Webinar 1 of the Three Steps to Take Webinar Series: Navigating Concerns on Youth Crime, Violence, and Behavioral Health, hosted by The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center and the Prudential Foundation.
Rising concerns on youth crime and violence have challenged policymakers to remain committed to research-based approaches to improving public safety and youth outcomes. These concerns are often driven by media coverage of the most extreme cases, giving them an outsized importance in driving negative impressions of the juvenile justice system and vulnerable youth more generally, and leading to an increased call for “tough on crime” responses. The most recent data available shows that while arrests for youth homicides and weapons offenses did spike post-pandemic, these cases represent approximately 5 percent of all youth arrests. And despite the recent spike, overall rates of youth arrests for violent offenses are half of what they were 20 years ago. Given these challenges, what steps can jurisdictions take to address this tough-on-crime narrative? What communications, media, and public education strategies are needed to promote buy-in for research-based public safety solutions? This webinar features national experts highlighting 3 steps that jurisdictions can take to advance communication strategies that promote improved public safety and youth outcomes.
Speakers:
- Christina Gilbert, Project Manager, Corrections and Reentry, CSG Justice Center (moderator)
- Carroll Bogert, President, The Marshall Project
- Jinnie Horan, Public Information Specialist, Pierce County Juvenile Court
- Courtney McSwain, Director of Communications, National Youth Justice Network