Juvenile Hearing Board automatic referral reform
Summary
Providence police have been sending only a fraction of eligible arrested teens to the Juvenile Hearing Board instead of family court. The new ordinance makes referral automatic for eligible first-time misdemeanors with clear exclusions, and requires monthly reporting so the community can track whether police follow it.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 1
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Jun 9, 2026.
Impact analysis
No direct city cost; the board's alternative to incarceration avoids the roughly $500,000-per-year cost of housing a youth at the state training school.
Providence teens under 18 arrested for eligible misdemeanors, and their families, who gain access to restorative services instead of a court record.
None identified, though officers lose some case-by-case discretion on referral decisions.
Mentions & discussions (1)
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