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The Latest

The Latest is PayBack's space for reflection, insight, and bold ideas. Here, we share thought pieces that explore the challenges and opportunities within restorative juvenile justice and highlight our ongoing work to restore youth and communities. 

Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative: A Possible Solution to Incarceration-Based Dangers 
By Cate Christopher, Research Intern 

​Juvenile detention, while intended to protect public safety, often increases long-term harm and recidivism, particularly for youth held for non-violent offenses. In St. Louis County, the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) is a beneficial reform model aimed at reducing unnecessary detention, addressing racial disparities, and improving outcomes through data-driven alternatives.

The Criminality of Running from Home
By Calvin Crossland, Research Intern 

Black youth in St. Louis County are disproportionately referred to the court system for “absent from home” cases, highlighting how youth in crisis are too often treated as offenders instead of being connected to support.

Senate Bill 888 and Juvenile Justice Disproportionality in Missouri
By Krista Knight-Paisley, Executive Director 

SB 888 introduces more pathways for juveniles to enter the adult system. Without deeper analysis, we risk amplifying existing disparities rather than reducing them.

Read the full bill here:

Turning RED Data into Cross-System Alignment and Restorative Impact
By Krista Knight-Paisley, Executive Director 

New data from the 2024 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Report reveal persistent racial gaps in St. Louis County’s juvenile justice system. In this analysis, our executive director explores how these disparities are driven not by youth behavior but by systemic decisions made long before cases reach a judge, and how PayBack, Inc. is turning insight into action. 

RED Report 2024*

Racial Equity Data (RED) Report is an annual publication from the St. Louis County Family Court that tracks and addresses racial disparities in the juvenile justice system. 

*The most recent report is for 2024. When the 2025 report becomes available, this link will be updated.

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