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About Us

“The first time I entered a juvenile prison in Latin America, I was shocked how many of the kids were waiting months and months to see a judge. Most have no hope of being released for years. When they are finally released, they go back to their communities with no support system. Lagging behind in school with no work skills, they have few options. Locking up kids for petty offenses actually makes crime worse in the long run as lives are needlessly thrown away… “

In 2013, Douglas Keillor is a human rights attorney. In 2012, Douglas moved to Mexico City as a Fulbright-Garcia Robles Fellow to research juvenile detention. In 2013, he founded Juvenile Justice Advocates International.

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Latest News

Celebrating our 10 Year Anniversary in Minneapolis

Celebrating our 10 Year Anniversary in Minneapolis

Aug 22, 2024 |

Over the past 10 years the support of so many partners have impacted over 5,000 kids in Latin America. This September 17th in Minneapolis we will be celebrating this incredible milestone and looking forward at continuing advocacy for...

Pass Minnesota juvenile justice sentencing reform act

Pass Minnesota juvenile justice sentencing reform act

Mar 31, 2023 |

Juvenile Justice Advocates International urgently calls on the Minnesota State Legislature to adopt the Minnesota Juvenile Sentencing Reform Act (HF 1300/SF 1325) and for the Governor to sign the bill to end juvenile life without the...

Youth Detention and COVID-19

by | April 7, 2020 | COVID-19, News | 0 Comments

The COVID-19 pandemic is a potential humanitarian disaster in juvenile detention centers around the world. 1.4 million children are locked behind bars, often in terrible conditions (detained for months or years waiting to see a judge, abused, extorted, living...

Celebrating our 10 Year Anniversary in Minneapolis

by | August 22, 2024 | News | 0 Comments

Over the past 10 years the support of so many partners have impacted over 5,000 kids in Latin America. This September 17th in Minneapolis we will be celebrating this incredible milestone and looking forward at continuing advocacy for children in prison. Over the past...

International Symposium Discusses Alternatives for Minnesota Youth Justice Reform

by | July 3, 2024 | News | 0 Comments

This past Friday, June 28, 2024, a group of local and international organizations hosted the symposium “Closing the Gap: Minnesota’s Youth Justice System and International Practices” in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  The event brought together around 70 local participants...

Pass Minnesota juvenile justice sentencing reform act

by | March 31, 2023 | News | 0 Comments

Juvenile Justice Advocates International urgently calls on the Minnesota State Legislature to adopt the Minnesota Juvenile Sentencing Reform Act (HF 1300/SF 1325) and for the Governor to sign the bill to end juvenile life without the possibility of parole in the...

Annual Report 2023

by | March 15, 2023 | News | 0 Comments

MOBILIZE AND EMPOWER: 445 JJAI seeks to minimize the deprivation of children’s liberty, protect their rights and promote positive youth development through policy advocacy, technical assistance and training, community engagement and family mobilization. We currently...

Newsletter March 2023

by | March 7, 2023 | News | 0 Comments

Re-Entry Services in Mexico City February 21st, JJAI presented the Reentry Project in Mexico City. Our Reentry Services model has successfully helped over 100 children and their families receive post-detention supportsuch as food, education and psychological support -...

Newsletter January 2023

by | February 7, 2023 | News | 0 Comments

A BUS TICKET TO HOPE For these children a busticket is freedom. Lalo is a 17-year-old boy who likes to talk about soccer with his grandfather and helps his grandmother bring home groceries from the market. Lalo was involved in a situation with the authorities, which...

Forgotten children at christmas time

by | January 3, 2023 | News | 0 Comments

In Mexico, and many other Latin American countries, there are many things to look forward to during the end-of-year Holidays. There is a celebration for the Virgen de Guadalupe, there are the Posadas, Christmas, New Year’s and in the beginning of January we celebrate...

Virtual hearings and good practices

by | December 21, 2022 | News | 0 Comments

Our National Director of Projects, Sarahí García, participated in the 4th National Meeting of the 2022 Comprehensive Criminal Justice System for Adolescents (SIJPA - Sistema Integral de Justicia Penal para Adolescente), where she spoke about good practices in the use...

Newsletter november 2022

by | December 12, 2022 | News, Reports | 0 Comments

MEXICO’S NEW NATIONAL DIRECTOR At Juvenile Justice Advocates International we are pleased to announce our new National Director in Mexico: Sarahí García! Sarahi has been with us for 5 years dedicating her hard work to children and young people in prison so they can...

Detecting needs at the CERTMI detention center

by | December 6, 2022 | News | 0 Comments

On October 26, we visited the CERTMI’s detention center facilities in the State of Durango to carry out a workshop directed by Psy.D. Melissa Hernandez, that will allow for the detection of specific needs of incarcerated children. Our aim is to understand how being in...
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There are 1.4 million children in prison right now around the world with devastating effects on their lives