MEDIA ADVISORY: School of Social Work to host discussion on juvenile justice

February 27th, 2018

By: Maya Nunn

WHAT: The Mizzou School of Social Work is partnering with the advocacy organization Raise the Age MO to host a discussion on raising the age of juvenile court jurisdiction.

Speakers on the panel will address the legal issues that pertain to juvenile justice and the research associated with raising the age. Three of the panelists who will be speaking at the event are Senator Wayne Wallingford, Brian Evans and Sarah Johnson.

Senator Wayne Wallingford, a Republican, represents Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Perry, Scott and Wayne counties in the Missouri Senate.

Brian Evans is the state campaigns director of Campaign for Youth Justice, a national initiative focused entirely on ending the practice of prosecuting, sentencing, and incarcerating youth under the age of 18 in the adult criminal justice system. As campaigns director, he works closely in partnership with state-based organizing groups seeking to change juvenile justice policy for the better.

Sarah Johnson is the director of juvenile defense and policy for the Missouri Public Defender System. She is also a member of the Missouri Juvenile Justice Advisory Board and the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, which focuses on promoting alternatives to detention throughout juvenile courts in Missouri.

WHO:             Everyone is welcome to attend.

WHEN:          6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27

WHERE:       MU campus, Hulston Hall Room 7