Sunday Editorials on Juvenile Transfer

Editorials calling for juvenile transfer reform in Virginia ran in both the Washington Post and the Daily Progress this weekend. See the links below:

Justice for Virginia Juveniles, The Washington Post, December 6, 2009.

The Case for Changing Law, The Daily Progress, December 6, 2009.

Thank You!

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, the Don’t Throw Away the Key campaign would like to take a moment to give “thanks” to all of you for your support over the past several months.  Specifically, we would like to thank you for urging organizations to sign on to the letter to the Virginia State Crime Commission members, for sending emails to the Co-chairs and Director of the Crime Commission, for following us on Facebook, and for planning to attend the December 15^th meeting of the Crime Commission in Richmond.  Thanks to your support and media coverage of the recent release of JustChildren’s report Don’t Throw Away the Key:  Reevaluating Adult Time for Youth Crime in Virginia (see below for links to the coverage), the Don’t Throw Away the Key Campaign is gathering momentum.

There will be more opportunities for you to take action and encourage Virginia’s lawmakers to reform our system of trying and incarcerating youth as adults in the coming weeks so please be on the lookout for these action alerts. In the meantime, we hope that you and your families have a peaceful Thanksgiving.

“Juvenile Sentencing Rule Scrutinized”  Daily Progress, November 17, 2009
“Study Criticizes Virginia’s Handling of Youth Offenders” Richmond Times Dispatch, November 17, 2009
“Study: Courts Too Often Treat Juveniles as Adults” The News & Advance, November 17, 2009
“Teen Crime Needs Balanced Response” The Virginian Pilot, November 22, 2009
“Community Safety: Time to Rethink Our Approach to Juvenile Sentencing” Richmond Times Dispatch, November 23, 2009

Editorials on Transfer

There was a great editorial in yesterday’s Virginian Pilot in response to the release of JustChildren’s juvenile transfer report. Retired Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Judge Kimberly O’Donnell authored a powerful Op-ed which appeared in this morning’s Richmond Times Dispatch. Consider showing your support by submitting online comments or writing letters to the editors of these papers. Links to the stories are below:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/opinion/op_ed/article/ED-ODON23_20091122-172206/307274/

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/teen-crime-needs-balanced-reponse

Don’t Throw Away the Key! Act Today!

Take Action Today!!

The “Don’t Throw Away the Key” Campaign is encouraging Virginia residents to take action to change Virginia’s system of trying and incarcerating youth as adults in Virginia.
Here’s how you can help:
1) Have Your Voice Heard!

JustChildren of the Charlottesville Legal Aid Justice Center released a new report calling on Virginia policy makers to reexamine the state’s current system for trying youths as adults. The report, Don’t Throw Away the Key: Reevaluating Adult Time for Youth Time in Virginia, examines the impact of the 1996 law changes finding that the law is overly broad, unbalanced, can be unfairly applied, and lead to increases in youth re-offending rates. The report’s findings and recommendations are timely as the Virginia State Crime Commission is currently studying the issue of trying youth as adults and is expected to issue their recommendations on December 15.

A copy of the report and the stories from the Richmond Times Dispatch and Daily Progress can be found in the post below.

Please consider writing letters to the editors of these two newspapers:

1. Richmond Times Dispatch
P.O. Box 85333
Richmond, VA 23293
letters@timesdispatch.com

2. Charlottesville Daily Progress
685 Rio Road W
Charlottesville, VA 22901
http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/

The Virginia Organizing Project has useful tips for writing letters to the editor. For guidelines and sample letters please visit: http://www.virginia-organizing.org/articles/writing_letters.php

2) Sign On!
We encourage everyone to get their organization to sign on to the Campaign sign on letter supporting reform of the Virginia system of trying youth as adults. This letter will be circulated to the Virginia State Crime Commission Members in November. To sign-on, contact Kate Duvall at 434-977-0553 ext 146 or at kate@justice4all.org

3) Mark your calendar!

Attend the December 15th Virginia Crime Commission meeting. If you are in the Northern Virginia or Norfolk areas, are interested in attending the meeting in Richmond and need a ride, please contact Liane Rozzell at (703) 338-3289 or liane@favyouth.org
Location: Virginia General Assembly Building in Richmond
Time: 10 am
Bring: Your friends
Wear: “Don’t Throw Away the Key” button
4) Join Us! Check us out on Facebook! Join our Fan Page!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Dont-Throw-Away-the-Key-Campaign/145011352671?ref=mf
5) Spread the word!
For flyers, talking points, actions kits and more, visit: www.dontthrowawaythekey.org

Don’t Throw Away the Key: Reevaluating Adult Time for Youth Crime in Virginia

The JustChildren Program (JCP) of the Legal Aid Justice Center released a new report  today calling on Virginia policy makers to reexamine the state’s current system for trying youth as adults.  The report, Don’t Throw Away the Key: Reevaluating Adult Time for Youth Crime in Virginia, examines the impact of the 1996 legislative changes in Virginia that dramatically curtailed the decision making power of juvenile court judges, and finds that the law is overly broad, unbalanced, can be unfairly applied, and can lead to increases in youth re-offending rates.  The report’s findings and recommendations are timely as the Virginia State Crime Commission is currently studying the issue of trying youth as adults and is expected to issue their recommendations on December 15, 2009.

See the full report by clicking the link below:

Don’t Throw Away the Key: Reevaluating Adult Time for Youth Crime in Virginia

 

The report has already attracted media coverage in Virginia:

http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/juvenile_sentencing_rule_scrutinized/48979/

 

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/crime/article/YUTH17_20091116-222814/306196/

 

Dwayne Betts and Don’t Throw Away the Key in the News

Media outlets in both Richmond and Charlottesville have focused on Dwayne Betts, the Don’t Throw Away the Key campaign, and the problems associated with trying and incarcerating youth as adults recently.  Links are below.

Richmond Magazine Coverage of Dwayne Betts and Don’t Throw Away the Key

http://www.wvtf.org/news_and_notes/audio/200911110510010.dwayne.mp3

Action Steps

Take Action Today!!  Virginia ’s “Don’t Throw Away the Key” Campaign Encourages YOU to Take Action!

 

The “Don’t Throw Away the Key” Campaign is encouraging Virginia residents to take action to change Virginia ’s system of trying and incarcerating youth as adults in Virginia.

Here’s how you can help:

1) Join Us!   Check us out on Facebook and join our Fan Page!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Dont-Throw-Away-the-Key-Campaign/145011352671?ref=mf

2) Speak up!

If you haven’t already done so, send an email to the Co-chairs and Executive Director of the Virginia State Crime Commission.  It is simple!  Just click here to send your email:

http://www.capwiz.com/mobilize/issues/alert/?alertid=14280986&type=CU

3) Sign On!

We encourage everyone to get their organization to sign-on to the sign on letter (see Take Action section of this website) that supports the reform of the Virginia system of trying youth as adults.  This letter will be circulated to the Virginia State Crime Commission Members in November.  To sign-on, contact Kate Duvall at 434-977-0553 ext 146 or at kate@justice4all.org

4) Mark your calendar!

Attend the December 15th Virginia Crime Commission meeting.
Location: Virginia General Assembly Building in Richmond
Time: 10 am
Bring: Your friends
Wear: “Don’t Throw Away the Key” button

 

Groups Support Don’t Throw Away the Key Sign On Letter

The following groups have signed on to Don’t Throw Away the Key’s letter encouraging the Virginia State Crime Commission to reform Virginia’s system of trying and incarcerating youth as adults:

JustChildren, a Program of the Legal Aid Justice Center

Families & Allies of Virginia’s Youth

Virginia Organizing Project

Virginia C.U.R.E.

Resource Information Help for the Disadvantaged Youth Initiative

Mid-Atlantic Juvenile Defender Center

Piedmont Court Appointed Special Advocates

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy

Girls Incorporated of the Greater Peninsula

William B. Reichhardt & Associates

Brownley Law Group

Virginia Coalition for Juvenile Justice

Virginia Poverty Law Center

ACLU of Virginia

Voices for Virginia’s Children

Center for Children’s Law and Policy

Campaign for Youth Justice

Kemba Smith Foundation

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Greater Prince William

Richmond Court Appointed Special Advocates

UVA Law School Child Advocacy, Research, and Education Pro Bono Group

UVA Law School Street Law Program

Thank you to all of these groups for their support! If you don’t see your group on this list, encourage them to SIGN ON! Find a copy of the sign on letter under the “Take Action” tab on this page.

 

Take Action Today

The “Don’t Throw Away the Key” Campaign is encouraging Virginia residents to take action to change Virginia’s system of trying and incarcerating youth as adults in Virginia.
Here’s how you can help:

1) Sign On!
We encourage everyone to get their organization to sign-on to the attached letter that supports the reform of the Virginia system of trying youth as adults. This letter will be circulated to the Virginia State Crime Commission Members in November. To sign-on, contact Kate Duvall at 434-977-0553 ext 146 or at kate@justice4all.org .
2) Speak up!
Send an email to the Co-chairs and Executive Director of the Virginia State Crime Commission. It is simple! Just click here to send your letter:
http://www.capwiz.com/mobilize/issues/alert/?alertid=14280986&type=CU

3) Mark your calendar!

Attend the December 15th Virginia Crime Commission meeting.
Location: Virginia General Assembly Building in Richmond
Time: 10 am
Bring: Your friends
Wear: “Don’t Throw Away the Key” button
4) Spread the word!
Flyers, talking points, and action kits can be found on the “Take Action” page.

A Sentence Too Cruel for Children

Former Republican U.S. Senator, Alan Simpson, discusses juvenile life without parole sentences.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/22/AR2009102203803.html?wpisrc=newsletter