It's Easier to Build Strong Children Than to Repair Broken Men: Eliminating Youth Fines & Fees in Arkansas with Julie Gomez

The Arkansas Public Policy Panel sees eliminating youth fees and fines as both an economic justice and civil rights issue and has adopted this issue as a multi-year legislative priority through the Citizens First Congress. The remaining coalition members are Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition , Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families , Arkansas NAACP State Conference, Berkeley Law Policy Advocacy Clinic and Disability Rights Arkansas. On this episode of The Folding Chair we interview Julie Gomez, about the importance of eliminating juvenile fines and fees and the upcoming bill that will be filed this legislative session. The Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition works to end mass incarceration while giving the power back to those who have been impacted. We know that limiting contact with the juvenile criminal system is detrimental to our mission statement. By replacing youth fines & fees with valuable experiences like meaningful community and family based initiatives, we will be redirecting them one step closer into becoming a well-rounded adult and a better Arkansas.