A report on The System
Harrington says “tough on crime” compatible with justice reform.
Mentioned in this episode:
BookNo Visible BruisesWhat We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Usby Rachel Louise Snyder
* Editor’s note: Inclusion of the following press release indicates neither our endorsement, nor verification, of it’s contents, but is presented solely for the value of certain facts we believe you may find useful, soley as an addendum to our 30-plus minute interview with District Attorney Andrea Harrington.
Creation of New Policies, Advisory Committee Aims to
Transform Treatment of Young People in Justice System, Reduce Recidivism
PITTSFIELD — District Attorney Andrea Harrington launched a new juvenile justice initiative Tuesday.
The
plan will hold juvenile offenders accountable while encouraging positive youth
development through proven strategies to reduce teen recidivism and address the
root causes of delinquency. It is a shift from a court-centered model of
addressing juvenile delinquency to a community-based model, focused on ending
the school-to-prison pipeline.
Berkshire County District Attorney Andrea Harrington; file photo.
It
includes prioritizing diversion, expanding community programming, advocating
for new policies, and creating a community-led advisory committee.
“The
studies are clear that most young adults will grow out of criminal behavior by
their mid-twenties and the vast majority of these crimes are low-level
offenses,” Harrington said. “The decision-making part of a child’s brain is not
fully developed until the age of 25. With appropriate interventions instead of
aggressive prosecution, we, as a community, can help make the next generation
safer and healthier.”
The
initiative is a complementary piece to the Criminal Justice Reform Act, backed
by the Berkshire Delegation, passed by the Massachusetts Legislature and signed
by Gov. Charlie Baker last year. The bill made several changes to how the
justice system addresses delinquency, including decriminalizing certain minor
and school-based offenses and creating a mechanism to increase the use of
diversion programs as alternatives to incarceration.
“We
know that prevention and targeted intervention at key points in a young life
are key to seriously addressing youth violence issues,” said State Sen. Adam G.
Hinds, D- Pittsfield.
“Dedicated
and deliberate strategies within the criminal justice system are necessary to
ensure we are going after the root causes of this behavior. This
initiative is a great community-wide step forward toward this goal.”
The
Berkshire District Attorney’s Office created a Juvenile Justice Unit and is
growing its diversion program, which builds on the foundation set by the
Probation and the Juvenile Court. The unit includes a prosecutor, victim
witness advocate, and diversion coordinator.
The
offending youth will be required to follow a rigorous and individualized
program involving a combination of mental health and substance abuse services,
youth programs, mentors, and job placements to avoid court involvement.
