Following research showing that solitary confinement is psychologically damaging, especially to youth, a growing number of juvenile correctional agencies across the country are shifting away from the practice. Not surprisingly, solitary confinement has been tied to depression, paranoia, psychosis and even suicide. People with mental health issues are particularly vulnerable, and typically a large percentage… Read More »
Raise the Age Initiative Scores Another Victory | Waukesha Wisconsin Juvenile Arrest Lawyer
On April 10, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the “Raise the Age” bill, a measure that will divert 16- and 17-year old offenders out of criminal court and into the family court system statewide. Many believe that the sweeping legislation, which raises the age of criminal responsibility, will reduce crime, recidivism and costs to… Read More »
Waukesha Underage Drinking Lawyer | Minor in Possession of Drugs and Alcohol Defense
At one point, not too long ago, Wisconsin had the distinction as the state with the highest incidence of underage drinking in the U.S. Although numbers are now hovering closer to the national average, law enforcement remains focused on keeping alcohol out of the reach of minors. Recently, Wisconsin law enforcement officials turned to the… Read More »
Wisconsin Juvenile Arrest Lawyer | Drug Use Down Among Teens
A new survey by the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) shows significant decreases in drug consumption among teenagers in the United States. Fewer teens are using illegal drugs and many are turning away from alcohol and cigarettes. Illicit prescription drug use is also down. The annual study, which tracks the behaviors and choices… Read More »
Youth Advocates Decry Youth Incarceration
Wednesday, juvenile justice advocates attend a public meeting asking that Milwaukee County administrators invest in community-based treatment services for youth instead of spending millions on a new facility to incarcerate non-serious juvenile offenders. A representative of the Youth Justice Milwaukee coalition pointed to the fact youth incarceration does little to rehabilitate offenders. In fact, seventy-five… Read More »
High School Students Work to Prevent Drunk Driving
City leaders have turned to high school students to get the word out to peers about the dangers of drunk driving. Using the twitter hashtag #owwhy (ow-why?), students at Green Bay Southwest High School distributed a public service announcement regarding OWI, which they wrote and produced in an effort to raise awareness among their fellow… Read More »
Juvenile Justice Reform Long Overdue
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Andrew C. Ladd take the criminal defense of juveniles very seriously because there is so much at stake when your child or family member is convicted of a juvenile crime in the state of Wisconsin. From losing opportunities for student loans, college programs and job opportunities to the… Read More »
Waukesha Juvenile Defense Law | Juvenile Justice Reform Initiatives
Hoping to be a leader in juvenile justice reform, our nation’s capitol is on track to adopt major changes to their juvenile justice system. If passed, the ‘Comprehensive Youth Justice System Amendment Act of 2016’ will usher in new court procedures and conditions of confinement while emphasizing rehabilitation. The bill starts by redefining the term… Read More »
Waukesha Wisconsin Employee Theft Shoplifting Lawyer
Shoplifting and employee theft costs U.S. retailers billions of dollars every year. In fact, according to leading loss prevention specialists, shrinkage, the retail-industry term encompassing losses due mostly to shoplifting, worker and vendor theft, is a growing problem. In 2014, retail shoplifting accounted for 38% of shrinkage, followed by employee theft at 34.5%. Wisconsin classifies… Read More »
Alternatives Sought to Juvenile Criminal Justice System
The number of juvenile arrests have gone down over the past decade, however, there were still approximately 1 million juvenile arrests just in 2014 - most for non-violent crimes. Many are subject to the juvenile justice system or, depending on their age, some may be referred to the adult criminal justice system. Unfortunately, regardless of… Read More »