The Case Against Family Court with Jane Spinak - Episode 153 | The Jabot | lystn

The Case Against Family Court with Jane Spinak - Episode 153

Kathryn and guest Jane Spinak, a Columbia Law School professor, discuss the issues with the U.S. court system's handling of child delinquencies. Jane argues that the system causes more harm than good, often exacerbating issues rather than resolving them. She believes the approach towards these cases should be shifted from courts to supporting communities, to provide more beneficial outcomes for families and children. Jane also calls for the abolition of family courts as they fail to address underlying problems like poverty and structural inequality. She encourages a focus on listening to and aligning with impacted communities for a more supportive system.

Highlights

The understanding of advocacy as advocating for a family, not just a child or parent
The lack of effectiveness of the court in solving issues that stem from structural inequalities
Keeping supports as much as possible within communities and examples of effective approaches
Addressing potential criticisms of the abolition proposal in regards to the reporting system
Acknowledgement that sometimes intervention and court proceedings are necessary for serious cases
Jane’s abolitionist mindset, advocating for reforms that dismantle the court, not strengthen it
The detention of extremely young children, not understanding the meaning behind their punishment
Adopting the international standard of 14 years for criminal responsibility
The need for supportive assistance for children and their parents instead of legal punishment
Why punitive measures should be ended
Proposed abolitionist agenda and that the courts should only come into play when a legal proceeding is necessary but should not attempt to solve social problems