The National Juvenile Justice Network

The National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) is a membership organization of state-based juvenile justice advocacy groups that came together in order to improve each state’s capacity to fight for the fair, equitable and developmentally appropriate adjudication and treatment for all children, youth and families involved in the juvenile justice system.

NJJN assists its members in their reform efforts by creating a learning community and by bringing national resources to the state level. NJJN members regularly communicate with each other about current reform efforts, strategies and campaigns through listservs, working groups and an annual Forum in Washington, DC. In 2007, NJJN will launch its Peer-to-Peer Assistance, in which members may apply to receive more formal technical assistance from other members. In addition to helping members help each other, NJJN provides a variety of resources from its national office. NJJN convenes regular teleconferences for members in which experts on juvenile justice issues, organizational development and advocacy strategy can share their expertise and answer members’ questions. Members also receive talking points and template press releases on emerging issues and trends. And finally, NJJN provides its members and the field at large with news from the juvenile justice reform field through its website, and print and email newsletters.

Membership in NJJN is reserved for state-based advocacy organizations; however, unaffiliated individuals and non-advocacy organizations may become associates or partners of NJJN respectively. Associates and partners receive NJJN’s announcements and newsletters, and may participate in designated teleconferences and working groups.

NJJN currently comprises twenty-seven states: Alabama; Arizona; California; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; District of Columbia; Florida; Georgia; Illinois; Indiana; Louisiana; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Mississippi; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; New York; North Carolina; Ohio; Pennsylvania; South Dakota; Texas; Virginia; and Wisconsin. Over the next several years, NJJN expects to expand its roster of members to include all fifty states, the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

NJJN is funded through a generous grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

For more information about becoming a member, associate or partner of NJJN, please contact Sarah Bryer, the Director of NJJN, at 202-467-0864, ext. 105, or at bryer@juvjustice.org.