Juvenile justice reforms in motion, but community-based program funding remains uncertain
Judges would be barred from committing misdemeanor offenders to state lockups if they are determined to be low-risk after undergoing an assessment. DYS would also be required to develop a “reinvestment plan” to reallocate funds now used for locking up kids to alternative programs -- but providers worry a new contract to run the lockups could eat up much of that money.