A Balancing Act: The Criminal Justice Reform Act of 2018's Impact on the Massachusetts Juvenile Courts

In 2018, the Massachusetts legislature passed the Criminal Justice Reform Act which was the most sweeping criminal legal system reform the state had seen in decades. Between 2018 and 2023, juvenile court has experienced a significant decline in delinquency cases and is sending less youth to carceral settings. This study investigates how these changes have impacted the Massachusetts juvenile court by analyzing state published data and interviews conducted for this research. The interview and data findings point to the challenge of balancing the court's mission of care and rehabilitation with its mandate to protect public safety and hold youth accountable. Despite the improvements that have been made since the passage of the Criminal Justice Reform Act, this study finds the courts are still overwhelmed by cases, unable to provide services to the youth in their courtrooms, and continue to funnel non-white youth into the system at higher rates.