Doctors Advocate for Juvenile Justice Reforms

The Physicians for Human Rights' Health and Justice for Youth Campaign is mobilizing health professionals to advocate for young people in the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

Health professionals are uniquely qualified to lend expertise regarding children's health needs, growth, development, and behavior and can guide best practices and polices for creating rehabilitative services that address the medical and mental health needs of children at risk. They advocate for:

• Higher quality health services, including mental health care, for youth
• Greater options for alternatives to detention and incarceration
• Limiting the transfer of youth to the adult criminal justice system

For policies to reduce juvenile detention.

(Hat tip to the Reclaiming Futures blog)