Human Rights for Kids

HRFK’s long-term objective is to shift the way children are treated in the criminal justice system from a punitive policy framework that promotes disproportionate punishment for children, to a human rights framework that is child-centered and trauma-informed. In doing so, children will be given the support they need to reach their fullest potential. To realize this objective, HRFK’s short-term goals are to 1. Advance the adoption of criminal justice reform for children in key states and in the United States Congress, and 2. Secure legal victories in state and federal appellate courts that advance constitutional and human rights protections for children.

HRFK seeks to create a national paradigm shift, underpinned by laws and policies, in how the justice system views, treats, and sentences children who have experienced trauma. Working in collaboration with, serving, and leveraging an already robust ecosystem of criminal justice reform movements, organizations, and champions, HRFK acts as a field catalyst, providing defined goals, a framework for collective action, and tools and resources to effect systemic change at scale. Specifically, HRFK offers the field:

Policy Research and Recommendations: Through its State Ratings Report, HRFK has identified the 12 laws needed to establish a basic legal framework to protect the rights of all children in the criminal justice system, especially those most vulnerable due to trauma and abuse. These laws provide a blueprint for reform and provide state and local organizations a mechanism for holding their elected officials accountable for achieving positive policy outcomes for children. This advocacy tool galvanizes disparate agendas at the state level, leading to collaborative campaigns around a shared human rights framework.

Public Education: Passing laws is only half the battle, HRFK works to ensure the entirety of the criminal justice system is equipped to take a child-centered, trauma-informed, human rights lens when interacting with children. This includes training for judges, defense attorneys, and prosecutors. External to the judicial system, HRFK seeks to educate the general public through op-eds and media engagement, and often as a ghostwriter for or in partnership with partners in the field. As more stakeholders learn about, understand, and are equipped to address the issue, an ecosystem is cultivated that supports and even demands compliance with the State Ratings Report.

Advocacy: Cultivating and stewarding the support of state and federal legislators and connecting them with strong state-level advocacy campaigns elevates successes at the state level to the national level, influencing both federal policy and creating a “race-to-the-top” whereby states with lower ratings are compelled to take action. Human Rights for Kids has 11 current or former state legislators on its board of directors from around the country and actively conducts outreach and cultivates a network of champions at the federal level.

Strategic Litigation: HRFK engages in and supports strategic litigation to bring about lasting legal reforms on behalf of children through the court system. Activities focus on appellate litigation and submitting Amicus Briefs to advance legal protections for children who have suffered human rights abuses. HRFK’s litigation work is done in concert with its legislative advocacy and public education efforts to maximize impact.