Juvenile Courts

How Long Will I Cry? Voices of Youth Violence

“This book began with a brutal murder, a viral video and a cup of coffee..."

The introductory sentence of “How Long Will I Cry?” pulls you in like magnet, then traps you in a whirlwind of human misery that touches down, rips through Chicago’s poorest neighborhoods, leaving a trail of blood and tears.

Violence is the norm of daily life in this collection of oral histories penned by creative writing students at DePaul University who interviewed those who have seen and survived too much to bear: children, parents, police and preachers.

Too Young to Die: Memories in Black and White

A crime scene captured by David Ortiz.

Photo by Carlos Javier Ortiz

Judge Wants Nevada Juvenile Centers’ Restraining Policies Reviewed

A Las Vegas Family Court judge orders a review of a Nevada juvenile center's restraining policies amidst reported allegations of hogtying and other mechanical restraint practices.

Kevin Ryan

Kevin Ryan leads Covenant House International, one of the largest charities in the Americas devoted to serving homeless and trafficked children and youth. In October 2012, Ryan and former New

Obama’s Plan to Aid Black Men and Boys Will Be a Boon to Other Groups, Too (Opinion)

Enhancing opportunities for African American boys and men will benefit women and girls and all of society. It's an approach called "targeted universalism."

Double Charged: Covering the True Cost of Juvenile Justice in California

Graphic Courtesy of Youth Radio

Burning Down the House: An interview with author Nell Bernstein

Award-winning journalist and advocate Nell Bernstein's "Burning Down the House: The End of Juvenile Prison" is a critical look at the juvenile justice system. Center Director Julie Drizin recently interviewed Bernstein on her latest work. Book cover photo by Richard Ross.

Alone: Teens in Solitary Confinement (Video)

Young people share their experiences with solitary confinement in prisons, jails and juvenile halls.

Mother of Teen Suicide Victim Urges Passage of Tough New Law on Juvenile Sex Offenders

Fifteen year old Audrie Pott hanged herself after being sexually assaulted and photographed by three teenagers while she was drunk and unconscious at a party. Her parents are pushing California lawmakers to enact "Audrie's Law," a two-year mandatory minimum sentence for teen assailants who rape passed out or disabled peers.

Should Two Children Be Imprisoned for Plotting to Kill their Classmates

Two elementary school students brought a gun and a knife to school, planning to kill a girl they found "annoying." Can these children understand the consequences of their actions? Will they, and society, be better off by imprisoning them?

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About

The Journalism Center on Children & Families (JCCF) (1993-2014) was devoted to deepening media coverage on issues that affect children, youth and families, particularly the disadvantaged. JCCF provided an array of informational services and connected professional journalists, students and advocates to an extensive network of journalists and content experts. JCCF was based at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland.

What We Did

JCCF curated daily news content and cutting-edge research about children and families from a wide variety of media, government, academic and public policy sources. The Center provided guidance to journalists seeking sources, tips, experts, data or assistance with ethical dilemmas.

History

JCCF was launched in 1993 with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation to create a professional community of practice for reporters whose primary beat was covering children and families. Over 21 years, JCCF offered conferences and fellowship programs to enhance skills and knowledge on a variety of issues, from juvenile justice to preschool education, welfare reform to health care. With support from the Ms. Foundation for Women, the Center created “Beyond The Headlines,” an in-depth resource for reporting on child sexual abuse. The Center produced “When a Child Dies,” an interactive online training module to assist reporters covering child deaths. And, the Center created "LIFELINES: Stories from the Human Safety Net," which included original reporting and resources for reporting on social work.

Find an Expert

Looking for the right person to talk to or interview for your story? Connect with thousands of vetted experts who are informed and media-ready. See our experts now.

Best Practices

The best way to learn is by doing. The next best way is by listening, watching, and observing. Journalists who cover the complex issues affecting children, youth and families have a wealth of experiences and insights. JCCF tapped into this expertise and shared their lessons learned in an series or stories called “Best Practices.”

Training Modules

JCCF offered training for established and emerging journalists. Our in-depth modules include facts, tips, guidelines and resources to help you do journalism better.

Children's Beat Magazine

JCCF once published a print magazine featuring commentary, resources and best practices from journalists in the field. That magazine ceased publication years ago, but you can access the archive and find excellent coverage of the challenges facing reporters on the “Children’s Beat.”

JCCF

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Juvenile Courts

How Long Will I Cry? Voices of Youth Violence

Too Young to Die: Memories in Black and White

Judge Wants Nevada Juvenile Centers’ Restraining Policies Reviewed

Kevin Ryan

Obama’s Plan to Aid Black Men and Boys Will Be a Boon to Other Groups, Too (Opinion)

Double Charged: Covering the True Cost of Juvenile Justice in California

Burning Down the House: An interview with author Nell Bernstein

Alone: Teens in Solitary Confinement (Video)

Mother of Teen Suicide Victim Urges Passage of Tough New Law on Juvenile Sex Offenders

Should Two Children Be Imprisoned for Plotting to Kill their Classmates

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