lystn

We discuss criminal justice policy in the Arkansas State Legislature 93rd General Assembly, with special guests Rachel Wallace and Hannah Feldman of UC Berkeley School of Law. In this episode we discuss the need to implement debt free justice in Arkansas specifically in the juvenile justice system. Rachel and Hannah educated us on how juvenile courts charge fines and fees to children and their families, who desperately need relief from these harmful and costly practices.  This discussion is a part of a national movement for fee abolition and the promise of debt-free justice for young people and their families. Learn more about the bill introduced during Arkansas legislative session and how we as a community can support those efforts. Senate Bill 455 would eliminate all fines and fees associated with juvenile court and juvenile detention. In the Arkansas code it states that the purpose of juvenile detention is to be rehabilitative and not punitive, eliminating fines and fees takes a step towards that goal intervening during a crisis in those formative years.  The costs of charging youth and their families far outweigh the benefits. Monetary sanctions actually increase youth recidivism and although juvenile justice system revenue is low, the debt burden on families can be huge. This bill would order a halt to all collections and the discretionary fees some juvenile court judges impose. If passed into law the bill is retroactive so parents or guardians with outstanding fines would not be responsible for paying the remaining balance. The effort to transform the juvenile justice system presents more opportunities for juvenile diversion programs and community service that focus on rehabilitation for youth and offering parental responsibility training for guardians to encourage parent engagement. The movement for debt free justice is national, California, New Hampshire, Utah, Maryland and Nevada have all either taken steps to relieve juvenile fines and fees or eliminate them completely. Young people who are supported by their communities are less likely to become incarcerated are more likely to lead healthy, productive lives. We support SB455 because this is an effort to transform the juvenile justice system and it will strengthen trust and build a sense of unity among your community's diverse members. Rachel Wallace, Clinical Teaching Fellow, Berkeley Law Policy Advocacy Clinic Hannah Feldman, JD Candidate, Berkeley Law Policy Advocacy Clinic