In an interview by Michael Libbie of The News Hour, Project IOWA executive director Julie Fugenschuh explains the origins of the training program and how it benefits trainees, businesses and the larger community.

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Over the last year, as part of a multi-year strategy to address the racial bias of the criminal justice system, leaders of AMOS (A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy) have recorded the stories of black Iowans racially profiled by store clerks, security guards, police and others. Says one mother of a teenage son, "I never, ever want to be that mom on TV who is crying … because something has happened to my son."

Black Iowans Fell Profiled by Police, Des Moines Register

After observing juvenile judicial hearings at the Polk County Courthouse through their recently established 'Courtwatchers' program, leaders of A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy, AMOS, identified a 767% increase in misdemeanor holds for African American youth and an overall increase in juvenile detention holds overall. Leaders soon called publicly for a return of a restorative justice approach that had served Polk County well for years, among other policy recommendations.

The Des Moines Register notes that the juvenile justice system is "slowly evolving in response" to long lasting consequences on youth from court involvement, an issue raised by AMOS earlier this year. The front page story below includes the impact of such an approach on at least one Iowan teen.

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After a year of observing juvenile judicial hearings at the Polk County Courthouse, and identifying a 767% increase in misdemeanor holds for African American youth, AMOS leaders identified several ways to better protect youthful offenders. 200 leaders strategized about desired reforms at their 'Restorative Justice' conference, and voted to support a Polk Courthouse renovation plan, which includes several of AMOS' ideas , and which would require passage of a bond proposal in early November. The proposed plans include space for pretrial conferences and mediation; a system to keep youthful offenders away from adult offenders; discreet spaces that keep youth out of the public eye when brought into the courtroom; and a setup allowing for juveniles to sit eye-to-eye with judges in the courtroom.

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"In the disagreement between Polk County officials and the citizen group AMOS, logic seems to favor AMOS. Especially in the long run.

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