International Symposium Discusses Alternatives for MN Youth Justice Reform: Panel 2 (06/28/24)

The "Closing the Gap: Minnesota’s Youth Justice System and International Practices" symposium, held on June 28, 2024, in Minneapolis, brought together local and international experts to explore youth justice reforms. This video covers the insights from the second panel of the event.

Perspectives were provided by Dr. Yannick van den Brink from the Netherlands, Gary Halliday shared Northern Ireland's transformative restorative justice system, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, State Representative Sandra Feist, Curtis Shanklin from the Minnesota Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative, and Dr. Katie Remington Cunningham of the Minnesota Justice Research Center. They examined the stark contrasts between Minnesota's current practices and the more rehabilitative approaches seen internationally.

Sarah Davis, Director of the Child & Families Division at the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, stressed the importance of adopting evidence-based, developmentally appropriate responses to youth crime to improve community safety and outcomes. The panelists called for Minnesota to align with international standards that prioritize rehabilitation over punishment.

Speakers underscored the need for Minnesota to ratify the CRC and adopt policies that ensure fair treatment and rehabilitation for youth offenders, drawing on successful models from around the world.

About the Symposium Organizers:
The symposium was organized by Juvenile Justice Advocates International, the Legal Rights Center, the Minnesota Justice Research Center, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, with support from the Minneapolis Foundation.