Rethinking Justice for the Youngest: Why Development Matters in Ohio's Juvenile Law

Quick Note: ATSA has released a new Policy Brief: Protecting Ohio’s Youth: A Developmentally Informed Approach to Juvenile Justice Reform. Our members flagged this case two weeks ago, and we moved quickly to synthesize the evidence for advocates, providers, and the public. If this is useful, please share the brief with colleagues, local officials, and anyone shaping the conversation.

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By Aniss Benelmouffok, Director of Public Affairs, ATSA

"What does justice look like when the accused are in elementary school?" David Gambino and Lucas Daprile pose this question in their insightful coverage of the case involving a 9-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl accused of the attempted murder and rape of an autistic girl in Ohio. 

Our members highlighted this case as it's coverage resonated with the public and it focused attention to Ohio's juvenile justice system. Local media has captured the compelling and emotional call of a parent seeking justice and accountability for her daughter. The community response has been significant; a GoFundMe campaign is nearing its $180,000 dollar goal, and a change.org petition is over 80% toward its goal of 100,000 signatures. This attention offers a unique opportunity for policy change—one that protects Ohio's youth. 

Current Ohio law prohibits transferring youth to adult court until at least the age of 14. ATSA members were alarmed by calls to lower this age in the name of accountability. This is not a loophole. There’s a reason current Ohio law draws a bright line at transferring youth to adult court at age 14 and older: development matters to due process and to public safety. 

Treatment is public safety. 

The justice system faces the extraordinary challenge of ensuring safety and providing a meaningful response when harm occurs.  Children deserve responses that cater to their developmental stage, allowing them to understand, react, and change.

   

Accountability for children isn’t adult time. It’s concrete, comprehensible, and supervised. As our policy brief states: 

When young children exhibit violent or harmful behavior, the response should be one of evaluation, treatment, and family-based intervention, not adult-style prosecution or incarceration. Harmful behavior from children often signals their own exposure to/experience of trauma that should not be negated. Holding young people accountable should mean helping them understand the impact of their actions — not subjecting them to retribution.

Justice and accountability when children cause sexual harm requires understanding, intervention, and prevention. Ohio now stands at a crossroads: it can choose to respond with fear-based policies or to adopt  reforms grounded in science and evidence. Protecting Ohio’s youth means ensuring that our laws reflect what we know about how children grow, learn, change and why they cause harm. For children to comprehend our response to their actions, development must be the foundation for holding them accountable. 

Reflecting on the ATSA 2025 Conference

By Arliss Kurtz MSW, RSW, RYT 

“United we stand. Divided we fall.” Winston Churchill 

Defined by Oxford Languages, Unity is the state of being united or joined as a whole. Equanimity is the ability to maintain mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation. These are foundations of social work and yoga practice, and values that led me to travel from Winnipeg, Manitoba to Orlando, Florida to speak at the ATSA 2025 Conference, “Year of the Changemaker.” 

I reflected on unity and equanimity often over the last year leading up to the conference. From deciding to submit a proposal, to feeling conflicted on whether I would travel to Florida after it was accepted, to listening to the opinions of others who were making their own personal decisions of whether to attend. For many, storms of unrest swirled around politics, ethical dilemmas, global unrest, and safety concerns that swelled anger, fear, disgust. 

I also felt this way. I was angry that political chaos could interfere with my ability to gather and learn with my ATSA colleagues and friends. I feared the possibilities of interrogation when crossing the border and Florida hurricanes. Disgusting news cast images of violence and humanitarian crises deepened feelings of fear and anger. 

My anger turned to determination to not allow events outside my control to interfere with my professional development or separate me from my international network. Unity. I still felt fear crossing the Canadian–US border, my jelly-like limbs and pounding heart attested to that. To not spiral in anxiety, I practiced what I preach, in therapy and yoga. Face the fear. Breathe. Relax the body to ease the mind. Visualize a positive outcome. Be carefully truthful. Be mindful of the stressors of others. Smile. Show kindness. Equanimity. In the end, I crossed the border without issue, was treated very well in Florida, witnessed only polite and friendly interactions, and was grateful for occasional rainfall that relieved the hot, sunny days. 

At the venue, I discovered I had not been alone in my pre-conference angst. As attendees reunited or met for the first time, there were hugs, smiles, and laughter as there always are, yet also apologies for the state of current political affairs that led to our collective concerns. The conference delivered as expected with cutting edge learning opportunities, fantastic culinary experiences, and warm social gatherings. The hybrid format provided opportunity for people who chose not to travel to be able to attend from the safety of their home countries. They were missed and respected for their decisions not to travel. 

Now, more than ever, it is important that those of us who do the work of assessing, treating, and preventing sexual harm, remain united and equanimous. As we anticipate the ATSA 2026 conference in Detroit, Michigan, whether we attend in-person or virtually, may we remain calm, cool, and connected through this era of the political hurricane against which we all brace, face, and manage with grace. 

Inspired by the words of Mahatma Gandhi. “be the ‘changemaker’ you wish to see in the world.”

Call for Letters of Intent: Special Issue on What Works in the Prevention of Sexual Abuse?

By Joan Tabachnick

We are excited to share an important opportunity for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the field of sexual abuse prevention. Sexual Abuse is now inviting submissions for a special issue on “What Works in the Prevention of Sexual Abuse?”

This issue, guest edited by Kieran McCartan, Ryan T. Shields, and Joan Tabachnick, will shine a spotlight on primary perpetration prevention—programs, policies, and practices designed to stop sexual abuse before anyone is harmed.

Join the Conversation

By bringing together evidence, practice, and innovation, this special issue aims to build a stronger foundation to answer the vital question: What truly works to prevent the perpetration of sexual abuse?

We invite researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders from around the world to contribute to this conversation by submitting a Letter of Intent by September 25, 2025.

👉 For submission details, deadlines, and guidelines visit: atsa.com/callforpapers

Why This Special Issue Matters

Preventing the perpetration of sexual abuse is one of the most critical yet challenging areas of work. Unlike treatment or response strategies, primary prevention often requires proving that “something didn’t happen”—an outcome that can be difficult to measure.

Yet across the globe, innovative programs, interventions, and policies are being developed to reduce risk, strengthen protective factors, and create safer communities. This special issue seeks to bring those successes, research, evaluations, and innovations together in one place to help shape the future of perpetration prevention efforts.

Topics of Interest

We welcome contributions that critically examine and expand our understanding of primary perpetration prevention, including but not limited to:

• Evidence of success in primary perpetration prevention programs, including meaningful outcome measures.
• Lessons learned from past prevention efforts—and how they can guide the future.
• Risk and protective factors for first-time perpetration of sexual abuse.
• The role of public messaging, policy, and science in prevention.
• Implementation challenges: overcoming politics, stigma, and sustainability issues.
• Global perspectives: cultural and regional insights that broaden the scope of prevention.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Aniss Benelmouffok, Managing Editor of Sexual Abuse: aniss@atsa.com

Together, we can deepen the science of prevention, learn from one another, and build safer futures for individuals, families, and communities worldwide.

"What's this all about?': Lessons from NSAC2025

By Aniss Benelmouffok, Director of Public Affairs

When I attend conferences, I'm typically an observer—listening in sessions, people watching in crowded hallways and lobbies, tracking long coffee and elevator lines—but last week at NSAC2025 was different.

The National Sexual Assault Conference in Anaheim, CA hosted by ValorUS and Respect Together exuded a sense of joy; a feeling of people coming home. It was a community brought together by a shared dedication to justice and healing. I hosted ATSA's exhibit booth with my colleague Jessica Yip, ATSA's Manager of Conference & Chapter Relations. Throughout the conference, our booth was a hub of engagement. A wide diversity of attendees stopped by, eager to learn more about ATSA.

"Tell me what you do?" or "What's this all about?" they would ask, gesturing at the table full of resources, and each exchange became an opportunity to connect unfamiliar dots. Many attendees were unacquainted with ATSA's work and the work of our members. As we pieced together how ATSA works impacted the booth's guests it felt as though we were filling a gap that they had recognized in their professional journeys. Jess and I had conversations with a spectrum of professionals providing services to those who had experienced sexual harm. We found ourselves returning to the critical importance of preventing harm and how ATSA was an essential piece of the puzzle.

That significance was reinforced by ValorUS CEO, Sandra Henriquez, who set the tone with her powerful opening remarks. She shared how her profound experiences working with the California Sex Offender Management Board illuminated new perspectives on preventing sexual abuse. Sandra's reflections on working with individuals under civil commitment were especially moving as she discussed how her perspective shifted through this work. One conversation she recounted was with a family seeking the best path forward for their son on the registry, opening her eyes—and ours—to a broader view of prevention work. It was a poignant reminder of the nuance that permeates the work of effective sexual abuse prevention.

A conference highlight for me was the honor of presenting the Gail Burns Smith Award to Dr. Tyffani Monford and Melissa Webb, LCSW.

As a psychologist, researcher, and immediate past president of ATSA, Dr. Monford's leadership is marked by courage and a commitment to bridging divides between survivors and those who have caused harm. Her transformative work includes co-founding Living at the Intersections with her daughters, supporting Black girls and nonbinary youth, and creating the Sisters of Tamar Support Circle for Black women survivors. Nationwide, she trains professionals to ensure prevention and treatment aren't seen in silos, but as interconnected efforts of support.

Melissa Webb, who owns practices in Nevada and Nebraska, has spent nearly two decades building bridges between systems—connecting parole and probation officers with child advocacy centers, training foster parents and caseworkers, and creating welcoming spaces for some of society's most challenging cases.

This conference was more than just an training opportunity; it was a reminder of the resilience, hope, and shared determination present in our communities. I left Anaheim feeling energized and ready to continue to promote the great work of ATSA and its members. 

When Coverage Is Scarce: Centering Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment

By Aniss Benelmouffok, Director, Public Affairs ATSA

On August 6, the New York Times published investigative journalist Emily Steel’s thorough report on Uber’s reluctance to implement prevention measures to reduce sexual harm. Her reporting revealed that, from 2017 to 2022, Uber received more than 400,000 reports of sexual assault or sexual misconduct—an average of one every eight minutes—yet publicly disclosed only 12,522. According to sealed court records, the company had identified clear prevention measures but set them aside "as it prioritized growing its user base, avoiding costly lawsuits and protecting its business model."

As advocates and professionals working to expand and improve treatment for individuals at risk of, or who have caused, sexual harm, we’ve watched prevention and intervention opportunities fade from public discourse. Ordinarily, the Uber investigation would lead front pages and dominate social feeds, prompting questions about how to prevent sexual harm. Instead, within 24 hours, it was buried in the business section and pushed to the bottom of news aggregators as coverage of President Trump eclipsed it.

President Trump has a gravitational pull on the news cycle. He is undeniably a "newsmaker"—a status he wields with outsized impact. As media analyst Kara Swisher describes, he creates “snackable moments”: brief bursts of controversy that capture attention completely, then disappear as the next moment arrives. 

Steel’s investigation documented corporate awareness and acknowledgment of preventable sexual assaults. Internal Uber safety studies identified specific measures that could have protected passengers, but executives repeatedly chose market expansion over safety implementation.

Yet despite the explosive nature of these findings, media coverage has been limited. In today’s attention economy, scarcity isn’t accidental—it’s by design. Algorithms and ad-driven incentives reward novelty and outrage. Research from Harvard’s Shorenstein Center found that during Trump’s first presidency he received 41% of all news coverage, compared with roughly 13% for previous presidents—a threefold increase that crowds out other stories. More critically, the Pew Research Center found that 74% of Trump coverage focused on character and controversies rather than policy substance, leaving only narrow windows for complex prevention initiatives to receive attention.

Nonprofits and advocates have long used grassroots campaigns and coalition building to meet the moment. Yet, when moments are scarce, new strategies must emerge. Advocates can adapt by building direct relationships with communities affected by sexual harm. Rather than competing for mainstream attention, we can develop our own channels—through community partnerships, digital storytelling, and targeted campaigns that reach decision‑makers directly.

As nonprofits and advocates, our capacity is finite, and we must invest it intentionally. Breaking through the noise is increasingly difficult. Our aim should be to develop sustainable pathways for prevention, intervention, and treatment—rather than chasing the moment.