This discussion covered both the why and the how young people and their families most directly affected by the justice system must be central to any transformation efforts.
PANELISTS
HERNAN CARVENTE MARTINEZ
National Youth Partnership Strategist, Youth First Initiative
MODERATOR
XIUHTECUTLI SOTO
New Mexico Youth Justice Coalition
KATHY WRIGHT
Executive Director, New Jersey Parents Caucus
TJ BOHL
Administrator, Pierce County Juvenile Court
HIGHLIGHTS
Kathy Wright, Executive Director of New Jersey Parents Caucus, talks about the need to learn about the impact of the system directly from young people who experienced it and to trust them to lead if we are to create change.
Xiuhtecutli (Xiuy) Soto of the New Mexico Youth Justice Coalition speaks about how transforming youth justice begins with having patience with, providing support for, and relating to young people like him.
TJ Bohl, Administrator at Pierce County Juvenile Court, on some of the cultural obstacles inside the system to collaborating with communities, and the need for system leaders to overcome defensiveness to building a path forward together.
Taking on Transformation is a project of the Columbia Justice Lab’s Youth Justice Initiatives. Here you will find information and resources for system leaders, and anyone making decisions about youth justice, who are looking to push for real transformation from punitive justice systems to community-based support networks for youth.