, published in The Champion, the magazine of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, maintains that today’s juvenile justice system is at odds with the system’s original intent, which was to provide rehabilitation.
Dr. Nellis offers the following suggestions for revamping the juvenile justice system so young people will not be further harmed by the collateral consequences that are now being inflicted upon them:
Reverse counterproductive school-based policies such as “zero tolerance” that disengage youth from school
Ensure expungement for juvenile records
Prohibit inclusion of juvenile records on national and state offender registries
Restrict non-relevant conviction questions from employment applications
Revise and expand reentry services and supports for youth
To view the full report click here to go to webite
Source: The Sentencing Project
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