State Supreme Court Justices and judges from across the South have gathered in Nashville this week for the National Center for State Courts' Juvenile Justice Reform Summit (MacArthur Summit). Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivins welcomed the group.
The summit focuses on juvenile justice reform, and attendees are hearing from several experts, including Dr. Pat Levitt, Keck School of Medicine of the University of South California who explained the advances in medical technology and the social sciences and how they have given us a better understanding of adolescent brain development, which highlight the need to consider the impact of interventions and programs that are used with adolescents who enter the juvenile justice system.
Other states are showcasing their best practices and the changes that have been made for juvenile justice reform, and each state attending is participating in team meetings, identifying the priority issues in each state and developing a state action plan. First Lady of Tennessee Crissy Haslam is also sharing with attendees the state's progress addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) in Tennessee.
