Legislation should require closure of Maine’s youth prison, advocates say

A bill would gradually reduce the number of young people held at the Long Creek Youth Development Center, without setting a date to close it.

Lawmakers consider bill to prohibit prosecuting anyone younger than 12

The measure would also eliminate the minimum stay for youths committed to the state's only youth detention center, and would commit no one younger than age 14.

Bill would phase out use of Long Creek youth detention center

The measure would also prohibit courts from detaining juveniles solely because they can't be sent home, but critics say it doesn't go far enough.

National group advises Maine to invest in community services to reduce juvenile incarcerations

Preliminary findings by the Center for Children's Law and Policy show that 53% of detained youths were held because the state lacked alternative places to house them safely.

‘A number of problems:’ Group gathers to discuss Maine’s juvenile justice system

D.C.-based policy group hired to help reform Maine’s juvenile justice system

The Maine Juvenile Justice Advisory Group has hired the Center for Children's Law and Policy to evaluate Maine's system and recommend changes.

Supreme court justice considers request to release 13-year-old from Long Creek

An attorney is fighting to get the boy out of the Long Creek Youth Development Center, but the state argues that he can be detained while officials search for the right placement for his mental health needs.

Juvenile justice group convenes with mission of reform

Chief Justice Leigh Saufley tells the task force that the work of creating alternatives to incarcerating youths at the Long Creek Youth Development Center is unfinished business begun a decade ago.

State agrees to hand over records of suicide attempts at Long Creek

Disability Rights Maine sued last year to get the records during an investigation into the state's only juvenile detention facility, where 5 suicide attempts were reported in a 3-month span.

Layoffs create a sad situation