On February 15, the House Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing, “Providing Vulnerable Youth the Hope of a Brighter Future through Juvenile Justice Reform.” The hearing focused on efforts in serving vulnerable youth in their communities by promoting opportunities for children and improving accountability and oversight to help youth succeed. Further, the hearing discussed the importance of improving outcomes for families, children, and victims of domestic violence that endure the juvenile justice court process.
The hearing noted the experience of a young girl exposed to drug abuse and violence in her home, subjecting her to the juvenile justice system at a later age. This story emphasized the need for children who have undergone trauma to have access to programs that will improve the success rate of at-risk youth.
The following witnesses testified:
