ABOUT US      DONATE      BECOME A MEMBER
"Principles of Effective Juvenile Justice Policy" Helps Guide Legislative Change
The  Principles of Effective Juvenile Justice Policy  serve as an important tool to help guide and inform states as they convene for the 2019 legislative session. The report, which was created by the  National Council of State Legislatures  (NCSL) , in partnership with  The Pew Charitable Trusts Public Safety Performance Project (PSPP) , identifies 12 principles for effective policymaking that are "rooted in research, reflect bipartisan or nonpartisan values, and help states invest in proven methods to put justice-involved youth back on the right track, while keeping communities safe."
 
The Principles are the result of the work of legislative leaders from 15 states across the country. The report serves as a tool to help states improve juvenile justice policy and invest in programs that are proven to help keep young people and their communities safe. The Principles reflect data-driven approaches, and highlight the value of including stakeholders in the process of creating new policies (Principle 11). The report further reflects the essential role of collaboration (Principle 12).
 
The Principles encourage states to address and end unfair and disparate treatment for overrepresented youth (Principle 10). To accomplish this, The Principles encourage states to "consider policies and practices that foster data collection, transparency, education and accountability regarding disparate treatment and overrepresentation, and develop and implement appropriate remedies." The Principles also encourage staff to be culturally-competent and linguistically adept at meeting the needs of families within the juvenile justice system.
 
The report includes examples of how states are successfully addressing each principle. For example, it indicates that to address racial and ethnic disparities (RED), California, Illinois, and Mississippi require that standardized data on race and ethnicity be collected for all individuals who are arrested or committed to their juvenile justice systems. In Maryland, meanwhile, an office of system reform supports training and technical assistance for counties that seek to reduce racial and ethnic disparities.
 
To read the entire report, click  here .  
people_at_conference.jpg
CJJ 2019 Annual Conference

Registration Now Open
CJJ's 2019 Annual Conference  " Bridging The Gap: Improving Outcomes For All Youth " will take place June 19-22 at the   Hyatt Regency Washington  in Washington, DC. 

To register for the conference, click   here . A draft of the conference agenda can be viewed here .

Each year, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice hosts a national conference uniquely focused on improving juvenile justice and delinquency prevention systems, services, practices, and policies. More than 300 juvenile justice practitioners, policymakers, and advocates from across the country are expected to attend. 

CJJ's 2019 Annual Conference will focus on the latest research, developments, and challenges facing our field today. Specifically:

  • How do changes to the JJDPA impact states' work?
  • How can states and communities serve as leaders in shaping a better juvenile justice system for our most vulnerable youth? 
  • How can we improve collaborations with young people with lived experiences in the systems we work with?  
  • What can be done to leverage partnerships to help improve physical and mental health services, and better address youths' needs for education and housing? 
  • What role does advocacy play as communities seek to improve services and provide for trauma-informed care for children and youth?  

Workshops:
Submissions are due  January 18, 2019 . In an effort to make sessions more interactive, priority will be given to workshops that do not require PowerPoint presentations.  Click here  for more information or to submit directly, visit:  CJJ Annual Conference Presentation Form .

For more information on the 2019 Annual Conference and registration, click  here

For questions, please contact Laura Armstrong at  [email protected]

Awards:
Each year, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice honors leaders in the field of juvenile justice during our Annual Conference. The  Tony Gobar Award  is given in honor of a state juvenile justice specialist who has done outstanding work to improve juvenile justice. The   A.L. Carlisle Child Advocacy Award  is presented by CJJ annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to youth, to juvenile justice improvement efforts, or in the broader area of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention concerns. The  Spirit of Youth Award  recognizes and celebrate a young adult who overcame personal obstacles in their life, but is now making significant contributions to society.

Volunteers:
A limited number of volunteer opportunities are available for individuals who are interested in attending the conference. Volunteers receive complimentary conference registration. Spots are available on a first come, first served basis. For more information on serving as a volunteer, contact Naomi Smoot at [email protected] .
Upcoming Webinars
January 22 3:00 p.m. Eastern

Approximately 1 million youth appear in juvenile court in the United States each year. Youth and their families face a myriad of different legal costs including fees, fines, and restitution. One particularly problematic cost is the cost of court-appointed counsel--40 states have laws requiring children or their parents to pay for appointed counsel, in some cases even if they have been found indigent. This webinar will provide background on the types of costs youth face in the juvenile justice system, highlighting the cost of court-appointed legal assistance, the long-term financial and legal consequences of such costs, and reform efforts that can ensure all kids have access to justice, regardless of their financial circumstances. 

Presenters include:
Jessica Feierman, Senior Director,  Juvenile Law Center 
Nadia Mozaffar , Staff Attorney,  Juvenile Law Center 
Marcía Hopkins , Senior Manager, Youth Advocacy Programs and Policy,  Juvenile Law Center 
Shyara Hill , Intern, Youth Advocacy Program,  Juvenile Law Center   

This webinar is free to CJJ members. To become a member, click  here .

To register, click  here today!
New Webinar Series Launched 

Join us January 29th at 3 p.m. Eastern for " What's Next: H. 6964 and the Reauthorization of JJDPA, " the first in a multi-part series to explore H. 6964, a bill passed by Congress in December 2018 to reauthorize and update the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. For the first time in 16 years, Congress has updated and reauthorized the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. Join this session to learn from lead advocates on the legislation about what's included in the bill, and how it changes the Act's core requirements. 

Presenters Include:
Naomi Smoot , Executive Director, Coalition for Juvenile Justice 
Marcy Mistrett , CEO,  Campaign for Youth Justice 
Rachel Marshall , Policy Counsel,  Campaign for Youth Justice

This webinar is free to attend. 

To register, click  here
Would You Like to Blog for CJJ?
CJJ is looking for bloggers for  CJJ Today  to author stories and posts about juvenile justice. We're particularly interested in stories from  State Advisory Group members  or staff, CJJ  individual   or  youth members , and CJJ  organizational members , about issues at the state or local level, interesting programs or approaches, and perspectives about the course of juvenile justice reform at the local or state level. We also welcome blog posts from other juvenile justice system stakeholders. Blog posts can be between 400-750 words in length. Click  here  to see our other guidelines for blogs.  

Suggested topics could include:  
  • School to Prison Pipeline
  • Girls in the Juvenile Justice System
  • Remedying Racial and Ethnic Disparities
  • Adolescent Brain Development 
  • Evidence-Based Practices
  • Status Offenses
  • Family and Youth Involvement
  • Promising Practices or Program Spotlights
  • If interested please email [email protected] for more details. 
Want to see news that's important to you in the CJJ Members and Partners section? 
Join CJJ as a member today! 
Member Spotlight: National Crittenton
National Crittenton , a CJJ organizational member, cooperatively leads OJJDP's National Girls Initiative (NGI) . NGI provides support, expertise, and information to state, local, and tribal governments, advocates, service providers, and stakeholders to ensure the system better meets the needs of girls and their families. Although OJJDP has  declined to continue NGI  for its third year, National Crittenton is utilizing a no cost grant extension to complete its technical assistance to states and finish several projects that benefit the field.

One of these projects is a  comparative research study of specialty courts  that primarily serve girls, conducted with Francine Sherman and Boston College Law School. Although "girls courts" operate around the country, there has only been one evaluation examining the effectiveness of a girls court program. National Crittenton's research aims to address that knowledge gap by comparing the goals, designs, theories of change, and roles of stakeholders in a selection of courts.

National Crittenton also recently launched a  resource hub  with reports, articles, and webinars that focus on girls in the juvenile justice system. After NGI formally ends, National Crittenton will continue its work to address the needs of girls involved in the juvenile justice system and to support states in reducing reliance on incarceration while supporting community-based supports and services.
Other News and Events
EVENTS AND TRAININGS



NEW PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES

  • recent study examines the role of race in police interactions with youth experiencing homelessness. 

CJJ invites you to share news from your SAG, organization, state, or region! Inclusion and editing of submissions are subject to CJJ editorial guidelines.
The Juvenile Justice Monitor is brought to you by staff and volunteer leaders of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, and supported by membership fees paid by CJJ's State Advisory Group Members, Members at Large, Organizational Members, and allies. We are grateful to all for their ongoing support. 

Coalition for Juvenile Justice
1319 F Street NW, Suite 402
Washington, DC 20004
202-467-0864