Comparative Legal Analysis
Examining juvenile justice and child-protection frameworks across jurisdictions to identify effective and transferable approaches.
Independent Legal Research · Michigan, USA
Advancing a more effective and humane juvenile justice system.
Independent legal research, comparative analysis, and practical policy tools designed to support evidence-informed juvenile justice reform in the United States.
A research and publishing initiative. Not a law firm.
Hanna KotykFounder & Managing Director
National Platform
Legal research and resources for policy development.
§Comparative legal research
IModel legislation
∞Evidence-informed policy tools
Our Mission
Research that connects law, policy, and practical reform.
Juvenile Justice Innovation Initiative LLC is a Michigan limited liability company established to develop and operate the National Juvenile Justice Legal Research & Resource Platform.
The Initiative produces independent legal scholarship, comparative research, model statutory language, and accessible policy resources for professionals, institutions, researchers, and communities working to improve outcomes for children and young people.
Learn about the InitiativeWhat We Do
Building practical resources for a changing field.
Our work brings together legal analysis, comparative insight, and policy design.
Policy & Legislative Tools
Developing model statutory language, implementation guidance, and structured resources for research and policy development.
Public-Interest Research
Publishing accessible scholarship and educational materials that strengthen evidence-informed discussion and reform.
Featured Work
Research designed for use.
Explore the Initiative's flagship framework, supporting guidance, and scholarly research collection.
Flagship Framework
Model Juvenile Justice Act for States
An eight-module legal framework for a more coherent, rights-based, measurable, and developmentally informed juvenile justice system.
Explore the framework Research CollectionNine Scholarly Articles
Research on juvenile legislation, child protection, legal systematization, international standards, and comparative policy.
Browse publications Supporting AnalysisCommentary & Analytical Report
Interpretive guidance and implementation-focused analysis that turn the model text into a usable policy resource.
See the complete suiteLeadership
Founded by comparative legal researcher and policy author Hanna Kotyk.
Hanna Kotyk's work focuses on juvenile justice, child protection, legislative systematization, and the development of practical legal-policy tools. Her research brings an international perspective to questions of institutional design and evidence-informed reform.