Juvenile Justice and the treatment of children who come in conflict with the law has been making national and local news. How best do we work with these children to serve both the children and the communities they live in? In this episode, we explore some of the historical perspectives of juvenile justice, different models for addressing youth in crisis, youth incarceration and incarceration alternatives. We also discuss how modern science about youth brain development is influencing law and policy and the critical resources and factors that help produce positive outcomes for youth in crisis. Our guests include Professor Christopher Northrop, Jill Ward and Jonathan Ruterbories from the University of Maine School of Law.

Christopher Northrop is a clinical professor at the University of Maine School of Law, where he launched their Juvenile Justice Clinic in 2006. Prior to joining Maine Law, Professor Northrop spent many years in private practice concentrating on juvenile defense and juvenile justice policy work. He has been involved with the National Juvenile Defense Center (NJDC) since its inception, and has served as a consultant for NJDC assessments of statewide juvenile defender systems throughout the country, including the 2019 assessments of Kansas and New Hampshire. Chris is one of the founders of the New England Juvenile Defender Center and a member of the NJDC’s Senior Leadership Council.

Jill Ward leads the Maine Center for Juvenile Policy and Law (MCJPAL) at the University of Maine School of Law which works with clinic students, faculty and system stakeholders to advance policies and practices to reduce harm and to increase positive outcomes for current and former system-involved Maine youth. She is currently serving as one of three co-chairs of a statewide juvenile justice task force looking a broad system reform. Additionally, Jill works with national organizations on juvenile justice reform, including the Youth First Initiative and the Campaign for Youth Justice. Prior to returning to Maine in 2007, Jill served as the first Policy Director for the Girl Scouts of the USA and Director of Juvenile Justice and Youth Development at the Children’s Defense Fund in Washington D.C., where she co-chaired the National Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Coalition. She also has more than 7 years Capitol Hill experience serving as a legislative aide to former U.S. Senators George Mitchell and Paul Sarbanes. Jill is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the Georgetown University Law Center.

Jonathan Ruterbories is a second-year law student and President of the Maine Juvenile Law Society at the University of Maine School of Law. Prior to attending Maine Law, Jonathan attended Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri where he first became interested in issues of juvenile policy after working with system involved youth. He currently works as a volunteer at Long Creek Youth Development Center focused on improving reintegration outcomes for incarcerated youth and will be serving as the Cushman D. Anthony Fellow at Maine Law’s Juvenile Justice Clinic this upcoming summer. In this role, he will be working on juvenile policy projects and carrying a caseload consisting mostly of juvenile clients under the guidance of Professor Northrop.