Juvenile Justice?

I recently attended an FYI networking luncheon where justice was defined as “righting wrongs.”  This seems straightforward enough; when you come across a situation that isn’t “right” — do something about it to make it better.
But what do we do when something is not right with the systems that are supposed to be initiating justice?  How do we go about righting systemic wrongs?  What do we do if parts our own “justice” system create injustices of their own?
Consider some realities of our current juvenile justice system:

• The Unites States is the only nation in the world that sentences juveniles to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
• The state of CA can sentence a 14 year old to a life sentence, without the possibility of parole.
• The state of CA can legally incarcerate a 9 year old child, and does so.
• According to the Children’s Defense Fund Cradle to Prison Pipeline fact sheet, states spend 2.8 times as much money per prisoner as per public school pupil.

Does this seem right?
Does this seem just?

If not, and if we’re advocates on behalf of youth, what are we going to do about it?

©2009 Fuller Youth Institute