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June 2008
CJJ Leadership News
- Message from Robin Jenkins, CJJ 2008 National Chair
- News from the CJJ Council of SAGs
CJJ Government Relations Alert
- CJJ Council of SAGs Approves Platform Position on Reauthorization of the JJDPA
- CJJ Government Relations Committee Shines at CJJ’s 2008 Annual Spring Conference
- CJJ Prepares to Initiate Phase Two of Compliance Project
- National Prison Rape Elimination Commission Seeks Comments on Draft Facilities Standards
- Senate Advances Legislation to Reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
CJJ Conference and Training News
- CJJ Partners With the Oregon Governor’s Summit on DMC
- CJJ Hosts 2nd Quarterly Topical Training
CJJ SAG Source™ Launches
- New Online Resource Highlights SAG Work
CJJ Region News
- Northeast Region – Upcoming Regional Conference on June 20
- Southern Region – A Report from Chair Linda Hayes
National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) News
- Successes from NJJN Members Across the Country
- NJJN Welcomes New Members and Partners
Resources and Information of Note
- Bob Pence, 2000 CJJ National Chair, Authors Preface in “The Hero Within”
- Coming Soon! The 2008 "KIDS COUNT Data Book"
- Campaign for Youth Justice Releases Native Youth Policy Brief
- Casey Foundation Launches JDAI Electronic Newsletter
- JLC, Missouri DYS, Project Zero (NY) and D.C. DYRS Recognized for Work
- OJJDP Publishes Report on Teenage Girls and Violence
- CHHIRJ Publishes Report on Curbing Youth Violence and Gang Affiliation
- CJCJ Releases Spring 2008 Justice Policy Journal
- CLASP Publishes Paper on Youth in Distressed Communities
- In the News
- Upcoming Conferences/Trainings
CJJ Leadership News
Message from Robin Jenkins, CJJ 2008 National Chair
So much to talk with you about, so little space in an e-newsletter. But I’ll try to get my thoughts across before running out of column inches.
To begin, let me congratulate everyone who attended the CJJ Council of SAGs’ Meeting, as well as the CJJ Annual Spring Conference and Hill Day in April. Many heartfelt thanks to Conference Planning Committee Chair, David Schmidt of the New Mexico SAG, and to all of the members of the committee for generating such a wonderful agenda and event.
Feedback from conference participants was quite positive and reflected the high levels of expertise and investment you all and the CJJ staff members give to juvenile justice through CJJ. The feedback bodes very well for the committee and staff who worked extremely hard to bring us a quality training, meeting and networking experience in Washington, D.C. Thanks all around to you – the membership – as well as the committee members and staff for a fine experience.
WARNING: metaphor ahead – In my house, an antique clock “lives” in our dining room. It is very special to us. My father gave it to my mother as an anniversary gift and many years ago it became my treasure to look after. This clock is special not only for the memories it conjures each time it chimes the hour or half-hour, but for its old-time mechanics and inner workings. You see, an antique such as this one depends on an intricate balance involving springs, moving gears, gravity and motion. Without each part working in concert with the others, it fails its mission. The pendulum won’t stay in motion, or if it does, it may lose or gain time and the clock will no longer be accurate. Ultimately, it will lose its value as a timekeeper because the pendulum can no longer effectively regulate the system. Pendulums stay in motion via a natural tension, a good balance of force versus freedom to swing in harmony with the mechanisms within.
In my mind, CJJ very much resembles this antique clock. When all forces are in harmony the clock rings true, its chimes sweet and melodic, accurate and dependable. Our work reflects this harmony and advances the field, informs our membership, advises and mentors SAGs where needed, and generally strengthens the juvenile justice community across the states and territories. When the pendulum (membership) is disturbed, the tension that balances it no longer works and the clock speeds up or slows, ultimately stopping and incapacitating the clock. In this situation we could be sidetracked by issues (policy stances, funding concerns, etc.), debates and even conflicts. CJJ’s membership is to me like a pendulum. The membership provides the gravity (weight), tension and force necessary to drive the organization. Let these factors become unbalanced and CJJ will also lose its center. The staff symbolizes the gears, those inner cogs, wheels and springs that bring it all together. Our “clock” is affected by outside force (policy, funding) and can become deregulated or even disabled by such forces. So it requires a framework, funding, and an efficient/effective membership to balance the timekeeping of our symbolic clock (CJJ).
So where is all this heading? Our recent April meeting in Washington, D.C., and the extensive work leading up to it once again showed me that in balance, CJJ remains an accurate “timekeeper” and policy/practice marker for the juvenile justice field. The field is “quilted” by some states that advocate and favor certain positions, and other states that prefer to do things differently. Yet after all the discussions and sometimes energetic debates, we vote and move forward with the balance of a true and accurate timepiece. We come together and put our best work forward. What gives me this confidence? Feedback from our allies in the field, queries from staff and Congressional members to CJJ seeking guidance on reauthorization and other important youth-related legislation, and comments made to me by our own general membership. This doesn’t mean that we always agree. But when all is said and done our organization is stronger and more balanced and focused as to how we must proceed.
Sometimes we need “winding” (new energy) from you through various committees, workgroups, or affiliations with other organizations. Without this new energy, we lose our momentum. You (our members) are our pendulum. You weigh us in proper proportion, swing with various energies and perspectives, and all the while inexorably march forward as we make progress in the field of juvenile justice. We can provide the springs, gears and infrastructure, but you are the force and balance that make us all “tick.” I pray and hope that as CJJ grows in the future, you will be mindful of the premise that diversity of knowledge, experience, opinion and emotion are what constitute any membership-driven organization; that diversity when applied with unity of purpose and agreement as to our mission will dramatically strengthen and balance CJJ.
Thank you again for your ongoing commitment to CJJ. The people and staff involved are fantastic. The countless hours of volunteerism and dedication to improving youth and family outcomes are extraordinary. I remain humbled and so proud to be a partner with you in our day-to-day endeavors. As always, feel free to call or e-mail to let me know your thoughts. Best wishes for success in all that you do.
Robin Jenkins
rjenkins@cccommunicare.org
News from the CJJ Council of SAGs
On April 27, 2008, the CJJ Council of State Advisory Groups (SAGs)—composed of the SAG Chairs or Chair-designees from member states—met for its annual meeting in Washington, D.C. The meeting was held just before the opening of the CJJ 2008 Annual Spring Conference. Much important, forward-thinking work was accomplished at the meeting. The most pronounced accomplishment generated from a spirited, nearly three-hour discussion and decision-making process to pass a comprehensive and powerful Platform of Position on the Reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA). The details of the Platform may be found in the “CJJ Government Relations Alert,” which follows this column.
Also at this very busy meeting, the Council welcomed two new CJJ Executive Board members, approved a new CJJ Position on Consideration of Age and Development as Factors in Sentencing Juveniles, and ratified new bylaws.
Election of two new CJJ Executive Board Members:
The CJJ Executive Board is very pleased to announce two new members elected in April.
1) Andrew K. Jennings, Virginia SAG Member and undergraduate student at Hampden-Sydney College, was elected by the Council of SAGs to serve as the CJJ National Youth Chair. Welcome, Andrew!
In addition to the Executive Board responsibilities, the National Youth Chair also serves as Chair of the National Youth Committee, and strives to increase and enhance youth member engagement, highlight youth concerns, needs and recommendations, and promote information exchange among youth members of the SAGs.
2) Theresa Lay-Sleeper, Juvenile Justice Specialist from Vermont, was elected by the Juvenile Justice Specialists across the United States to serve as the National Juvenile Justice Specialist.
CJJ has supported the position of National Juvenile Justice Specialist since 1997 and has now enrolled the position on the CJJ Executive Board. Theresa will serve for two years, beginning July 1, 2008. Welcome, Theresa!
Theresa succeeds Richard Lindahl who stepped up to serve as the Interim National Juvenile Justice Specialist, just when we needed him most. CJJ wishes to offer heartfelt thanks to Richard.
In addition to the CJJ Executive Board responsibilities, the National Juvenile Justice Specialist is asked to serve as primary point of contact and communications among all Juvenile Justice Specialists throughout the United States, CJJ, OJJDP, and other national organizations involved in juvenile justice matters. The National Juvenile Justice Specialist also ensures that the ideas and concerns of the Juvenile Justice Specialists are brought to the attention of CJJ and its leadership, and coordinates information sharing and peer support among the Specialists.
Approval of CJJ Formal Position on Consideration of Age and Development as Factors in Sentencing Juveniles:
The CJJ Council of SAGs, at the recommendation of the CJJ Executive Board, voted unanimously to adopt a new formal position statement. The vote took place following discussion and amendments taken from the floor. To adopt or approve any formal position statements, CJJ looks for a two-thirds or greater majority vote, in the event the Council cannot achieve unanimous consent.
The following position, as amended, was approved by the Council on April 27, 2008:
CJJ opposes statutory schemes that preclude a sentencing judge, in either juvenile or criminal court, from considering the developmental stage of “youth” as a mitigating factor. In so doing, CJJ recognizes the need to utilize current knowledge about adolescent brain science and development, whenever a mandatory and/or determinant sentence is being contemplated for a defendant who is under the age of majority.
Further, CJJ finds its position regarding Consideration of Age and Development as Factors in Sentencing Juveniles to be consistent with and well-supported by the CJJ publication written in 2006 with a grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), entitled “What are the Implications of Adolescent Brain Development for Juvenile Justice?”
As with all other formal positions taken by CJJ, any new position becomes part of a framework that reinforces CJJ’s overall goals of building safe communities and improving the lives of vulnerable and troubled children, youth and families involved with the courts. All formal positions are made publicly available on the CJJ Web site.
For more information about decisions made by the CJJ Council of SAGs, please feel free to contact the CJJ National Chair, Robin Jenkins (rjenkins@cccommunicare.org) or Nancy Gannon Hornberger, CJJ Executive Director (nancy@juvjustice.org and 202-467-0864, ext. 111).
CJJ Government Relations Alert
CJJ Council of SAGs Approves Platform Position on Reauthorization of the JJDPA
On April 27, 2008, at the CJJ Council of State Advisory Groups (SAGs) Meeting, and by electronic vote between May 29, 2008 and June 3, 2008, the CJJ Council of SAGs approved a comprehensive Platform of Position on the Reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (“CJJ Platform on the JJDPA”). The CJJ Platform was ratified by thirty-eight (38) SAG representatives to the Council—composed of SAG Chairs or Chair-designees from member states—who were present and voting at the meeting.
The CJJ Platform sets the stage for communicating the collective and individual views of the SAGs prior to the introduction of actual JJDPA Reauthorization legislation in the U.S. Congress. Such legislation is anticipated this spring/summer.
As you will see, the CJJ Platform sets forth thirteen (13) planks or recommendations written as guidance to the U.S. Congress on JJDPA Reauthorization. The CJJ Council of SAGs approved 9 of 13 planks by unanimous consent, and 4 of 13 planks were approved by a two-thirds majority or better.
The CJJ Platform was informed by and represents the fruit of almost two years of review, discussion and feedback elicited by the CJJ Government Relations Committee and staff, and received from more than 800 CJJ members representing more than 40 SAGs and state offices, using mechanisms such as an email survey, conference calls and several face-to-face meetings. As a result, the Platform in its entirety articulates the diversity, dedication, aspirations and expertise regarding the JJDPA that is uniquely provided by SAG leaders across the nation.
CJJ urges its members to use the CJJ Platform as a guide when educating members of Congress about why and how to reauthorize the JJDPA to address more than 30 years of research and innovation, as well as new opportunities and challenges.
View and download the CJJ Platform at www.juvjustice.org/reauthorization_platform.html.
On behalf of the Chair, Ken Schatz, and Vice Chair, Ward Loyd, of the CJJ Government Relations Committee, and all members of the CJJ Executive Board, chaired by Robin Jenkins, we wish to thank each participant and contributor for your outstanding leadership on behalf of children, youth, families and communities across the nation.
CJJ Government Relations Committee Shines at CJJ’s 2008 Annual Spring Conference
The CJJ Government Relations Committee (GRC) raised the bar on member-educational and member-led advocacy efforts at CJJ’s 2008 Annual Spring Conference held April 25-29, 2008 in Washington, D.C.
The GRC kicked off the conference on Friday, April 25, with a Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) Forum where more than 100 conference attendees responded to possible amendments to the JJDPA and exchanged their concerns and ideas.
As in past years, on Saturday the GRC hosted its annual Hill Day Training to help prepare conference attendees for their upcoming visits with the Congressional representatives. This year’s training featured Ilana Brunner, Legislative Director for Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), who walked attendees through simulated visits and helped them understand what makes for a successful Hill visit from a Hill staffer’s point of view.
Finally, on Monday, the GRC hosted a Congressional Policy Forum where conference attendees had the opportunity to dialogue with staffers from key Congressional offices about juvenile justice-related issues currently under consideration, including reauthorization of the JJDPA, federal juvenile justice funding and prevention/intervention strategies for youth at risk of gang involvement. Moderated by CJJ National Vice Chair David Schmidt from New Mexico, the Forum featured presentations from Zulima Espinel, Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary for its Chair, Patrick Leahy (D-VT); Bobby Vassar, Chief Counsel to Subcommittee on Crime Terrorism and Homeland Security of U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary for its Chair, Bobby Scott (D-VA); Daniel Murphy, Legislative Assistant to Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI); and Joseph Mais, Legislative Assistant to Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ).
On behalf of GRC Chair Ken Schatz and Vice Chair Ward Loyd, we extend heartfelt appreciation to everyone who contributed to this year’s successes. We are excited about the number of people who visited with their Congressional delegations this year, as we believe everyone’s contributions will yield good fruit for children, youth, families and communities.
CJJ Prepares to Initiate Phase Two of Compliance Project
We are pleased to report that the CJJ JJDPA Compliance Successes and Challenges Project (“the Compliance Project”), launched this past February, is progressing nicely.
In the first phase of the Compliance Project, CJJ worked with many states to craft language for JJDPA Reauthorization that will assist states to attend to the needs of youth with age-appropriate sanctions and supports, if they are adjudicated in criminal court under dual jurisdiction, a blended sentence and/or eligible for extended juvenile jurisdiction after the age of 18.
For phase two of the Compliance Project, CJJ has engaged the research consulting services of the Justice Policy Institute (JPI) to administer a survey with the states to learn more about state compliance successes, ongoing efforts and challenges, and to provide a basis for CJJ to formulate recommendations designed to help all relevant stakeholders work together to improve state compliance and the compliance monitoring process. JPI recently completed the first draft of the survey, and is revising the survey based on the wonderful feedback they have received from members of the Compliance Advisory Committee.
We anticipate that a final draft of the survey will be completed by the second week of June. To accommodate Juvenile Justice Specialists and Compliance Monitors, who are currently focused on completing their Compliance Reports, due to OJJDP by June 30, we intend to release the survey to the states during the last week of June. We therefore ask all Specialists to be on the lookout for the survey, and we anticipate that the quantity and quality of the responses will be rich and beneficial to everyone in the short- and long-term.
National Prison Rape Elimination Commission Seeks Comments on Draft Facilities Standards
The National Prison Rape Elimination Commission is seeking public comments on draft standards for two areas of their work that relate to juvenile justice: vulnerable populations in adult prisons and jails (including youth), and juvenile facilities. The draft standards for adult facilities are currently available and open to comment through July 7, 2008. The draft standards for juvenile facilities will be available for comment in mid-June. Copies of the draft standards and the public comment form are available on the commission’s Web site — www.nprec.us.
The Prison Rape Elimination Commission was established by Congress as part of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (42 U.S.C. § 15601, et seq.). Its mandate is to study federal, state and local government policies and practices related to the prevention, detection and punishment of prison sexual assaults. The study includes all confinement facilities (not just prisons) and all sexual assault (not just rape). Its findings, conclusions and recommendations will be submitted to the President, Congress, U.S. Attorney General, and other federal and state officials. The recommendations will include national standards for enhancing the detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of prison sexual assault. The U.S. Attorney General has one year to promulgate standards once the commission submits its recommendations.
Senate Advances Legislation to Reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
On May 22, 2008, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed S. 2982, the Runaway and Homeless Youth Protection Act, which reauthorizes the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act until 2013. Co-sponsored by Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Ranking Member Arlen Specter (R-PA), S. 2982 provides increased authorizations for runaway and homeless youth programs administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, extends the time a youth may stay in emergency or transitional living programs and makes public entities eligible to receive funds from the program. Members may recall that prior to 1996 the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act was Title III of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. S. 2982 now awaits consideration by the full U.S. Senate.
A companion bill, H. 5524, is sponsored by Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY). H. 5524 was introduced in the U.S. House on March 4, 2008 and awaits consideration by the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities of the House Education & Labor Committee.
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If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the CJJ Government Relations Committee or Government Relations Program, please contact committee chair Ken Schatz (kschatz@ci.burlington.vt.us), or CJJ deputy executive director Tara Andrews (andrews@juvjustice.org and 202-467-0864, ext. 109).
CJJ Conference and Training News
CJJ Partners With the Oregon Governor’s Summit on DMC
This fall, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) is very pleased to partner with the Oregon Youth Authority and the Oregon Commission on Children and Families to host the state’s 10th Annual Governor’s Summit on Eliminating Disproportionate Minority Contact in the Juvenile Justice System. The Summit will take place Nov. 17-18, 2008, at the Red Lion Jantzen Beach Hotel in Portland, Oregon. Additional sponsorship of the Summit will be provided by the Multnomah County Local Public Safety Coordinating Council.
The theme of the 2008 Summit is “Celebrating Milestones, Strengthening Collaborations, Building Momentum for the Next Decade.” Several milestones will be marked: the 20th Anniversary of the inclusion of the DMC core requirement into the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the 10th anniversary of the Oregon Governor’s Summit, and the beginning of CJJ’s 25th year as a national organization and leader in the juvenile justice field.
CJJ’s partnership with the Oregon Summit has been advanced through the work of the CJJ Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Committee, chaired by Gina Wood of the Virginia SAG, with several of the Oregon SAG members, the Oregon Juvenile Justice Specialist and the Oregon DMC Coordinator providing instrumental leadership. We are grateful to them for helping to generate this wonderful opportunity for CJJ and its members to view close-up the tremendous focus and effort given to DMC in Oregon. CJJ is in the process of planning likely presentations from the first pilot projects in DMC launched by OJJDP more than a decade ago, discussion panels featuring JDAI and other innovation sites that have successfully impacted DMC, and youth-focused and youth-led sessions culminating in the presentation of the Governor’s Youth awards at the close of the two-day event.
Please save the dates and stay posted for registration and conference information, which will be available within the next few weeks.
For additional information about the Summit or to assist with CJJ’s content development efforts, please contact Mark Ferrante, Director of Leadership and Training Programs, at ferrante@juvjustice.org or at 202-467-0864, ext. 102.
CJJ Hosts 2nd Quarterly Topical Training
The Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) is pleased to announce its 2nd Quarterly Topical Training Series: “The National Community of Practice on School Based Behavioral Health: Focusing on Building a Deeper Juvenile Justice Connection.”
Join us for an exciting conference call training opportunity next week: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 4 pm EDT or Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 1 pm EDT
Please note: The content covered will be the same on each call, so it is only necessary to register for one call.
To register, contact Mark Ferrante, CJJ Director for Leadership and Training Programs, at ferrante@juvjustice.org. Once you have registered, you will receive the call-in number and a link to the presentation, no later than Monday morning, June 9, 2008.
Presenters:
Joanne Cashman, Ed.D. and Ed Morris, Ph.D. – Dr. Cashman is the Director of the IDEA Partnership, an affiliation of 55 national organizations supporting the shared implementation of IDEA. Dr. Morris is Adjunct Instructor for the Center for Advancement of Mental Health Practices in Schools at the University of Missouri and a Missouri State Advisory Group Member.
Background Information:
For nearly 10 years, the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Partnership at the National Association of State Directors of Special Education has pioneered a new way of working across groups with allied interests. The approach, Communities of Practice, is a strategy that crosses typical agency and geographic boundaries to unite decision makers, implementers and consumers around persistent problems.
The IDEA Partnership facilitates communities around many topics. Overall, 33 states are operating a CoP around a persistent problem of implementation or a cross-system goal that cannot be accomplished in a siloed agency structure. Additionally, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), a collaborator in the IDEA Partnership, is working with the communities to craft a metric that will support the claims of benefit and understand the fiscal impact of cross-system work in achieving state efficiencies.
Two particular communities facilitated by the IDEA Partnership are connected to the juvenile justice work in states. The Transition Community of Practice affiliates 13 states and 12 national organizations around the movement from school to post secondary education, employment and community living. Likewise, the Community of Practice on School Behavioral Health affiliates 12 states and 21 national organizations.
During the conference calls, the Community of Practice approach will be explained and the work and accomplishments of states will be shared (from the perspectives of the participating states, the TA Centers and the national organizations), particularly as they relate to connections with state advisory groups under JJDPA.
CJJ SAG Source™ Launches
New Online Resource Highlights SAG Work
The Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) is pleased to announce the launch of CJJ SAG Source™ ― an online information resource for state advisory group (SAG) members and state staff housing a virtual library of documents that showcase the important work of the nation’s SAGs.
CJJ SAG Source™ is searchable by priority area – such as detention reform or disproportionate minority contact (DMC) – and by individual state or territory.
This month spotlights the state of Kansas. Go to www.juvjustice.org/sag.html and search by state to find the Kansas Annual Report to the Governor, Reports on the Kansas DMC Pilot Project, the Kansas SAG’s Three Year Plan and more!
Many thanks to all the states that have contributed resources thus far, including Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
Other states are welcome and encouraged to share resources. To learn more about contributing, contact Mark Ferrante at ferrante@juvjustice.org or Kitty McCarthy at mccarthy@juvjustice.org.
Search CJJ SAG Source™ at www.juvjustice.org/sag.html, and remember to check back frequently as new resources are uploaded frequently!
CJJ Region News
Northeast Region – Upcoming Regional Conference on June 20
The CJJ Northeast Regional Coalition will host a full-day meeting on June 20, 2008 at the Long Creek Youth Development Center in Portland, ME, for CJJ Members and Allies in the Northeast Region.
The agenda will include:
- “Movement to Evidence Based Practices,” a presentation from the Maine Division of Juvenile Services
- “CPS for Maine Juvenile Services and Our Communities,” a presentation from the Center for Collaborative Problem Solving
- A presentation on ethics for juvenile prosecutors and defense attorneys
- A tour of the Long Creek Youth Development Center
- A CJJ Northeast Regional Business Meeting
- A presentation from Nancy Gannon Hornberger, CJJ Executive Director
- And a lobster bake hosted by Joan McDonald, a Maine SAG member
For more information, please contact Kathryn McGloin, Maine Juvenile Justice Specialist, at kathryn.mcgloin@maine.gov or 207-287-1923.
Southern Region – A Report from Chair Linda Hayes
The Southern Region meeting on April 26 in Washington, D.C., was very informative with twelve states participating – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Each state presented emerging issues from their areas and information regarding current juvenile justice policies. Emerging issues included funding evidence-based programming, collaboration amongst state agencies and stakeholders, disproportionate minority contact, creative uses of funding, compliance, raising the age of jurisdiction, mental health, and status offenses such as underage drinking.
Many thanks to all who attended!
Linda Hayes
Chair, Southern Region
National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) News
Successes from NJJN Members Across the Country
Alabama Passes Comprehensive Juvenile Justice Act of 2008 with Focus on Reduction of Juvenile Incarceration and Expansion of Community-Based Alternatives
The tireless efforts of NJJN member Alabama Youth Justice Coalition, the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, and other child advocates in Alabama have resulted in an act that reorganizes the entire juvenile code. The Juvenile Justice Act of 2008 prohibits secure custody for status offenders (with a limited exception for violation of valid court orders; those children may be detained for up to 72 hours (total) in any six-month period, but may not be committed to the Department of Youth Services), strengthens the authority of courts to divert cases, prohibits secure custody for children under the age of 13 (unless the child is charged with certain serious felonies), codifies JJDPA mandates concerning jail removal and sight/sound separation, prohibits schools from filing ungovernable petitions against students, and includes practice standards for juvenile defenders. View the Act at http://njjn.org/media/resources/public/resource_665.pdf.
Indiana Legislature Passes Three Measures Favorable to Youth
Thanks in part to NJJN member the Indiana Juvenile Justice Task Force, Inc., the Indiana legislature has passed three measures favorable to system-involved and at-risk youth. H.E. 1122 limits the state’s waiver statute, allowing waiver into the adult system and applying the “once waived, always waived” requirement only if the delinquent act would have been a felony if committed by an adult (the law previously allowed waiver of misdemeanants). The law also grants the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute reasonable access to inspect and monitor facilities to check compliance with the JJDPA. H.E. 1165 establishes an Office of the Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Youth and includes provisions for homeless youth that are at risk of ending up in the juvenile justice system. Lastly, the legislature is to create a Commission on Disproportionality in Youth Services, which will report this year to the governor and general assembly on juvenile justice, mental health, education and data collection. The Commission’s focus is minority youth and youth of color. View H.E. 1122 at http://njjn.org/media/resources/public/resource_672.pdf. View H.E. 1165 at http://njjn.org/media/resources/public/resource_673.pdf. Learn more about the Indiana Juvenile Justice Task Force, Inc., at www.ijjtf.org.
Mississippi Closes Training School for Girls
Following a lawsuit filed by NJJN member the Mississippi Youth Justice Project in 2007 regarding inhumane treatment and conditions (J.A. v. Barbour), and a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice from 2005, the Mississippi legislature has passed a bill to close the Columbia Training School for Girls. Girls at Columbia were shackled for approximately twelve hours a day for eight days to one month, hog-tied with chains, physically assaulted, sexually assaulted, isolated in windowless rooms, forced to be silent, and denied adequate mental health treatment. H.B. 244 was signed by the governor on May 12; the remaining girls at Columbia must be transferred to the Oakley Training School by July 1, 2008. The law also requires evidence-based practices and gender specific programming at Oakley. View H.B. 244 at http://njjn.org/media/resources/public/resource_677.pdf.
New York Plans to Close Four Youth Correctional Facilities
The New York Juvenile Justice Coalition (NYJJC), an NJJN member, and the Commissioner of New York’s Office of Children and Family Services were instrumental in the plan to close four youth correctional facilities. Commissioner Gladys Carrion recognized that her agency could invest the $16 million the state currently spends to operate the facilities in more effective community-based alternatives. Despite the fact that the facilities were operating well below capacity, the State Senate fought to keep the facilities open, which led to an intense media and advocacy campaign by NYJJC. View the media coverage at www.correctionalassociation.org. Read an article on the closures by Mishi Faruquee, former director of NYJJC, and a sign-on letter generated by the NYJJC at http://njjn.org/members_public_state_NY_info.html.
Illinois Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Appointment of Counsel for Juveniles at Time Petition is Filed
Thanks to advocacy by NJJN member Illinois Juvenile Justice Initiative, the Illinois legislature passed a bill requiring appointment of counsel for juveniles at the time a petition is filed to retain youth in custody. The statute also mandates that juveniles are given adequate time to consult with their attorneys prior to the detention hearing. Additionally, attorneys may file a motion for extra time to consult with their clients before the detention hearing. For the complete text of the bill, visit http://njjn.org/media/resources/public/resource_693.pdf. Learn more about the Illinois Juvenile Justice Initiative at www.jjustice.org.
Revised School Code of Conduct in Louisiana Emphasizes Positive Approach to Discipline, Behavior Supports and Interventions, and a Continuum of Responses to Student Behavior
Louisiana’s Recovery School District has revised its Student Code of Conduct to include a more positive approach to youth and discipline. NJJN members the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana (JJPL) and Family and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC) were instrumental in the changes to the code. The new code reduces the amount of instructional time lost to unnecessary removals by reducing the number of school-based infractions that are “suspendable” and “expellable” and by increasing the use of school-based interventions and alternatives to suspension and expulsion. The code is now also aligned with the principles of School-Wide Positive Behavioral Supports and is infused with useful and family-friendly information for parents and students about their rights in the discipline process. Read the new student code at http://njjn.org/issue_153.html. Learn more about the JJPL at www.jjpl.org and learn more about FFLIC at www.fflic.org.
Missouri Juvenile Justice Association Blocks Legislation Requiring DNA Profiling for Juveniles
The Missouri Juvenile Justice Association (MJJA), an NJJN member, was able to block legislation that would have required the DNA profiling of all juvenile delinquents charged with a felony. All youth charged with a felony level offense in juvenile court would have had to submit to a cheek swab of their DNA that would have been kept on file in Missouri for the rest of their lives. Thanks to the work of MJJA, the legislation was defeated. Learn more about MJJA at www.mjja.org.
Wisconsin Mom Wins Mother of Distinction Award
Vicky Gunderson, a mother nominated by Wendy Henderson at the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (WCCF), an NJJN member, received the Campaign for Youth Justice and National Juvenile Justice Network “Mother of Distinction Award.” WCCF honored a mother who has done tremendous work to change the age of jurisdiction in Wisconsin after suffering a horrible tragedy when her son committed suicide in jail. In doing so, WCCF also furthered their campaign to keep all 17-year-olds in the juvenile system through the extensive press coverage that the award received.
NJJN Welcomes New Members and Partners
During the last month, NJJN brought on two new member organizations: the Center for Juvenile Law and Policy at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, CA, and the New Mexico Council on Crime and Delinquency. The Center was founded in 2004 and works to improve the juvenile justice system through research, discussion and advocacy. In addition to their legal clinic, they conduct public education symposia, run a Parent Empowerment Program that educates and empowers parents of children in the delinquency system, track and advocate on state legislation, and promulgate a best practice model for the defense of youth in the juvenile justice system. The New Mexico Council on Crime and Delinquency (NMCCD) was incorporated in 1977. NMCCD was instrumental in the creation of the New Mexico’s Children’s Code and has been deeply involved in juvenile justice reform on all levels.
NJJN has also brought on several new partner organizations. Partner organizations do not fit the criteria for membership, but are in accordance with NJJN’s mission and agree to provide NJJN and its members with assistance and guidance in their matters of expertise. NJJN's new partner organizations are:
- The Center for Public Representation (CPR), located in Massachusetts, a public interest law firm dedicated to serving individual with disabilities nationwide.
- The National Disability Rights Network, the membership organization for each state’s Protection and Advocacy Agency (P & A).
Resources and Information of Note
Bob Pence, 2000 CJJ National Chair, Authors Preface in “The Hero Within”
Bob Pence, 2000 CJJ National Chair, has written the preface to “The Hero Within: Healing Troubled Boys at Colorado Boys Ranch.” Written by Cynthia Quicksall Landsberg and Judith Pettibone and published by Fulcrum Publishing, “The Hero Within” tells the story of the Colorado Boys Ranch, a psychiatric residential treatment facility in rural La Junta, Colorado, that has helped thousands of troubled boys through integrated treatment that includes neuroscience, psychotherapy and an enriched learning environment.
Bob Pence’s preface highlights the landmark passage of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevent Act (JJDPA) in 1974 and its focus on treating youth differently from adults in the justice system and on the importance of prevention. The preface notes that more than half of all juveniles committed to juvenile facilities have diagnosable mental disorders and that many also suffer from substance abuse issues, and that recent discoveries in brain development research are leading to a new understanding of the adolescent brain. The preface concludes:
We cannot escape the fact that, for better or worse, like it or not, the kids of today will first weave and then become the fabric of tomorrow’s society. These youth include uncounted numbers of economically, mentally, and morally challenged juveniles who desperately need a second chance, right now. Families and communities offer the best venue for hope; love, care, and respect remain the best medicine, rather than confinement. Where there is no other real family, or when the family can no longer cope, sometimes the right medicine can best be found in a caring group home, youth village—or youth ranch.
Read the entire preface at www.juvjustice.org/media/resources//resource_204.pdf.
Order copies of “The Hero Within” by e-mailing Bob Baron, President, Fulcrum Publishing, at bob@fulcrumbooks.com.
Coming Soon! The 2008 "KIDS COUNT Data Book"
The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 19th annual “KIDS COUNT Data Book” will be released on June 12, 2008. The annual Data Book is a national and state-by-state profile of the well-being of America’s children that seeks to enrich discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all kids. The Data Book ranks states on 10 key measures and provides data on the economic, health, education, and social conditions of America’s children and families.
This year, the “KIDS COUNT Data Book” essay, “A Road Map for Juvenile Justice Reform,” looks at the nearly 100,000 children confined to juvenile facilities on any given night in the United States, and what can be done to reduce unnecessary and inappropriate detention and incarceration and increase opportunities for positive youth development and community safety.
The 2008 “KIDS COUNT Data Book” will be available beginning June 12, 2008 at www.kidscount.org.
Campaign for Youth Justice Releases Native Youth Policy Brief
The Campaign for Youth Justice has released a new policy brief, “A Tangled Web of Justice: American Indian and Alaska Native Youth in Federal, State, and Tribal Justice Systems.” The first brief in a series examining disproportionate impact of trying youth as adults on communities of color, the brief includes:
- statistics on demographics, risk factors, and juvenile delinquency for Native communities;
- an overview of tribal, federal, and state justice systems with a brief discussion of some of the issues Native youth face in each system;
- examples of promising solutions that address the needs of Native youth; and
- recommendations for tribal, state, and federal policymakers and juvenile justice professionals.
Read the brief at www.campaignforyouthjustice.org/key_research.html.
Casey Foundation Launches JDAI Electronic Newsletter
The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) has launched JDAI E-News, an electronic newsletter that provides readers with JDAI site updates and results of policy and practice reforms from the more than 100 JDAI sites in 23 states. The first issue highlights a focus on reducing the inappropriate detention of girls in Nevada, a reduction in youth commitments in Alabama, the newest JDAI site Montana and more. View the May edition of JDAI E-News at www.kidscount.org/news/jdai_may.htm. Subscribe to JDAI E-News at www.aecf.org/Newsroom/NewsletterSubscribe.aspx.
JLC, Missouri DYS, Project Zero (NY) and D.C. DYRS Recognized for Work
The Juvenile Law Center (JLC) has received a 2008 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The award recognizes small or emerging organizations that generate provocative ideas, reframe the debate or provide new ways of looking at persistent problems. JLC was recognized for building a fairer and more effective juvenile justice system. Learn more at www.macfound.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?
c=lkLXJ8MQKrH&b=2024163&content_id={51796B8A
-7E82-4F5F-AAA3-D6AA5858F8DD}¬oc=1.
Both the Missouri Division of Youth Services (DYS) and Project Zero in New York are finalists for Innovations in American Government Awards from the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School. In addition, the D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitative Services (DYRS) was a semi-finalist for the award, which recognizes innovative government programs that tackle public problems and improve the lives of citizens.
Missouri (DYS) was selected as a finalist for its “Missouri Model” of rehabilitating juveniles through small, humane treatment centers characterized by rigorous treatment, education, and extensive family and community engagement. Project Zero, a presenter at CJJ’s Annual Spring Conference in April, is a juvenile justice reform initiative of the New York City Department of Probation that offers family-focused, community-based programs as alternatives to juvenile incarceration. D.C. DYRS, which as a semi-finalist ranked among the top 50 programs evaluated by the Ash Institute, was honored as one of the nation’s first juvenile justice agencies based on the tenets of Positive Youth Development, an effort to meet the needs of young people by building their competencies and enabling them to become successful adults. Learn more at http://ashinstitute.harvard.edu/corporate_site/innovations.
OJJDP Publishes Report on Teenage Girls and Violence
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has published “Violence by Teenage Girls: Trends and Context,” the first in a series of publications from OJJDP’s Girls Study Group. The bulletin assesses trends of juvenile arrest rates for violent crimes, focusing on simple and aggravated assault, and examines the context in which girls and boys offend, including the type of victims targeted and environments where offenses commonly occur. Read the bulletin at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/publications/PubAbstract.asp?pubi=240649.
CHHIRJ Publishes Report on Curbing Youth Violence and Gang Affiliation
The Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice (CHHIRJ) has published a policy brief, “No More Children Left Behind Bars,” that summarizes and reviews recent research on juvenile justice, child development and educational interventions in an effort to assess the most promising approaches to curbing youth violence and gang affiliation. Read more at www.charleshamiltonhouston.org/Publications/Item.aspx?id=100012.
CJCJ Releases Spring 2008 Justice Policy Journal
The Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice (CJCJ) has published the Spring 2008 edition of its Justice Policy Journal. Articles in the journal include “Rehabilitating and Reintegrating Youth Offenders: Are Residential and Community Aftercare Colliding Worlds and What Can Be Done About It?” by David M. Altschuler, and “Court-Ordered Curfew: The Application of Graduated Sanctions for Juvenile Offenders” by Lynn S. Urban. Read these articles and more at www.cjcj.org/jpj/index.php.
CLASP Publishes Paper on Youth in Distressed Communities
The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) has published “A Collective Responsibility, A Collective Work: Supporting the Path to Positive Life Outcomes for Youth in Economically Distressed Communities.” The paper presents a picture of risk and challenge for youth in distressed communities and outlines how these communities can band together to create a continuum of supportive activities to bolster youth’s success in school and life. Learn more at http://clasp.org/publications/collectiveresponsibility.pdf.
In the News
June 1 – An editorial in the Huntsville Times, written by Judge Steven Teske (Georgia State Advisory Group member) and others promotes the use of established protocol and collaborative agreements between agencies to reduce the number of referrals from schools to the juvenile justice system, citing a referral reduction in Clayton County (GA) after adopting such an agreement.
May 30 – “Louisiana Tries Again,” an editorial in the New York Times, discusses Louisiana’s efforts to reform its juvenile justice system to resemble the “Missouri Model” and recommends that Gov. Bobby Jindal fully support necessary reforms.
May 27 – In “Leaving Hard Time Behind,” the Chronicle of Philanthropy profiles the growing efforts of private foundations to make a difference in juvenile justice on local and national levels.
May 23 – The New York Times ran an editorial, “Children in Adult Jails,” recommending that Congress require all states receiving federal juvenile justice funding to remove children under the age of 18 from adult jails, unless they are accused of serious crimes such as rape and murder.
May 15 – In “U.S. Has Detained 2,500 Juveniles as Enemy Combatants,” the Washington Post reported on the number of youths under the age of 18 who have been held as illegal enemy combatants in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay since 2002. The article quotes a statement from Jamil Dakwar, director of the ACLU human rights program: “Juveniles and former child soldiers should be treated first and foremost as candidates for rehabilitation and reintegration into society, not subjected to further victimization.”
May 6 – In “He’s A Man, as Charged,” the Washington Post addresses the increasing usage and implications of adolescent brain science for juveniles charged as adults, examining the story of Gary Durant, who was charged as an adult at age 17 on multiple counts related to a shooting between rival groups in Washington, D.C.
April 16 – “Juvenile Lockup Could Be Closed,” an article in the Asbury Park Press, reports on the potential shutdown of a juvenile facility in Monmouth County (NJ) following a drop in the number of detainees. The article quotes Mark Ferrante, CJJ Director of Leadership and Training Programs.
Upcoming Conferences/Trainings
June 23-26 – The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will host its National Youth Gang Symposium in Atlanta, GA. The theme, “Partnering to Prevent Gang Violence: From Faith-Based and Community Organizations to Law Enforcement,” will feature gang-related programs and strategies, information on youth gang activities and trends from top national experts. Learn more at www.gangsymposium.org.
July 21-23 – The Office of Justice Programs’ National Institute of Justice (NIJ) will host its annual conference in Arlington, VA, addressing youth issues, gathering criminal justice scholars, policymakers and practitioners at the local, state and federal levels to share recent findings from research and technology. Learn more at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/events/nij_conference/welcome.htm.
July 27-30 – The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges will host “Navigating the Complex Waterways of the Judicial System” in Norfolk, VA, its 71st Annual Conference focusing on juvenile and family law topics including custody and visitation, divorce, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency and substance abuse. Learn more at www.ncjfcj.org/content/view/1082/315/.
The CJJ e-Monitor is brought to you by staff and volunteer leaders of CJJ, and supported by membership fees paid by CJJ’s State Advisory Group members, Members at Large and Allies. We are grateful to all for their ongoing support.
The CJJ e-Monitor is distributed in the first week of every month. To submit items for publication, e-mail Kitty McCarthy at mccarthy@juvjustice.org. Items must be submitted two weeks prior to the first of the month for consideration. Inclusion and editing of submissions are subject to CJJ editorial guidelines.
To electronically subscribe or unsubscribe to the CJJ e-Monitor, please send a request with your name and contact information to info@juvjustice.org.
— Robin Jenkins, 2008 CJJ National Chair
— Kitty McCarthy, Editor
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