Dean Rivkin, the Williford Gragg Distinguished Professor of Law, has been appointed to a legislative task force charged with making recommendations for the reform of Tennessee’s juvenile justice system.
Pursuant to the Juvenile Justice Realignment Act, enacted by the Tennessee General Assembly this past spring, Rivkin was one of ten public members appointed to the task force by Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey. The task force will be convened by Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris for the first time on August 23 and will study the feasibility of creating a state department of juvenile justice, whose mission will be “the treatment and rehabilitation of the state’s juveniles.”
Among the issues to be studied are alternatives to juvenile detention through community-based programs, the prevalence of mental health issues among youth in state custody, and concerns about “a school-to-prison pipeline.” Students in Rivkin’s Education Law Practicum will be involved in research on these and related juvenile justice and education issues.