Causes

Employment services Justice & legal services Youth development

Posted by

Dahni-El G.

Development Associate

Our mission

To stop the U.S. youth incarceration epidemic and advocate for investment in youth and families.

What we do

Justice for Families (J4F) is a national alliance of local organizations committed to ending the youth incarceration epidemic. We are founded and run by parents and families who have experienced the juvenile justice system with their children.

Research demonstrates that children who have gotten into trouble with the law fare better when supported by non-criminal justice systems and when their families are allowed to support them. Today, juvenile justice systems lock down poor youth and youth of color — tracking them toward adult prisons while locking out their families from the decisions that drive youth further along the ‘school-to-prison’ pipeline.

J4F works toward two primary goals: 1) to transform how juvenile justice systems operate so that families have voice and power in both how and what decisions are made and 2) move resources away from youth incarceration toward direct investments in the youth, families, and communities most harmed by these policies.

J4F organizes families to build the alliances necessary to win justice reinvestment campaigns. We hosts action camps and organizational exchanges for families seeking to hone their skills as organizers and advocates. We also partner with and provide consultancy to local and state governments seeking to improve outcomes for youth through partnership with families. Together, we can move the vast sums currently spent on youth incarceration toward ensuring a healthy start and equal opportunity for every child.