Since its inception in 1984, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) has been steadfast in its commitment to a high quality, comprehensive program of federal assistance for state/local juvenile justice—the achievement of which charges CJJ to serve and support State Advisory Groups (SAGs), established under the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) and appointed by Governors/Chief Executives in each U.S. jurisdiction.
The JJDPA (Part B, Title II 42 U.S.C. 5631 [Sec.221]) provides for federal assistance for state and local programs from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). It was established in 1974 and has been repeatedly reauthorized with bipartisan support.
While state agencies are required to submit to the federal government comprehensive State Plans for juvenile justice and delinquency prevention, as well as to administer these Plans, the JJDPA provides for SAGs to guide the development, implementation and funding of comprehensive State Plans. Within its State Plan, as well as within the core purpose areas for the use of federal juvenile justice appropriations to the states, each SAG has the unique opportunity to exercise leadership and strategic guidance to direct federal resources to advance best practices and, thereby, create optimal outcomes for the prevention of delinquency.
SAGs are also principally responsible for monitoring and supporting their state’s progress toward achieving compliance with and, more significantly, addressing the four core requirements of the JJDPA, with regard to:
- Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders (DSO), Section 223(a)(11), which states that status offenders and juveniles who are not charged with any offense, but who are aliens or alleged to be dependent, neglected or abused, shall not be placed in secure detention/correctional facilities. This provision excludes juveniles who are charged with or who have committed a violation of 922 (x)(2) of title 18 US Code, or of a similar State law, juveniles charged with or who have committed a violation of a valid court order, and juveniles held in accordance with the Interstate Compact;
- Sight and Sound Separation (Separation), Section 223 (a)(12), which states that accused and adjudicated delinquents, status offenders and non-offending juveniles will not be detained or confined in any institution where they may have contact with adult inmates. Moreover, the JJDPA of 2002 mandates that professionals who work with both adults and juveniles, including in co-located facilities, receive training and certification;
- Removal of Juveniles from Adult Jails and Lockups (Jail Removal), Section 223(a)(13), which states that juveniles cannot be detained in any adult jail or lockup. However, the JJDPA offers an exception for juveniles who are accused of non-status offenses and detained in a jail or lock-up for a period not to exceed 6 hours, during processing or release, while awaiting transfer to a juvenile facility, or when making a court appearance. The JJDPA also provides for a “rural exception,” which allows juveniles who are accused of delinquency offenses to be detained in an adult facility for up to 48 hours, after being taken into custody and while awaiting an initial court appearance. Juveniles cannot have sight or sound contact with incarcerated adults.
- Reduction of Disproportionate Minority Contact [previously Confinement] (DMC), Section 223(a)(22), which broadens the scope of the previously authorized disproportionate minority confinement requirement to include the over-representation of minority youth who come into contact with the juvenile justice system at any point. It specifically mandates the states to “address juvenile delinquency prevention efforts and system improvement efforts designed to reduce, without establishing or requiring numerical standards or quotas, the disproportionate number of juvenile members of minority groups who come into contact with the juvenile justice system.”
CJJ STRATEGIC PLAN 2006-2010
In the fall of 2005, the CJJ Board of Directors approved the following elements of a Strategic Plan designed to guide the organization’s work in the years 2006-2010:
VISION: The Coalition for Juvenile Justice builds safe communities one child at a time – ensuring that at risk and court involved youth are treated in the most appropriate, effective, fair and healthy manner possible.
MISSION: The Coalition for Juvenile Justice serves as a premier national resource on delinquency prevention and juvenile justice issues.
CORE VALUES
The Coalition for Juvenile Justice values and consistently strives to:
- Strengthen and engage state-based members seeking to improve juvenile justice; Actively support the participation and leadership of diverse constituents, including youth.
CORE FOCUS AREAS
In the coming years, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice will concentrate on improving juvenile justice policy and practice in the following areas:
- Reauthorization of the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act
- Eliminating disparate treatment of youth of color
- Reducing reliance on secure detention
- Infusing adolescent brain science and youth development principles into juvenile justice policy and practice
- Limiting transfer of youth to adult criminal court
- Improving family- and community-connected mental health and substance abuse assessment and treatment
- Ensuring adequate and timely appointment of effective legal counsel
- Improving conditions of confinement
CORE METHODS AND ACTIVITIES
The Coalition for Juvenile Justice will utilize and implement the following methods and activities to achieve its strategic goals:
- Educational opportunities, including conferences & other meetings
- Reports such as bulletins & papers
- Web site and other Internet based learning opportunities
- Education of key decision-makers and policy makers
STRATEGIC GOALS FOR 2006-2010
I. Serve as the national voice for state and federal standards of juvenile justice practice and policy.
- Identify and address emerging issues and urgent juvenile justice concerns.
- Develop and publicize positions on juvenile justice issues, practices and policies.
- Build strategic alliances and collaborations with national, state and local organizations and agencies.
- Promote and advocate for more research and implementation of evidence-based and promising practices.
- Develop, cultivate and strengthen relationships with policy makers.
- Build and enhance capacity, knowledge base and skills of members.
II. Support and facilitate state and local systemic reforms and improvements within juvenile justice.
- Highlight and publicize what’s happening on the local/state level and what’s working in the areas of reform, change, practice and policy.
- Develop tools to improve a state’s opportunities to enact change and reform.
- Develop and provide an infrastructure for peer-to-peer support and peer learning.
- Build and enhance capacity, knowledge base and skills of members.
III. Ensure a stable and sustainable structure for the Coalition for Juvenile Justice.
- Ensure implementation of a multiyear fund raising plan to diversify and strengthen CJJ’s long range viability.
- Expand opportunities for growth in membership and programs.
Distinguished leaders have served as CJJ's National Chairs.
Each year, a new leader is chosen to represent the concerns of CJJ’s members, and to give visibility and voice to the needs and interests of juvenile justice advocates, youth and families, nationwide.
A member, who is elected by the CJJ Board of Directors to become National Chair, first serves a year as Vice Chair-Chair Elect, then assumes the role of National Chair for a one-year term. After serving as National Chair, the leader contributes another year as Immediate Past Chair. CJJ National Chairs have included:
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[1] 1980-1987 *
A.L. Carlisle
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
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1988
Richard Gardell
St. Paul, Minnesota
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1989
Allen Button
Louisville, Kentucky
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1990
Robert M. Hunter
Boulder, Colorado
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1991
Vicki B.E. Neiberg
East Lansing, Michigan
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1992
Susan Morris
Shawnee, Oklahoma
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1993
Farrell Lines
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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1994
Michael E. Saucier
Portland, Maine
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1995
Allison Fleming
Des Moines, Iowa
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1996
Lavonda Taylor
West Memphis, Arkansas
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1997
Thomas S. Begich
Juneau, Alaska
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1998
Bernardine S. Hall
West Monroe, Louisiana
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1999
Linda W. Hayes
Dunn, North Carolina
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2000
Robert Pence
Littleton, Colorado
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2001
B. Thomas Leahy
Basking Ridge,
New Jersey
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2002
Rodney Cook
Gladstone, Oregon
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2003
John Dewese
Lancaster, South Carolina
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2004
Kenneth A. Schatz
South Burlington, Vermont
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2005
Vicki Blankenship
Fairbanks, Alaska
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2006
Paul Lawrence
Goffstown,
New Hampshire
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2007
Robin Jenkins
Fayetteville,
North Carolina |
* CJJ Founder
[1]: http://juvjustice.org/award_2.html