HRFK State Ratings Report 2025

[James Dold]

Good afternoon everyone,

Today we're launching our 2025 National State Ratings Report which tracks the presence or absence of 12 laws that are derived from protections outlined in the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 

These protections include establishing a minimum age before a child can be prosecuted in either juvenile or criminal court, banning life and de facto life without parole sentences for children, removing kids from adult jails and prisons, and voting rights restoration for formerly incarcerated youth, to name a few. 

This year we are proud to recognize Hawaii as the most improved state in this year's ratings. State Senator Mike Gabbard championed three bills that were signed into law this year, including (1) banning children from being held in adult jails or prisons, (2) establishing a minimum age of 12 before a child can be prosecuted, and (3) eliminating mandatory minimums for children and requiring courts to consider the impact of ACEs and trauma before sentencing a youth tried as an adult. 

With these changes, Hawaii has become the top ranked state in our national ratings process. At the same time, states such as Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Wyoming were among the worst states when it came to protecting the human rights of justice system involved-youth. 

To see where your state lands you can take a look at this one-pager with our National Map and Category Descriptions. 

Historically, advocates and lawmakers around the country have used our State Ratings Report to successfully advocate for changes to improve protections for youth in the following legislative session. We would encourage everyone to use this report to your advantage in pushing for change in your home states. 

Regardless of how your state is rated, there is always room for improvement as no state has yet received a perfect score. To see why your state received the rating it did and the laws that are still needed to improve its score, please visit our State Ratings page to download a copy of your individual state report. These can be shared with lawmakers as a resource as you push for change. 

Lastly, we will be hosting a webinar at 3pm ET today featuring three lawmakers from Arkansas, Hawaii, and Vermont who will share more about how they successfully championed these reforms in their states. We hope folks will join us to hear more about their incredible insights by registering at the link below: 

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mG6MnXfsQayJ8A7dNenBnA

We have legislators from nearly half the states (21) in the country registered to attend which gives us hope that this movement is just getting started. Together, we will end human rights abuses against children in our justice system. 

Thank you all so much! And we look forward to seeing you later today!

James 

--

James L. Dold, J.D.

CEO & Founder 

Human Rights for Kids

1250 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 700 (PMB 5126)

Washington, DC 20036

Email: jd...@humanrightsforkids.org

Phone: ‪(202) 573-7758

Donate. Website. Facebook. Twitter. 

CONFIDENTIAL: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error, please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this email. Please notify Mr. Dold immediately if you have received this email by mistake and delete this email from your system. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited.