YLC Litigation Protects the Rights of Youth to Participate in Juvenile Justice Reform 

The participation of directly impacted youth in reform of our punitive and ineffective juvenile justice system is both necessary and transformative. This is a crucial moment for youth participation in local juvenile justice policy decisions as California closes its state youth prisons and transfers responsibility for youth to local counties. In order for counties to implement an approach that promotes positive youth development and reduces reliance on confinement of children, community members, particularly justice-impacted youth and families, must have a meaningful seat at the planning table. Directly impacted youth and families are best positioned to identify what is needed to help young people succeed and move out of the juvenile justice system.

To preserve the rights of directly impacted youth to participate in decision making that impacts their lives, YLC and the leading global law firm, Baker McKenzie, have filed lawsuits to force compliance with state open meeting laws so youth can participate. The latest lawsuit was filed against Sacramento County on behalf of Youth Forward, a Sacramento-based non-profit that works to improve the health, education, and wellbeing of Sacramento’s most vulnerable children and youth. This follows last year’s settlement agreement reached by YLC, Baker McKenzie and the Center for Leadership, Equity, and Research (CLEAR) with Fresno County resolving similar litigation on behalf of CLEAR, a Fresno-based non-profit that supports the participation of community members in local policy. Under the settlement agreement, Fresno County committed to not only follow public meeting laws, but also to take further steps to ensure significant community involvement.

Read more about how current California justice reform is falling short for our most vulnerable youth in this recent Imprint article. Jennifer Rodriguez, Executive Director of YLC is quoted:“This budget proposal incentivizes more facilities, more beds, and requires no accountability,” said Jennifer Rodriguez, executive director of the San Francisco-based nonprofit Youth Law Center. “The intention of the DJJ closure was to provide rehabilitative and restorative justice.” But that, she added, “involves investing in youth, the families that love them, and their communities.” If the state funnels more money into revamped local detention facilities, Rodriguez said, “then we are investing again in ineffective and harmful techniques.”