Smart Justice The Young & Armed: Violence Risk in Teens
What happens when a community decides to reimagine juvenile justice? Across Arkansas, dedicated professionals are discovering that evidence-based interventions not only reduce crime but transform lives and strengthen communities.
Meet Amber Govan, who at just eight years old learned sign language to facilitate her father's drug deals. Her path seemed predetermined—drug dealing, homelessness, and violence marked her early years. But when a high school teacher took interest in her success, everything changed. Today, Amber leads Carter's Crew, a nonprofit helping at-risk teens break cycles of crime and poverty.
Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Wood shares how the state has changed its approach to juvenile justice through SAVRY (Structured Assessment of Violence Risk and Youth) evaluations. This research-backed tool helps courts identify which interventions will truly help each young person while avoiding unnecessary detentions that can do more harm than good. As Judge Tom Smith notes, "You can turn low-risk kids into high-risk just by how you treat them."
In Pine Bluff, once known as "Crime Bluff" and America's fastest-shrinking city, an innovative approach called Group Violence Intervention (GVI) is yielding remarkable results. By directly engaging with high-risk youth groups, they deliver a powerful message: "We'll help you if you let us. We'll stop you if you make us." The result? Over 400 days without a juvenile homicide in a city previously devastated by youth gun violence.
These success stories emerge despite significant challenges—post-pandemic increases in juvenile gun crimes, substance abuse, and educational disruptions. Yet they prove that with evidence-based approaches, community collaboration, and a focus on early intervention, we can create juvenile justice systems that truly rehabilitate rather than simply punish.
How might your community reimagine its approach to troubled youth? Join us to explore solutions that work, not just for today, but for generations to come. Subscribe now for more insights into strategies that create safer communities and brighter futures for our youth.
Smart Justice is a production of Restore Hope. Executive Director is Paul Chapman. Associate Directors are Karen Phillips and Sarah Littleton.
Executive producer of the podcast is Karen Tricot Steward. Videography and production by Ti King.
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