The juvenile justice system is a complex one. When a young person is arrested, no one tells them what’s about to happen to them, let alone how they can best advocate for themselves. The result is that many youth that enter the system end up with avoidable penalties, and on a path that very often leads back to the justice system. The Center for Court Innovation proposed this poster as part of CUP’s Making Policy Public series. They wanted to create an outreach tool that would help young people navigate the maze of New York’s juvenile justice system, and they wanted to use a medium that would really make it accessible to youth. CUP collaborated with the Center and graphic novelist Danica Novgorodoff to create a readable explanation of an incredibly complicated process.
I Got Arrested! Now What? breaks down the juvenile justice system comic-style. It shows the system step-by-step, introduces the decision-makers, and provides helpful tips through the story of Chris, from his arrest to the last gavel slam.
This MPP is currently being distributed by legal defenders across the city. It’s so thorough that the NYC Department of Probation gives them out to youth that are arrested in the five boroughs.
Get your own copy here.