CJJ’s governance structure, newly established in 2008, is designed to promote the needs and views of our members in the states, State Advisory Groups (SAGs) and regional coalitions, while also providing for closer management of fiscal and strategic needs, as well as CJJ’s growth as a national organization, through its elected Executive Board.
The CJJ Council of SAGs
The Council of SAGs comprises Chairs/Chair-designees from State Advisory Groups in good standing as members of CJJ. All State Advisory Groups (SAGs) throughout the U.S. states, its territories and the District of Columbia are eligible to become member affiliates. By enrolling as a member SAG, all members of the group, as well as state staff that work with the SAG, become members of CJJ. The Chair/Chair-designees of the member SAGs serve as voting representatives to the Council. The Council meets at least yearly and conducts ongoing business throughout the year. Any changes made to the CJJ Bylaws must be approved by the Council of SAGs. In addition, the Council elects the officers (National Chair, Vice Chair, Immediate Past Chair, Treasurer/Secretary, Youth Chair and Ethnic & Cultural Diversity Chair) of the CJJ Executive Board.
The CJJ Executive Board
The Executive Board holds legal, fiduciary, strategic and policy-setting authority for CJJ and is empowered to take action between meetings of the Council of SAGs. The Executive Board meets at least twice yearly (monthly at present). All members of the Executive Board are voluntary members and serve without remuneration.
There is potential for the Executive Board to have as many as 20 members, all of whom serve staggered two-year terms. They are elected or appointed as follows:
- The CJJ National Chair, Vice Chair, Immediate Past Chair, Treasurer/Secretary, Youth Chair and Ethnic & Cultural Diversity Chair – are elected by the CJJ Council of SAGs.
- The National Juvenile Justice Specialist Representative and the National DMC Coordinator Representative are elected by Specialists and DMC Coordinators, respectively, who work with SAGs in good member standing with CJJ.
- Four Regional Chairs and Four Regional Representatives are elected by SAG members, Affiliate Organization members and Members at Large within each of [1] CJJ’s four regions. All Regional Chairs must represent a member SAG.
- One representative is elected to serve on behalf of any organization under the fiscal sponsorship of, and that has signed a memorandum of understanding with, CJJ. Currently, the National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN), has such a representative.
In addition, Officers of the Executive Board may appoint two additional regional representatives, one each from the two largest regions as determined by paid SAG memberships. These representatives may be SAG Members, Affiliate Organization Members or Members at Large. The Executive Board Officers may also appoint a representative to fill specific needs identified by the larger Executive Board and consistent with the legal, financial and/or strategic goals of CJJ. This person may also be a SAG Member, an Affiliate Organization Member or a Member at Large.
CJJ Leadership Committees
CJJ’s Leadership Committees are composed of SAG members, Affiliate Organization members and Members at Large. They are appointed by the National Chair or elected by regions on the basis of interest and expertise.
If you have any questions regarding the Council of SAGs, Executive Board or Leadership Committees of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, please feel free to contact CJJ’s Executive Director, Nancy Gannon Hornberger, at 202-467-0864, ext. 111 and [2] nancy@juvjustice.org.
[1]: http://juvjustice.org/media/fckeditor/CJJ Regions.pdf
[2]: mailto:nancy@juvjustice.org