By law youth as young as 14 charged with certain crimes will be automatically sent to the adult criminal justice system based solely on age and offense. Join Just Kids and Critical Social Justice on Monday, March 10th at 7pm in UMBC University Center 310 to learn how the consequences of the push to “get tough on crime” have impacted some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.
The centerpiece of this event will be Just Kids‘ new documentary about the practice of automatically charging youth as adults in Maryland, The Truth About Our Youth. The film examines this practice through the stories of four individuals charged as adults while still teenagers. Just Kids Youth Leaders Kevin J. and Richard R., and Assistant Youth Organizer Jabriera H. share their personal stories to bring statistics to life and dispel misconceptions about youth who are charged as adults.
Following this brief film screening, there will be a panel discussion and Q+A featuring youth from the film as well as experts in the field of juvenile justice. The event will wrap up with an opportunity for participants to add their voices to the statewide conversation about this critically important issue through multiple advocacy methods.
The goals of the Just Kids Partnership are to:
- Reduce the number of youth who are charged and tried as adults;
- Advocate for policies that transfer fewer youth to the adult criminal justice system;
- Increase the number of safe and effective community-based programs and practices that serve youth who are accused of serious offenses.
Event sponsored by: The Just Kids Partnership, a collaboration between Community Law in Action and the Public Justice Center
Critical Social Justice 