August 2006

CJJ Government Relations Alert

Watch this space: More to come on FY JJ Appropriations

As FY 2007 federal juvenile justice appropriations go into the House-Senate Conference Committee process (likely in September), CJJ’s Government Relations Committee will join forces with a broad coalition of national and state organizations to make recommendations to the joint conferees. We will offer state perspectives and educate about urgent state and local needs. Such needs will be more effectively met if provisions from the House bill are adopted, regarding Formula Funds and the Delinquency Prevention Block Grant Program (DPBG).

Juveniles on the National Sex Offender Registry

President Bush signed H.R. 4472, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, into law on July 27. You can view the legislation online at http://thomas.loc.gov by searching by bill number (HR 4472) or by Public Law Number (109-248).

Not only does this legislation create a national sex offender registry, but it requires that states, territories and the District of Columbia create and/or amend their registries to be in compliance with the requirements in the legislation. Every person who is on a state’s list will also be included on the national list and all lists shall be available via the Internet.

Each jurisdiction must comply with the requirements of this legislation within three years, but may apply for up to two one-year extensions. If a state (or territory) does not comply with the Act, it will lose 10% of funds under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 for each year it is not in compliance. If the registry requirements in the Act are found by a jurisdiction’s highest court to conflict with its constitution, the Attorney General may find the jurisdiction to be in compliance if it has made reasonable alternative procedures consistent with the purposes of the Act.

While the final version of the law as passed and signed is much better than the original House version, it still includes on the national sex offender registry any juvenile adjudicated delinquent of a sex offense. There was a great deal of debate between the House and Senate about whether to include juveniles at all, a testament to awareness raised about this issue.

The National Juvenile Defender Center (NJDC) has analyzed the new law and its implications in a summary fact sheet. Please contact Elizabeth Kehoe at NJDC for more information: ekehoe@njdc.info.

Juvenile Crime Wave? Or Not?

USA Today and other prominent news outlets are headlining concerns from law enforcement officials in Washington, DC, and other major cities about a juvenile violent crime wave hitting urban areas. Is this valid?

"Violent Felons in Large Urban Counties," a new study from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (see http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/vfluc.htm), has analyzed violent felony cases from jurisdictions that together account for 50% of all reported violent crime offenses in the nation. The new federal report clarifies that in the nation's 75 most populous counties, juveniles comprised only 6 percent of all violent convictions. More specifically, the report cites that 10% of homicide convictions, 12% of robbery convictions and 4% of rape and assault convictions were of persons under the age of 18.

Amidst rising public fear about crime, it will be important to zero in on the small portion of overall violent crime that is committed by juveniles and to call for investments in prevention and rehabilitation: quality education, job training and employment opportunities, family- and community-centered treatment services as needed, and effective alternatives to incarceration.

For additional analysis and interpretation of recent crime data, visit the Justice Policy Institute at www.justicepolicy.org.

Questions or Comments

If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the CJJ Government Relations Committee or Government Relations Program, please contact committee chair Linda Hayes (lhayes@harnettlaw.com), or CJJ acting executive director Nancy Gannon Hornberger (gannon@juvjustice.org and 202-467-0864, ext. 111).

CJJ Conference News (September 7-10 with a service project on September 6)

11th Annual DMC Conference in New Orleans

The 11th Annual DMC Conference, "Law Enforcement Solutions for Reducing Racial Disparities and Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) in Juvenile Justice,"—co-hosted by OJJDP and CJJ—is coming right up: September 7 through 10 (with a service project on September 6).

The conference will open with welcoming remarks from Marilyn Roberts of OJJDP and CJJ leaders, followed by keynote speaker Steve Holbert, J.D., co-author of “The Color of Guilt and Innocence.” The program is rich with ideas for engaging law enforcement partners in state and local efforts for DMC reduction. Garry Mendez of the National Trust for the Development of African American Men will provide luncheon remarks, and Rev. Warren Dolphus and Addie Richburg of the National Alliance for Faith and Justice will speak at the closing general session. In-depth concurrent workshops will explore exemplary work underway in several states and jurisdictions, such as the field-release program in Louisville (KY); community policing with teens in Boston (MA); the New Jersey stationhouse adjustment program; the Texas state strategy to address disproportionality in child welfare; New York state’s arrest diversion project; Pennsylvania’s work to implement police-community dialogues in several jurisdictions; and a sneak preview of patrol officer training from Connecticut, as well as sessions addressing police-led DMC reduction efforts in Seattle (WA) and Tucson (AZ), and effective ways to work with school resource officers.

Panelists offering law enforcement and family/youth perspectives will include, among others: Gerald Richard, Phoenix (AZ) Police Department; Fabienne Brooks, retired, Chief of Criminal Investigations, King County Sheriff’s Office, Seattle (WA); Grace Bauer, Families of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Youth, Lake Charles (LA); and Rachel Lloyd, Girls Educational and Mentoring Services, New York (NY).

For a full agenda including session descriptions and speakers, please contact Lindsay Wood at CJJ: wood@juvjustice.org.

Last Call to Register!

The August 25 registration deadline for the 11th Annual DMC Conference is fast approaching. While room reservations can be made directly through the Omni Royal Orleans, it is also necessary to register with CJJ through Cvent, our online registration service.

To register, visit www.Cvent.com, click on the “RSVP for Event” tab, and enter event code 4HN8DJY92SU. For assistance with online registration, to register via fax or for any other questions, contact Lindsay Wood: wood@juvjustice.org or 202-467-0864, ext. 124.

Upcoming CJJ Publication

Adolescent Brain Development Brief from CJJ

The Coalition for Juvenile Justice is pleased to announce the upcoming August publication of the first in a two-part series on adolescent brain development. "Emerging Ideas Brief: What Are the Implications of Adolescent Brain Development for Juvenile Justice?" offers an overview of adolescent brain development and its relevancy to juvenile justice and delinquency prevention policy and practice. The brief also provides an extensive list of resources on the science of adolescent brain development.

The second part of the adolescent brain development series, scheduled for publication in September, will address the potential applications of adolescent brain science for informing and improving programs, practices and policies in juvenile justice and delinquency prevention.

Copies of each brief will be distributed directly to all State Advisory Groups and Juvenile Justice Specialists. To request additional copies, contact Kitty McCarthy at CJJ: (202) 467-0864, ext. 110, or mccarthy@juvjustice.org.

CJJ Board of Directors and Leadership Committee News

Board of Directors’ Meeting and "Models for Change" Presentation

The CJJ Board of Directors’ Meeting—which convenes the SAG Chairs and Chair-designees from states that participate with the JJDPA and are members in good standing with CJJ—is open to everyone. Therefore, to ensure that SAG members and others who are interested may attend, the fall CJJ Board of Directors’ Meeting will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, September 8, just before the opening of the 11th Annual DMC Conference.

Of special interest, the meeting will feature a special focus presentation on "Models for Change: Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice," a national initiative supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, from 8:00 to 9:15 a.m. Models for Change is actively engaging State Advisory Groups (SAGs), as well as many other experts and stakeholders in four states: Pennsylvania, Illinois, Louisiana and Washington. Presenters for this session will highlight SAG leadership in Models for Change and the impact of the work done to date on reduction of Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC). Presenters will include Laurie Garduque from the MacArthur Foundation; Mark Soler and Dana Shoenberg from the Center for Children’s Law and Policy; the Honorable Arthur Grim of the 23rd Judicial District of Pennsylvania; Michael Mahoney of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission; and Debra DePrato of the Louisiana Board of Regents.

For more information on the CJJ Board of Directors’ Meeting, please contact Nancy Gannon Hornberger at CJJ: gannon@juvjustice.org or 202-467-0864, ext. 111.

Nominations for CJJ National Officer Positions

CJJ is currently accepting nominations for three national officer positions: Vice Chair-Chair Elect, Treasurer/Secretary and Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Chair. Nominations are due by August 29, 2006, with elections taking place at the fall Board of Directors’ Meeting on September 8, 2006.

Any State Advisory Group (SAG) member, from a state participating in the JJDPA and current in dues to CJJ, is eligible to seek a national office. Officers serve on the CJJ National Steering Committee and act as the executive committee of the CJJ Board of Directors. The Vice Chair-Chair Elect position requires a three-year term, with one year as the Vice Chair-Chair Elect, one year as National Chair and one year as the Immediate Past Chair. The positions of Treasurer/Secretary and Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Chair both require one-year terms. All terms begin January 1, 2007.

For additional information or nomination packets, please contact Kitty McCarthy at CJJ: mccarthy@juvjustice.org or (202) 467-0864, ext. 110.

Update of CJJ Bylaws

The Bylaws Committee has spent several months reviewing and updating the CJJ Bylaws. The revisions will be sent out to SAG Chairs for review in preparation for a vote at the CJJ Board of Directors’ Meeting on September 8, 2006. If you have any questions about the revisions, please contact Sue Kamp: skamp@sover.net or 802-860-7292.

Search Committee Update

In January, 2006, upon the resignation of the past executive director of CJJ, the CJJ National Steering Committee established an Executive Search Committee with responsibility for recruiting, hiring and negotiating the contract of a permanent executive director for CJJ. At the same time, they invited the former deputy executive director, Nancy Gannon Hornberger, to serve as the interim acting executive director.

With pro bono support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the CJJ search process is being led and coordinated by TransitionGuides, an expert consulting firm in the Washington metropolitan area.

CJJ is seeking a skilled executive director to further build its exceptional 20-year record of work at the forefront of delinquency prevention and juvenile justice issues. An ideal candidate will be a "knowledgeable player" on juvenile justice issues with demonstrated experience in nonprofit management, relationship building, fund raising and public policy advocacy.

For a copy of the position profile, visit www.transitionguides.com/cjj.htm. To apply for the position, please e-mail a resume, cover letter and salary requirements to cjj@transitionguides.com.

Detention Reform News

Montana

This month, the Montana Youth Justice Council, Montana SAG and the Montana Board of Crime Control mapped out a preliminary proposal and action plan to initiate statewide detention reform. An important component of the Montana effort will be addressing needs and gaps in service to Native American and rural communities.

Annie E. Casey Foundation "JDAI News"

The July issue of the Casey Foundation’s JDAI newsletter featured an article about SAG promotion of successful intervention strategies and support of detention reform. The article highlights the exceptional work of SAGs in states such as Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Virginia and Washington. For a copy of "JDAI News," contact Eve Munson at CJJ: munson@juvjustice.org.

National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) News

Save the Date: Medicaid and Title IV-E Teleconference Series

This October, the National Juvenile Justice Network (www.njjn.org) will hold a three-part teleconference series on Medicaid and Title IV-E of the Social Security Act. The series will expose juvenile justice advocates to Medicaid and Title IV-E funding sources and will discuss policy issues that may arise when advocates seek such funds to benefit youth in the juvenile justice system.

“Part 1: Medicaid Basics:” Tuesday, October 3rd at 1 pm EST.

“Part 2: Title IV-E Basics:” Tuesday, October 10th at 1 pm EST.

“Part 3: The Intersection of Medicaid and Title IV-E:” Tuesday, October 17th at 1 pm EST.

A more detailed agenda, including featured speakers, will be distributed in the near future. For more information, contact Penelope Spain at NJJN: spain@juvjustice.org.

Virginia Public School Re-enrollment

Thanks in large part to efforts of NJJN member JustChildren/Legal Aid Justice Center, the state of Virginia has put into effect new regulations governing the re-enrollment of students committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice. The regulations present a procedure for re-enrolling students into the public schools when they have been in the custody of the juvenile justice system and receiving instruction through local and regional detention homes and the Department of Correctional Education. The regulations promote the exchange of educational information concerning students among the Departments of Juvenile Justice and Correctional Education, local and regional detention homes, and local education agencies. For further information on the new regulations, visit http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/suptsmemos/2006/inf140.html. For more information on JustChildren/Legal Aid Justice Center, visit www.justice4all.org.

NJJN Teleconference on LGBT Youth in Institutions

NJJN’s July 18 teleconference on "Improving Conditions of Confinement for LGBT Youth in the Juvenile Justice System" is now available to download on NJJN’s Web site. Profiling three possible paths of reform, the call discussed proposed model legislation, recent successful litigation in Hawaii and the just released best practice standards for administrators. To download the full teleconference, visit www.njjn.org and click on "Teleconference on Three Paths to Reform, July 18, 2006."

Resources and Information of Note

NCCD Study of Girls in the Florida Juvenile Justice System

In July, the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) released a research study on girls in the Florida juvenile justice system entitled "A Rallying Cry for Change: Charting a New Direction in the State of Florida’s Response to Girls in Juvenile Justice." From a sample of 319 girls in the system, the study included a profile of girls in the system, their intervention needs and recommendations for change. The full report, as well as an executive summary, can be found at http://www.iamforkids.org/jj/rallying_cry.php.

OJJDP Access to State and County Court Data

The Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has updated its online Statistical Briefing Book to offer access to the latest available state and county juvenile court case counts for delinquency, status offense and dependency cases. To access state and county court data, visit http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/ezaco/. To browse the Statistical Briefing Book, visit http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/.

NCMHJJ "Blueprint for Change"

The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice (NCMHJJ) announces the availability of "Blueprint for Change: A Comprehensive Model for the Identification and Treatment of Youth with Mental Health Needs in Contact with the Juvenile Justice System." Produced with the support of OJJDP, "Blueprint for Change" includes a set of core principles, more than 30 recommended actions, seven critical intervention points and more than 50 program descriptions. To read the report, visit http://www.ncmhjj.com/Blueprint/default.shtml.

Language Barriers Impede Efficient Policing

In the past two weeks, the Washington Post has published two articles detailing separate incidents of serious communication breakdowns between law enforcement officers and Spanish-speaking civilians. In the first instance, detailed in "N.Va. Prisoner Lost in Translation," a Spanish-speaking inmate was imprisoned for two months after his release date because of a computer glitch that went unnoticed due to a significant communication barrier. In the second article, "Suspect Blames Language Barrier Between Him and Police," a Spanish-speaking murder suspect claims a crime would never have occurred had English-speaking police officers been able to understand the altercation in progress. The articles can be found at www.washingtonpost.com.

South Carolina DMC Conference

On October 11, 2006, the Children’s Law Office, the University of South Carolina - School of Law, the South Carolina Governor’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Council and the South Carolina Department of Public Safety will host a 2006 Disproportionate Minority Contact conference addressing issues that impact disproportionate minority contact in South Carolina. The conference is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Columbia Conference Center in Columbia, SC. There is no registration fee, lunch is included and continuing education units are available. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. For more information and a copy of the registration form, visit http://childlaw.sc.edu or call Diane McLaughlin at 803-777-1646.

National Youth-at-Risk Conference - Call for Proposals

Georgia Southern University’s College of Education and the Continuing Education Center will host the 18th Annual National Youth-at-Risk Conference March 4-7, 2006, in Savannah, Georgia. With the theme "Successful Programs For Empowering Youth: Overcoming Poverty, Violence, And Failure," the conference has released a Call for Proposals. Submissions are due by September 8, 2006. For more information on the conference and on submitting a proposal, visit
http://ceps.georgiasouthern.edu/conted/nationalyouthatrisk.html.

The CJJ e-Monitor is brought to you by staff and volunteer leaders of CJJ, and supported by dues from our State Advisory Group and At-Large Members. We are grateful to all for their ongoing support.

— Paul Lawrence, 2006 CJJ National Chair
— Kitty McCarthy, Editor