Mississippi Task Force Aims to Improve Youth Court System

The newly created Youth Court Improvement Task Force will tackle issues plaguing the state's youth court system.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 12:15am

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The Mississippi Supreme Court has appointed a 31-member Youth Court Improvement Task Force to address problems in the state's youth court system. The task force, which includes participants from the legal system, Child Protective Services, and youth service providers, will work with national consultants to identify areas for improvement and make recommendations to the state legislature.

Why it matters

Mississippi's youth court system has faced longstanding challenges, including issues related to the treatment of abused and neglected children. The creation of this task force signals a concerted effort to address these problems and improve outcomes for vulnerable youth in the state.

The details

The Youth Court Improvement Task Force was created as part of a nearly $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children's Bureau. The group held its first meeting on Friday, bringing together a diverse set of stakeholders to discuss ways to improve court processes for children and families. The task force co-chairs, Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Jenifer Branning and Vicki Lowery of the Administrative Office of Courts Youth Court Division, say the group will work with national consultants to identify opportunities for improvement in Mississippi and develop recommendations for the state legislature.

  • The Youth Court Improvement Task Force held its first meeting on Friday, January 31, 2026.

The players

Youth Court Improvement Task Force

A 31-member task force appointed by the Mississippi Supreme Court to address issues in the state's youth court system.

Jenifer Branning

Co-chair of the Youth Court Improvement Task Force and a justice on the Mississippi Supreme Court.

Vicki Lowery

Co-chair of the Youth Court Improvement Task Force and the Director of the Youth Court Division at the Administrative Office of Courts.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children's Bureau

The federal agency that provided a nearly $400,000 grant to fund the creation of the Youth Court Improvement Task Force.

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What they’re saying

“We hope to identify areas of improvement for the state of Mississippi and hope to come out with recommendations for the legislature as they work through the very important bills this session that are pending.”

— Jenifer Branning, Co-Chair, Youth Court Improvement Task Force and Mississippi Supreme Court Justice

“We've been working with some national consultants to help us identify some areas where Mississippi may have some opportunities for improvement. We're hoping those consultants can help guide some of the conversations in Mississippi so that we can produce better outcomes for children that have been abused and neglected.”

— Vicki Lowery, Co-Chair, Youth Court Improvement Task Force and Director, Administrative Office of Courts Youth Court Division

What’s next

The Youth Court Improvement Task Force will continue to meet and work with national consultants to develop recommendations for the Mississippi legislature to improve the state's youth court system.

The takeaway

The creation of the Youth Court Improvement Task Force represents a concerted effort by Mississippi's judicial and child welfare leaders to address longstanding problems in the state's youth court system and find ways to better protect and support vulnerable children and families.