In the News

Lawanda Ravoira appointed as member of Ad Hoc Committee on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking. Read more about it.

Florida Times Union - July 28, 2010 Elementary girls are target of at-risk grant.

Ft. Myers News Press - May 20, 2010 Help Sought for Troubled Girls in Lee

The New York Times Op-Ed - April 2, 2010 The Myth of Mean Girls by Mike Males and Meda-Chesney Lind. Download the pdf

Youth Today - March 15, 2010 Judge's Council Support Elimination of Valid Court Order Exception, John Kelly

Editorial - February 21, 2010, Washington Post Article: For women in America, equality is still an illusion, by Jessica Valenti. Follow the link above, or download the pdf.

Editorial - February 13, 2010, The New York Times: A Blue-Ribbon Look at Criminal Justice.

January 15, 2010 WJCT First Coast Connect Radio Show: Girls in the Juvenile Justice System, with Lawanda Ravoira, Vicki Burke and Mary Marx. Download podcast.

October 11, 2009 Florida Times Union: First Coast pair among Florida's youngest female inmates
Link to newspaper with video
Download article (pdf file)

Holder & Ravoira Attorney General Eric Holder and Dr. Lawanda Ravoira at White House House hosted "Conference on Gang Violence Prevention and Crime Control" August 24, 2009.

March 31, 2009 Mercury News Wins Nationwide Award for Prison Story
Link to newspaper with video
Download article (pdf file)

April 10, 2008 A recent article on CNN focused on the hundreds of youths that are suffering abuse at juvenile detention centers across the U.S. Nine states and two territories have been sued by the US Justice Department for alleged abuse, inadequate mental and medical care, and potentially lethal restraint methods. There is a real need for improved practices. Without a concerted effort to address the void in quality training, we will continue to see girls experiencing abuse and cycling in and out of the system. We are also likely to see litigations against states and programs and large turnovers among staff. NCCD has been involved in helping states to improve their detention centers and protect rights of youth in their care.

Florida Times-Union 07/20/08 "Juvenile System Struggles with Gender Divide"
Florida Times-Union 10/04/08 "Don't Ignore Girls"
Florida Times-Union 10/16/08 "Center's Site for Research Targets Jacksonville"
Florida Times-Union 10/19/08 "Important National Center for Girls Opens in Jacksonville"
Youth Today Blog 11/20/08 An Interview with Center Director Dr. LaWanda Ravoira