Changes sought for juvenile justice, mental health care services LINCOLN, NE (NET Radio) - The state's children are suffering because adults don't make their needs a priority. That's according to Voices for Children in Nebraska. The group's latest report looks back over three decades of work to improve services to children. Sarah Ann Lewis is the group's Policy Coordinator. Lewis says the report is a compilation and summation of what's been done over that time. Among the findings: Many youth in the juvenile justice system or even in the adult prison system have behavioral and emotional problems, which are largely left untreated. And, a majority of youthful offenders have been the victims of crime and violence themselves. The study recommends keeping youth in their home communities whenever possible, creating standardized procedures for youth evaluation and placement, increase funding, limit the practice of trying juveniles as adults, and invest in local community services.

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