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August 2011
Highlight of the Month: CJJ 2011-2014 Strategic Plan
- A Note from Sue Kamp, CJJ National Chair
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CJJ Leadership News from Nancy Gannon Hornberger, CJJ Executive Director
- Leadership Opportunities with CJJ
- Youth on the Move with CJJ!
- CJJ and NJJN are Hiring!
- In Memoriam: Elizabeth J. “Beth” Arnovits, Founding Member of NJJN, 1950-2011
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CJJ Government Relations Alert
- Call to Action: Your Voice Needed to Restore Federal Juvenile Justice Funding
- Bill to Eliminate Senate Confirmed Positions Advances; Still No Nominee at OJJDP
- As SORNA Deadline Passes, Most States Remain Non-Compliant
Read More
CJJ Conference and Training News
- CJJ Western Region Conference Opens at the End of the Month in Albuquerque, NM
- CJJ Northeast Region Conference, September 30 - October 1, 2011, Manchester, NH
- Save the Date for the Southern Region Conference, January 27-29, 2012, San Juan, PR
Read More
CJJ Committee and Regional News
- New Juvenile Justice Bill Implements SAG Recommendations in CT
Read More
National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) News
- NJJN Launches New Website, Logo, Newsletter and Facebook Page
- Connecticut’s School-to-Prison Pipeline Victory
- New Publications from NJJN
Read More
Resources and Information of Note
- 2011 Kids COUNT Data Book Now Available
- News from Models for Change: Illinois Moves Toward Alternatives to Incarceration
- New Report on Long Term Adverse Effect of School Discipline in Texas
- New Report on Measure 11 in Oregon
- New from OJJDP: Juvenile Residential Facility Census Findings and Updated Statistical Briefing Book
- Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) News
Read More
In the News
- Federal Budget Cuts Worry Youth Advocates in Florida
- Editorials Call for President Obama to Appoint a Leader to OJJDP
- Op-Ed Criticizes Network’s Decision to Air Second Season of 'Beyond Scared Straight'
Read More
Share your News and Feedback with CJJ!
- CJJ invites you to share news from your SAG, state or region!
Read More
Highlight of the Month: CJJ 2011-2014 Strategic Plan
Summer greetings to you all! I hope you have been savoring these days. There is something special about the summer, with the pace slowing just a bit and people enjoying the long evenings together.
That said, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) is working at its usual busy pace keeping tabs on the budget process and providing information and support to our members and allies nationwide to support juvenile justice appropriations; assisting regions as they plan their conferences; working with the National Youth Committee on its third annual planning retreat and related activities to increase youth engagement and leadership (see more on this in our leadership column, below); and launching full force into the work of the new CJJ Strategic Plan, approved by the Council of SAGs in May.
The CJJ Strategic Plan for July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014 is a result of months of work, including a thorough survey and a series of interviews with our members, key stakeholders and the field in general. In the process, CJJ updated its vision and mission statements and set forth three main goals, all of which are accompanied by strategies and activities to answer the needs of our members and the field and advance juvenile justice reform:
- Goal #1: Serve as the leading national organization on effective federal legislation, regulations, rules and policies pertaining to juvenile justice and delinquency prevention.
- Goal #2: Strengthen State Advisory Group (SAG) members and the state advisory system as defined in the JJDPA to be as effective and influential as possible.
- Goal #3: Strengthen and build greater capacity for CJJ as an institution.
The Plan’s goals and objectives will guide our work over the next three years. All of the work revolves around our core mission as a nationwide coalition of SAGs and allies, dedicated to preventing children and youth from becoming involved in the courts and upholding the highest standards of care when youth are charged with wrongdoing and enter the justice system.
I hope that in three years’ time the SAGs will be even stronger than they are now; with clear voices supporting juvenile justice system improvements in their states, and strong voices collectively guiding our congressional and federal partners as we work through what promises to be a challenging time. I like to think that with these challenges we are also provided with many opportunities. We look to build on those opportunities together with you.
I would like to thank Carlos Hendricks-Verdejo (NJ) and the Strategic Planning Committee for their hard work on this wonderful roadmap for CJJ’s future. I invite you all to review it and consider how you can become involved in these efforts. Since CJJ has a strong, but small staff, much of the work ahead relies on the expertise and dedicated contributions of volunteers such as you. Our next steps with the Plan include assigning work to existing or ad hoc committees and setting timelines. I will keep you posted on progress. Please be in touch with me with any questions or if you’d like to be involved: skamp@sover.net.
Thanks for all you do for the youth in your states and across our nation. Together we are making a difference. I am inspired and humbled to work with you all.
Sue Kamp, Vermont
CJJ National Chair
CJJ Leadership News from Nancy Gannon Hornberger, CJJ Executive Director
Leadership Opportunities with CJJ
As we look toward the last weeks of summer, it is a great time to take stock of some of the new and growing leadership opportunities with CJJ available to our members and allies. State Advisory Group (SAG) members and others who have joined CJJ leadership committees, participated with the CJJ Council of SAGs and the Executive Board, or worked with CJJ to stage presentations, trainings, meetings and other activities, tell us that they greatly enjoy these opportunities to contribute, learn, connect with others across the nation, offer expertise and be a part of the influential nationwide movement of juvenile justice reform. The following are key ways to become more involved with our thriving coalition – don’t miss out!
- Help CJJ freshen up its “look” and logo: CJJ is looking for interested members with marketing, branding and/or graphic design expertise to join an ad hoc committee that will develop and recommend to the CJJ Executive Board a new look and logo for CJJ – in keeping with the vision and mission set forward in the new CJJ Strategic Plan. If interested, please contact Idit Knaan at knaan@juvjustice.org or 202-467-0864, ext. 110.
- Help plan the 2012 CJJ Annual Spring Conference: If you are interested in helping to plan the 2012 CJJ Annual Spring Conference and Hill Day (to be held April-May 2012 in Washington, DC), please let us know! The conference planning committee will begin its work shortly after Labor Day. Please contact Jessica Russell Murphy with your interest: murphy@juvjustice.org or 202-467-0864, ext. 122.
Youth on the Move with CJJ!
CJJ proudly supports youth involvement and leadership at the national level and through the work of the State Advisory Groups (SAGs). Key components include support for the CJJ National Youth Chair on the CJJ Executive Board (Ben Deaton of Kentucky), and working closely with the National Youth Chair and others to facilitate and support the work of the Regional Youth Chairs, the National Youth Committee and Youth Liaisons to other CJJ Committees.
CJJ values the unique perspectives that are shared and that positively influence the SAGs when youth SAG members are effectively engaged in the work of the SAGs. It is our view that key improvements result from increasing the quality and amount of youth member engagement in the SAGs:
- Individual SAGs function more effectively;
- Children and families are better served in states and local jurisdictions;
- The collective voice of youth with experience and expertise in juvenile justice and delinquency prevention is elevated, nationwide. Please see the CJJ Youth Manual for more details!
Following are a few youth-specific leadership opportunities we wish to highlight:
- Third Annual CJJ Youth Member Retreat: August 28-29, 2011, marks the third annual National Youth Committee Planning Retreat. CJJ extends an open invitation to any and all SAG youth members who may wish to become involved in youth leadership via CJJ. This year’s retreat is in Albuquerque, New Mexico, following the CJJ Western Region Conference. For more information, please click here. Registration is free, yet youth or their respective state/SAG will be asked to cover travel, hotel and related costs. Please note too that all persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by and room with an adult chaperone.
- Youth Training Module in Development: CJJ and the CJJ National Youth Committee have worked closely with the OJJDP SAG Training contractor, Development Services Group (DSG), to survey CJJ and SAG members’ views, to convene focus groups and to outline and develop content for a new training module on Effective Youth SAG Member Engagement. Please watch for a pilot training at the OJJDP conference in October. Let us know if you wish to receive more information or share ideas. We’re excited about the Fall unveiling.
- Effective Youth Engagement at the upcoming OJJDP conference: For those of you attending the OJJDP conference in October, please stop in at the OJJDP-CJJ workshop on “Effective Youth Engagement,” to be held at 2:00 pm on October 12, 2011.
If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please feel free to contact CJJ’s National Youth Chair Ben Deaton at badeat02@gmail.com or Idit Knaan at knaan@juvjustice.org.
CJJ and NJJN are Hiring!
To support the expanding agenda and work of each organization, CJJ and the National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) are hiring. We encourage CJJ members and allies to apply or refer qualified candidates for one of the following positions:
- CJJ is searching for a part-time Office Assistant. Click here for full details.
- NJJN is searching for a part-time Communications Specialist. Click here for full details.
In Memoriam: Elizabeth (Beth) Arnovits, Founding Member of NJJN, 1950-2011
CJJ and NJJN, their staff, executive board and members around the nation are deeply saddened by the passing of Elizabeth (Beth) Arnovits, Executive Director of the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency (MCCD), a founding member of NJJN and a dedicated, lifelong advocate for youth and families. In a recent interview in honor of Beth’s selection as a Greater Lansing Woman of the Year Finalist, Beth said: "It's become cliché, but it's true – it takes a village to raise a child . . . I have a responsibility to make sure they have what they need, to make sure that they grow up into happy, active and contributing adults." Beth lived up to this statement with passion and dedication that will continue to inspire us. Click here to read MCCD’s heartfelt tribute for Beth and here for NJJN's memorial webpage.
CJJ Government Relations Alert
Call to Action: Your Voice Needed to Restore Federal Juvenile Justice Funding
CJJ is asking all SAGs to take three strategic steps during the months of July and August to help restore funding for key federal juvenile justice programs.
To read more, click here.
Bill to Eliminate Senate Confirmed Positions Advances; Still No Nominee at OJJDP
On June 29, the U.S. Senate approved S. 679, the “Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011.” If enacted, the bill would eliminate Senate confirmation for approximately 200 executive branch positions, including the Administrator for OJJDP.
To read more, click here.
As SORNA Deadline Passes, Most States Remain Non-Compliant
On July 27, the deadline passed for U.S. states, territories and tribal jurisdictions to come into compliance with Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, also known as the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). States that fail to comply are subject to a 10% withholding of their FY 2012 Byrne JAG allocation.
To read more, click here.
CJJ Conference and Training News
CJJ Western Region Conference Opens at the End of the Month in Albuquerque, NM
We hope that by now you’ve made arrangements to join us for the 2011 CJJ Western Regional Conference, “The Continental Divide: What Works in the West,” August 26-28, 2011, in Albuquerque, NM, hosted by CJJ’s Western Region and the New Mexico State Advisory Group (SAG).
Room block closes Saturday, August 20! To make your reservation and take advantage of the reduced room block rate of $81, please call the Hotel Albuquerque at 1-866-505-7829 and be sure to ask for the "CJJ Western Region Conference.” If you have any questions or need assistance with your hotel reservation or registration for the conference, please contact Jessica Russell Murphy at murphy@juvjustice.org or 202-467-0864, ext. 122.
Please click here for a draft agenda. Conference highlights include:
- On Saturday afternoon (August 27), the CJJ Western Region will screen a documentary film titled “Smashed: Youth, Brains and Alcohol,” which explores the potential effects of alcohol on adolescent brain development. Click here to view the trailer or here for more information about Emmy Award winning film director Chris Schueler. As a token of appreciation, each Conference attendee will also receive a complimentary DVD of the “Smashed” documentary!
- Throughout the Conference, attendees will have a chance to win one of several “state” gift baskets provided by CJJ Western Region SAGs.
- Workshop and plenary topics to include: Addressing the Needs of Native American Youth; Trauma-Informed Care for Justice-Involved Youth; Gender-Responsive Care for Girls in the Juvenile Justice System; and Effective State and Local Practices for Reducing DMC.
Northeast Region Conference, September 30 - October 1, 2011, Manchester, NH
The CJJ Northeast Region invites you to attend its 2011 Regional Conference: “Changing the Face of Juvenile Justice.” Hosted by the New Hampshire State Advisory Group (SAG), the conference will be held at the Radisson Hotel Manchester Downtown. The conference opens Friday, September 30 and closes Saturday afternoon, October 1.
Registration is free of charge, courtesy of the New Hampshire SAG and the CJJ Northeast Region. Click here to register. All participants must register by Friday, September 9, 2011.
Please click here for a draft agenda. Workshop and plenary topics will include:
- Mental health needs of youth in the juvenile justice system
- Alternatives to secure juvenile detention
- Eliminating racial and ethnic disparities
- And much more!
Room block: Radisson Hotel Manchester Downtown, 700 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03104. The New Hampshire SAG has secured a room block rate of $86/night for single or $96.00/night for double. To make your reservation, call: 603-206-4109, 1-800-333-3333, or click here. Please reference the CJJ Northeast Region Conference to receive the group rate. The room block will close on Thursday, September 8, 2011. Transportation to and from the Manchester Regional Airport (MHT) is provided, free of charge, by the Radisson.
If you have questions about the hotel site or conference sessions, please contact Pamela Sullivan, NH State Juvenile Justice Specialist, at 603-625-5471 ext. 366 or psullivan@dhhs.state.nh.us.
Save the Date for the Southern Region Conference, January 27-29, 2012, San Juan, PR
The CJJ Southern Region Conference, “Public/Private Partnerships: Joining Forces to Improve Outcomes for Youth, Families and Communities,” will be hosted by the Puerto Rico SAG and held in San Juan, PR, January 27-29, 2012. Please mark your calendars and look for more details soon!
CJJ Committee and Regional News
New Juvenile Justice Bill Implements SAG Recommendations in CT
In its November/December 2010 issue, Christine Rapillo from the Connecticut State Advisory Group (SAG) told the CJJ e-Monitor about JUST.START, a new, SAG-supported website and educational/communications campaign that aims to promote racial and ethnic fairness in Connecticut’s juvenile justice system, and of three DMC studies commissioned by the Connecticut SAG (Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, or JJAC). Among other findings, the DMC studies showed that youth of color are detained at higher rates than white peers even when poverty, seriousness of offense and location are taken into account. Thanks to the work of the Connecticut SAG and its partnership with the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance (CTJJA), among others, the Connecticut Governor recently signed a new juvenile justice bill that requires that a court order be obtained before any youth can be detained post-arrest, regardless of offense. Previously police could place youth in a detention center for certain charges without a court order. Advocates are hopeful that the new statute will help eliminate racial/ethnic disparities in detention. Click here to read more.
National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) News
NJJN Launches New Website, Logo, Newsletter and Facebook Page
In early July, NJJN launched a new website, logo and redesigned e-newsletter. Visit NJJN’s new website at www.njjn.org and read the latest news about NJJN and its members. Click here to “like” NJJN on Facebook.
Connecticut’s School-to-Prison Pipeline Victory
Thanks in part to the advocacy of the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance (CTJJA), an NJJN member, the Connecticut Judicial Department will now screen all police summons for youth arrested for minor offenses in schools. Specifically, probation supervisors will recommend no court involvement for typical adolescent behavior, such as wearing a hat in school, talking back to staff, running in the halls, or swearing. Click here to read more.
New Publications from NJJN
NJJN has just released two new publications:
“Bringing Youth Home: A National Movement to Increase Public Safety, Rehabilitate Youth and Save Money” profiles states that have drastically reduced the numbers of youth in confinement, while also reducing juvenile arrest rates and saving millions of dollars. Click here to read more.
“Safe and Effective School Disciplinary Policies and Practices” Policy Platform: NJJN's new policy platform recommendations focus on:
- Law enforcement and discipline policies
- Suspensions and expulsions
- Student rights and family engagement
- Students with disabilities
- Data and racial and ethnic disparities (Disproportionate Minority Contact)
Click here to read more.
Resources and Information of Note
2011 KIDS COUNT Data Book Now Available
CJJ is pleased to join the Annie E. Casey Foundation as a 2011 KIDS COUNT Data Book outreach partner. The annual Data Book is a comprehensive resource on the status of U.S. children, featuring state-specific data on ten key indicators of child well-being. Please visit the Data Book home page to download the report and create maps, graphs, and charts at the national, state, and local level. The new mobile Data Center offers hundreds of measures of child well-being available on any smartphone.
News from Models for Change: Illinois Moves Toward Alternatives to Incarceration
On August 15, the Illinois Governor signed a new law that requires juvenile court judges to review additional factors—such as educational background and mental health—before committing youth to the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), with the goal of sending fewer young people to incarceration. The new legislation, which will take effect on January 1, 2012, was supported by the Juvenile Justice Initiative, an NJJN member, and informed by the MacArthur Foundation’s 2009 report “Research on Pathways to Desistence.” The study found that community-based supervision is as effective as incarceration for youth with serious offenses and that institutional placement can actually raise the level of offending for some youth. Click here for more information from the Illinois Models for Change.
New Report on Long Term Adverse Effect of School Discipline in Texas
On July 19, The Council of States Government’s Justice Center released a new report, “Breaking Schools’ Rules: A Statewide Study on How School Discipline Relates to Students’ Success and Juvenile Justice Involvement,” which features a statewide analysis of school and juvenile court records of nearly 1 million individual Texas public school student. The study found that a striking 60 percent of students included in the study were suspended or expelled at some point between the 7th and 12th grades. African-American students and those with particular educational disabilities were far more likely to be removed from the classroom for disciplinary reasons at disproportionally high rates. The study also found that students who were suspended or expelled at higher rates were more likely to become involved with the juvenile justice system. The New York Times published an editorial on the report, “One Way to Guarantee More Trouble,” on July 30.
New Report on Measure 11 in Oregon
In 1994, Oregon passed Measure 11 to require the automatic prosecution of youth charged with certain crimes in criminal/adult court. A new report from the Campaign for Youth Justice and the Partnership for Safety and Justice, “Misguided Measures: The Outcomes and Impacts of Measure 11 on Oregon’s Youth,” examines the detrimental impacts Measure 11 has had on youth and public safety in Oregon. According to the report, most youth charged with Measure 11 offenses are not the most serious youth offenders, but they receive the most serious sentences, little to no rehabilitative services, and face lifelong barriers to becoming productive citizens. The report provides a list of recommendations based on the latest research on delinquency and recidivism prevention.
New from OJJDP: Juvenile Residential Facility Census Findings and Updated Statistical Briefing Book
"Juvenile Residential Facility Census, 2008: Selected Findings," a new bulletin from OJJDP, summarizes 2008 data from the biannual Juvenile Residential Facility Census. The biannual census collects information about the facilities in which juvenile offenders are held, such as size, structure, type, ownership, and security arrangements and data on youth who died in custody during the past 12 months. According to the bulletin, the number of juvenile offenders in custody dropped 12 percent from 2006 to 2008.
OJJDP has also updated its online Statistical Briefing Book, which offers information about delinquency and victimization of youth involved in the juvenile justice system. The online resource has been recently updated to include the latest available data on juvenile court statistics, the Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement, the National Disproportionate Minority Contact Databook, child maltreatment, state and county juvenile court case counts, and more.
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) News
The latest issue of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s JDAI News' feature story is about Missouri’s facility closings, the state’s adoption of statewide detention standards and risk-assessment tools and the Missouri State Advisory Group (SAG) assuming financial control over JDAI replication across the state. Click here to read more.
In the News
Federal Budget Cuts Worry Youth Advocates in Florida
On August 9, The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported on concerns expressed in Florida that federal budget cuts will negatively affect the state’s efforts to keep children and youth out of trouble. Among others, the article quotes Florida State Juvenile Justice Specialist Steven Solomon, who reported that the two federal awards that support delinquency prevention may be eliminated and a third may be reduced in 2012. Click here to read more.
Op-Eds Call for President Obama to Appoint a Leader to OJJDP
In recent weeks, three major newspapers published editorials that urge President Obama to appoint an administrator to OJJDP: on July 6, the Los Angeles Times published “A Juvenile Justice System that’s Adrift”; on July 22, The Washington Post published “Federal office of juvenile justice needs a leader — and fast”; and on August 2, the San Francisco Chronicle published “A Missing Voice on Juvenile Justice.”
Op-Ed Criticizes Network’s Decision to Air Second Season of 'Beyond Scared Straight'
In an August 16 op-ed published by the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, Joe Vignati, CJJ’s National Juvenile Justice Specialist and Georgia’s State Juvenile Justice Specialist, criticizes A&E’s decision to air a second season of “Beyond Scared Straight,” a reality show featuring scared straight programs around the country. As noted in the op-ed, years of research show that these methods are ineffective and even counterproductive in preventing delinquency. Click here to read the op-ed. Reclaiming Futures' blog has also expressed dismay at the network's decision and linked to the various editorials and articles published when the first season aired, earlier this year.
Share your News and Feedback with CJJ!
CJJ invites you to share news from your SAG, state or region! Please submit items by email to editor@juvjustice.org. Inclusion and editing of submissions are subject to CJJ editorial guidelines.
The Juvenile Justice 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.
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