The Clapham Group Supports Juvenile Justice in Virginia

Last night, The Clapham Group joined other experts on juvenile justice reform in Virginia for a panel discussion at Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach as a featured event organized by Regent School of Law Child Advocacy Practicum, the Washington Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta, ART 180, and RISE for Youth, a newly launched nonpartisan campaign in support of community alternatives to youth incarceration. This is an outgrowth of our continued work to support the efforts the Annie E. Casey Foundation as they seek Juvenile Justice in the state of Virginia.Panel members with backgrounds ranging from law enforcement to academia, youth services and juvenile justice law discussed the value of transforming Virginia’s system away from large prisons and towards community-based alternatives. Regent University Law Professor Kathleen McKee moderated the discussion and panelists included Sheriff Gabe Morgan of Newport News, Linda Fillipi of Tidewater Youth Services Commission, and Gina Lyles of ART 180. Deputy Attorney General Linda Bryant, Judge Patricia West and Judge Randall Blow were also panelists. The event followed the launch of RISE for Youth earlier this fall and increased discussion across the state about reforming the state’s juvenile justice system.Virginia tops all states in the nation in referring students from school to law enforcement and additional research has shown that youth prisons contribute to high rates of reoffending, wasteful taxpayer spending and disproportionate impacts on youth of color.The event marked the culmination of an arts forum at the University, featuring artistic work by youth in the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center through the Performing Statistics Project exhibit. (photo via voicesforchildren.com)