CJJ Publication
- New CJJ Publication on Adolescent Brain Development
CJJ Government Relations Alert
- Congressional Update - 2 victories and more to come!
- More to Come on 2007 Appropriations
CJJ Conference News
- OJJDP/CJJ 11th Annual DMC Conference
- CJJ Spirit of Youth Award and Tony Gobar Outstanding Juvenile Justice Specialist Award
- Couldn't have done it without you!
CJJ Board of Directors and Leadership Committee News
- Fall Board of Directors' Meeting
- Congratulations to the Newly Elected CJJ National and Regional Officers!
- National Juvenile Justice Specialist Report
- Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Committee Update
- Fund Raising Committee Update - Join the Circle of Leaders!
Detention Reform News
- CJJ and Annie E. Casey Foundation Update
National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) News
- Medicaid and Title IV-E Teleconference Series
Resources and Information of Note
- 2005 Uniform Crime Report
- DMC Technical Assistance Manual, 3rd Edition
- SAMHSA Update
- Indian Child Welfare
- Juvenile Offenders and Victims 2006 National Report
- "Opportunity in America"
- ABA Youth at Risk Initiative
- Title V Community Prevention Grants
CJJ Publication
New CJJ Publication on Adolescent Brain Development
With grant support from OJJDP, CJJ has completed the first of two briefing papers addressing, “What Are the Implications of Adolescent Brain Development for Juvenile Justice?”
As explored at the CJJ/OJJDP May conference, brain imagery now allows us to see the developmental milestones achieved by the human brain as it grows and matures throughout the early stages of life—confirming in pictures what parents and those who work closely with youth have long found to be true: adolescence is a period of gradual maturation. Hard science demonstrates that teenagers and young adults are not fully mature in their judgment, problem-solving and decision-making capacities.
The CJJ briefing papers, therefore, will look at ways to use research to inform and improve juvenile justice and delinquency prevention practice. Authors C. Rasheed Newson and Nancy Gannon Hornberger are grateful for the expert advice and critical review provided by Paul Lawrence, Robin Jenkins, Wendy Paget Henderson and Chyrl Penn.
Copies will be distributed by the end of October to all CJJ members. Please also feel free to contact us for a copy: Kitty McCarthy, CJJ Communications and Program Associate, at [1] mccarthy@juvjustice.org.
CJJ Government Relations Alert
Congressional Update - 2 victories and more to come!
Federal Youth Coordination Act Passes—On to the President for Approval
Before recessing for the midterm elections, Congress passed the Federal Youth Coordination Act (FYCA), renamed the Tom Osborne Federal Youth Coordination Act. The FCYA now moves to the president for his signature.
CJJ and its members, nationwide, have long supported the FYCA as a member organization in the National Collaboration for Youth. The Collaboration provided major coordination and leadership in this victory, led by Renee Carl, the Collaboration’s director of public policy and government relations.
The FYCA (H.R. 856/S.409) was introduced to implement recommendations from the 2003 White House Task Force for Disadvantaged Youth, which found that federal youth programs are administered across 12 departments and agencies with little communication or coordination among them.
The legislation was passed by the House in November 2005 with an overwhelming bipartisan vote. Ultimately, the Tom Osborne Federal Youth Coordination Act passed in the “wee hours” of September 30, 2006, as Title VIII of the Older Americans Act (H.R. 6197).
Please share this information with your networks and affiliates and see [2] www.youthcoordinationact.org for more information.
Youth Gang Provisions Stopped
And, more good news! On Sept. 29, 2006, Youth Gang Provisions were stopped before being added to the annual Department of Defense (DOD) Authorization Bill as it headed for rapid approval. It was proposed that Youth Gang Provisions, although not related to the DOD bill, be added to ease passage. This tactic is often used to move controversial legislation that might not pass on its own.
Of deep concern to youth and juvenile justice advocates, the Youth Gang Provisions would have made significant changes to existing law to increase federal prosecution of juveniles “as adults” across an expanded list of federal crimes. Juvenile justice advocates expressed concern that prosecuting minors as if they are adults—in the criminal vs. the juvenile court—does not reduce youth and/or gang crime. In fact, research shows that adult prosecution of youth may increase criminality. Rather, advocates argued, diffusion of effective prevention interventions is what is needed to reduce youth crime, even violent crime.
Such messages resounded with many members of Congress. Members also had procedural concerns because the Youth Gang Provisions were not reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee before proposed attachment to the DOD bill. In addition, conservatives—including the Heritage Foundation—denounced the Youth Gang Provisions due to concerns about states’ rights and the “unintended consequences of federalizing yet another set of state and local crimes” and further “erosion of state and local law enforcement’s primary role.”
More to Come on 2007 Appropriations
Congress has returned home until after the elections without funding most of the federal government, with the exception of mandatory measures such as authorizations for the Department of Defense and Homeland Security. During this time, for instance, the Department of Justice and its departments and agencies will operate under a continuing resolution.
After the midterm elections, CJJ and its allies will again have an opening to push for improvements in the Title II Formula Grant Funds appropriations—and to ensure that the $50 million added back to the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) be retained.
Watch this space in early November for additional information. CJJ and its members will urge House and Senate appropriators to:
1) Fully fund the Part B, Title II Formula Grant Funds Program without any carve-outs, such as the $9 million earmarked to assist local grantees. Such assistance should be added on top of base allocations to the states rather than carved out, to avoid penalizing already strained state and local juvenile justice efforts by taking away 12% of needed funds.
2) Increase Formula Grant Base Allocations by $150,000 each for all states and territories (totaling just $8.4 million, nationwide). States were asked to take on additional responsibilities under the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), as reauthorized in 2002. Yet, at the same time available federal support was cut back. This modest additional appropriation will help to prevent loss of cost-efficient programs proven to set youth on positive pathways and ensure public safety, and will fully support congressional intent under the JJDPA.
3) Restore the supplement given to states for “Accountability-Based Sanctions.” In FY 2002, Congress removed language from the Formula Grants that provided supplementary funds to 34 states and territories—among them small and rural jurisdictions. The supplementary funding was designed to support the development and implementation of “Accountability-Based Sanctions (ABS)” or uniform and consistent consequences corresponding to the seriousness of a juvenile offender’s current offense, history or any treatment of training needs.
Now, most states—notably the 34 that received the supplement—have such ABS programs in place. Yet, they risk having to dismantle their ABS programs, due to loss of adequate federal resources. What we propose is a “no-cost” change—facilitated by reinserting the ABS Supplement language into the Formula Grants, which re-allocates funds in a more equitable manner. In this way, Congress will ensure that ALL states receive adequate support to create and sustain better outcomes for youth, families and communities, including:
- Support a continuum of graduated sanctions and services in their state and local juvenile justice systems;
- Maintain state compliance with the core requirements of the JJDPA;
- Support juvenile detention system improvements;
- Assist youth in the juvenile justice system who have mental health and developmental disabilities, as well as their families;
- Develop drug and alcohol prevention/intervention programs.
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the CJJ Government Relations Committee or Government Relations Program, please contact committee chair Linda Hayes ([3] lhayes@harnettlaw.com), or CJJ acting executive director Nancy Gannon Hornberger ([4] gannon@juvjustice.org and 202-467-0864, ext. 111).
CJJ Conference News
OJJDP/CJJ 11th Annual DMC Conference
The OJJDP/CJJ conference, “Law Enforcement Strategies for Reducing Racial Disparities and Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) in Juvenile Justice,” took place September 7-10, 2006 in New Orleans, Louisiana. At this 11th Annual DMC Conference, we were very pleased to host a record-breaking audience of more than 320 people from a total of 47 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Sessions explored a range of topics and pioneering strategies for law enforcement partnerships and alliances and offered a number of programs and approaches as models for guarding against bias and reducing racial disparities and DMC. Notably, ground-breaking program and policy models were presented from more than a dozen states and localities—including seven SAGs. Handouts and PowerPoint presentations from conference sessions are available on CJJ’s Web site at [5] www.juvjustice.org.
CJJ Spirit of Youth Award and Tony Gobar Outstanding Juvenile Justice Specialist Award
At the 11th Annual DMC Conference, CJJ was proud to present the Spirit of Youth Award and the Tony Gobar Outstanding Juvenile Justice Specialist Award.
The Spirit of Youth Award, given annually to recognize and celebrate a young adult who has made great strides and overcome personal obstacles following involvement with the juvenile justice system, was awarded to Marvin Gumba of Norfolk, Virginia. Following court involvement and detention due to gang involvement, Marvin began working with the nonprofit God’s X Gangsters, steering youth away from gangs and violence though outreach and tutoring. He is now the organization’s Community Outreach Coordinator and conducts gang prevention trainings throughout Virginia.
The Tony Gobar Outstanding Juvenile Justice Specialist Award recognizes a state Juvenile Justice Specialist who has exemplified excellence in service to others; has been dedicated and committed to improving the juvenile justice system; and has demonstrated compassion and concern for juveniles and advocates. The 2006 recipient of this honor, Pat Cervera of Arvada, Colorado, served as the first National Juvenile Justice Specialist, and as the Juvenile Justice Specialist for Colorado. In both capacities, as well as in her current work as Juvenile Justice Planning Consultant, her work and colleagues have benefited from her tremendous enthusiasm, compassion and expertise.
Couldn’t have done it without you!
Heartfelt thanks go to:
Members of the Equal Justice Initiative Advisory Committee and its Chair, Rodney Cook, for all of their wonderful hard work to develop an exceptional conference program in New Orleans;
The many helping hands extended to the city of New Orleans:
- Volunteers who came to town early to sort and organize items for a clothing give-away and food pantry at the Israelite Baptist Church in Central City, New Orleans;
- Conference attendees who contributed more than $300 to the Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home to assist children in care;
- The staff of the Omni Royal Orleans and all conference attendees who contributed soaps, shampoos and other items that could be donated to children and youth in need in three of the state’s juvenile detention centers.
CJJ Board of Directors and Leadership Committee News
Fall Board of Directors’ Meeting
The CJJ Board of Directors met on September 8, 2006 in New Orleans, LA. In attendance were SAG Chairs and Chair-designees from 33 member states and territories, as well as more than 200 guests. The CJJ Board discussed and voted on a range of topics including new bylaws that include provisional memberships for SAGs seeking compliance with the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) and contingency budgets to forecast operational and program plans for 2007. It was also decided that CJJ will seek to expand its membership base.
The Board unanimously voted to maintain state dues at their current level through 2007. The Board also approved a motion authorizing the National Steering Committee to complete the process of hiring an Executive Director for CJJ.
For additional information on the Board of Directors Meeting, including copies of contingency budgets, revised financial policies or new bylaws, please contact Kitty McCarthy: 202-467-0864, ext. 110 or [6] mccarthy@juvjustice.org.
Congratulations to the Newly Elected CJJ National and Regional Officers!
On September 8, the CJJ Board of Directors elected three CJJ national officers:
Vice Chair/Chair-Elect: David R. Schmidt (NM)
Treasurer/Secretary: Cindy Durham (TN)
Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Chair: Fernando Serrano (NV)
On September 7, regional officers were elected by regional members of CJJ. The current regional officers are as follows:
Midwest Region
Chair: Michael Mayer (MN)
Secretary: Christy Opatz (IA)
Specialist: Terry Traynor (ND)
Northeast Region
Chair: Rev. James Kirk (MD)
Vice Chair: Michael Daly (NY)
Secretary: Starr Smith (NH)
Specialist: Jim Antal (MD)
Southern Region
Chair: LaLita Y. Ashley (SC)
Vice Chair: Linda Hayes (NC)
Secretary: Wayne Thomas (VA)
Specialist: Kathleen Rasmussen (AL)
Western Region
Chair: Rodney Cook (OR)
Vice Chair: Margaret Trujillo (AZ)
Secretary: Angie Gomez (AZ)
Specialist: Richard Lindahl (NM)
National Juvenile Justice Specialist Report
Juvenile Justice Specialists from 30 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico met on September 10, 2006 in conjunction with the CJJ/OJJDP 11th Annual DMC Conference. Greg Thompson and Chyrl Penn represented OJJDP, while Nancy Gannon Hornberger represented CJJ.
During the meeting, Greg discussed reorganization within OJJDP. Dr. Heidi Hsia and Elissa Rumsey will be moving to the Policy Division headed by Gregg Harris. Both Heidi and Elissa will continue to work with SRAD as in the past.
OJJDP is planning two training events during the week of January 21, 2007. The first will be a day and a half DMC Train-the-Trainers training. The second will be a three and a half day Compliance Monitoring training. While required for state compliance monitors, JJ Specialists are strongly encouraged to attend.
Two funding issues were featured prominently during the meeting. The first involves the administrative set aside in the JABG allocation to states. A motion was passed asking that the National Specialist write to Administrator Flores requesting his support for returning the allowable administrative allocation from 5% (of the award) to its original 10%.
The second issue involves the return of the Accountability Based Sanctions supplement to state’s federal formula grant awards. Many states feel that the loss of the supplement erodes their ability to maintain a continuum of care. Greg suggested that an alternative approach to reinserting the ABS language would be to advocate for an increased minimum allocation for states.
Regulations pursuant to the reauthorized JJDP Act of 2002 have not yet been promulgated. Questions were raised as to whether to expect regulations, given the possible reauthorization of the JJDP Act in 2007.
For further information, please contact Mark Ferrante: [7] mark.ferrante@njjjc.org.
Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Committee Update
The Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Committee met in New Orleans in conjunction with the Fall Conference and reaffirmed its commitment to recognize and share the work of DMC Coordinators and DMC programs around the country. The committee’s top priority is to continue to seek out programs to feature on CJJ’s Web site and to highlight in the CJJ e-Monitor.
At the meeting, the committee heard from program coordinators in Indiana, Tennessee and Montana. If any reader wishes to share information about DMC programming via CJJ’s Web site and e-Monitor, please contact Eve Munson at CJJ: [8] munson@juvjustice.org.
Fund Raising Committee Update—Join the Circle of Leaders!
The CJJ Fund Raising Committee has launched the Fall Drive for the Circle of Leaders. In New Orleans, at the urging of committee member Dennie Littlejohn, the southern region alone raised more than $1000.
The Circle of Leaders is CJJ’s individual contributions campaign—used to support youth development training and youth member engagement, as well as government relations. This year, the Fund Raising Committee has set a goal to raise more than $8,000 for 2006. Already, more than $3,500 has been raised and we have until December 31, 2006 to reach our goal. Many thanks go out to all who have made their 2006 contributions.
Contributions to the Circle of Leaders Fund are welcomed from all CJJ members and associates, as well as anyone who shares CJJ’s vision and goals. Contributions of any amount are helpful and fully tax deductible.
Donor categories include:
Contributor—up to $200
Partner —$200-$500
Patron—$500 to $1,500
Benefactor —$1,500 or more
To learn how you may contribute, please see [9] www.juvjustice.org for more information, or place a confidential inquiry with CJJ’s acting executive director, Nancy Gannon Hornberger: 202-467-0864, ext. 111 or [10] gannon@juvjustice.org.
Detention Reform News
CJJ and Annie E. Casey Foundation Update
There is an ever-growing investment in detention reform, nationwide. The Annie E. Casey Foundation, in cooperation with CJJ, is building infrastructure to support continued growth that includes human resources and administrative/operational supports. New developments at the Casey Foundation include the hiring of Gayle Mumford as Senior Associate for Juvenile Detention Reform and Stephanie Vetter as Senior Consultant for Infrastructure Development. Raquel Mariscal will continue her work on the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI) as Senior Consultant for Staff Support. Bart Lubow, Director of the Program for High Risk Youth at the Casey Foundation, will turn his attention to broadening the impact of JDAI and large scale planning.
CJJ continues to work with SAGs, Juvenile Justice Specialists and DMC Coordinators to support statewide detention reform efforts. These stakeholders are committed to bettering their detention systems and are using both the JDAI strategies and other means, notably legislative change, to improve system structure and function.
If your state is interested in becoming more involved in detention reform work or if you have questions about CJJ’s project, please contact Eve Munson, CJJ Project Director: 202-467-0864, ext. 109 or [11] munson@juvjustice.org.
National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) News
Medicaid and Title IV-E Teleconference Series
The National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) will host the final call in its three-part teleconference series, “What Juvenile Justice Advocates Need to Know About Medicaid and Title IV-E.”
Part 3, The Intersection of Medicaid & Title IV-E, will take place on Tuesday, October 17th at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.
This teleconference will discuss how Medicaid and Title IV-E of the Social Security Act are applied at the ground level. It will cover practical implications for policy advocates and juvenile defenders and will address some of the concerns and difficulties confronted when advocates begin to seek such funds. Guest speakers will include Charity Eleson, Executive Director of Wisconsin Council on Children and Families; Robin Jenkins, Executive Director of Cumberland County CommuniCare, Inc. in North Carolina; Bruce Kamaradt, Director of Wraparound Milwaukee; and Robert Schwartz, Executive Director of the Juvenile Law Center. Participants will also be able to pose questions to our speakers. There is no cost to participate and individuals do not need to RSVP.
Supplemental information and presentation materials for all three calls of the teleconference series are available on NJJN’s Web site at [12] http://njjn.org/issue_171.html. Recordings of the calls will be available online shortly.
For more information, contact Penelope Spain, NJJN’s Program and Policy Associate, at [13] spain@juvjustice.org.
Resources and Information of Note
2005 Uniform Crime Report
In September, the FBI released the 2005 Uniform Crime Report, generated from monthly law enforcement reports and individual crime incident records across the nation. Following the report’s release, USA Today reported a 19 percent increase in juvenile homicide arrests.
The Justice Policy Institute (JPI), a D.C.-based nonprofit research and public policy organization, has distributed its own analysis cautioning against a hasty evaluation of the data. Says JPI:
“[A] one-year change in arrests cannot be interpreted as a “trend,” and […] no single factor can explain changes in arrests across the nation, or within a jurisdiction. JPI cautions that, the UCR represents crime reported to law enforcement only. It does not account for changes in law enforcement practices that may lead to more reports of crime (i.e. changes in policing practices, or enforcement), versus true victimization and crime. Criminologists and law enforcement use both the UCR, and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) to get a true and detailed sense of public safety by region, specific population subsets, and type of offense. In any case, young people are not driving the one-year increase in crime seen thus far.
Adults, not juveniles, represent 84 percent of all violent crime arrests—the increase in juvenile crime is a fraction of the nation’s public safety challenges.
Adults are responsible for 91 percent of all homicide arrests, 84 percent of rape arrests, 75 percent of robbery arrests and 86 percent of aggravated assault arrests. The proportion of violent crime involving juvenile arrestees has not changed much since the previous year.”
For more information on the Justice Policy Institute, visit [14] www.justicepolicy.org.
DMC Technical Assistance Manual, 3rd Edition
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has released the third edition of its online Disproportionate Minority Contact Technical Assistance Manual, providing guidance on DMC identification and monitoring, assessment, intervention and evaluation. The entire manual can be found online at [15] http://www.ncjrs.gov/html/ojjdp/dmc_ta_manual/.
SAMHSA Update
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has updated its National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP). Providing descriptive information about interventions and peer-reviewed ratings of outcome-specific evidence, NREPP has been expanded and revised to feature a new Web site and searchable database. Visit online at [16] http://modelprograms.samhsa.gov/template.cfm?page=nreppover.
Indian Child Welfare
The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) will host a series of professional development workshops in Portland, Oregon on October 23-25, 2006. Topics will include “Meth in Tribal Child Welfare” and “Reconciliation in Child Welfare,” as well as an advanced workshop for high-level leaders, managers and program directors from both tribal and state/county agencies. For more information and to register online, visit [17] http://www.nicwa.org/services/training /institutes/classes.asp?FormConfID=21.
Juvenile Offenders and Victims 2006 National Report
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has released its 2006 report on juvenile offenders and victims, presenting a comprehensive overview of demographic, economic and sociological statistics as they relate to juvenile crime, violence, victimization and the juvenile justice system. View the report at [18] http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/publications/PubAbstract.asp?pubi=234394.
“Opportunity in America”
The Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University and the Brookings Institute have released a new volume in their journal The Future of Children. In the new edition, titled “Opportunity in America,” nine articles focus on the extent to which children’s chances of success depend on the circumstances into which they are born. Download the full journal, an executive summary and an opportunity policy brief at [19] http://www.futureofchildren.org/pubs-info2825 /pubs-info_show.htm?doc_id=388485.
ABA Youth at Risk Initiative
The American Bar Association (ABA) has announced a Youth at Risk Initiative to address the risks and problems that youth and their families encounter in an effort to enhance laws, judicial intervention strategies, policies, practices and programs intended to prevent youth from becoming delinquent or engaging in criminal acts. The newly formed Commission on Youth at Risk will focus on several issues: status offenders, youth “aging out” of the system, meaningful youth participation in court proceedings, enhanced access to evidence-based services, supporting youth in chaotic home or family situations and improving how legal and court interventions affect youth “crossing over” from one category of systemic level (e.g. abused and neglected child) to another (e.g. delinquent child or status offender). For more information on the ABA Youth at Risk Initiative, visit [20] http://www.abanet.org/initiatives/youthatrisk/about.shtml.
Title V Community Prevention Grants
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has made available the “National Evaluation of the Title V Community Prevention Grants Program,” examining sites in six states that use the Title V funds and guiding framework to develop and implement comprehensive juvenile delinquency prevention plans. View the report at [21] http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/publications/PubAbstract.asp?pubi=233687.
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.
To electronically subscribe to the CJJ e-Monitor, please send a request with your name and e-mail address to [22] info@juvjustice.org.
— Paul Lawrence, 2006 CJJ National Chair
— Kitty McCarthy, Editor
[1]: mailto:mccarthy@juvjustice.org
[2]: http://www.youthcoordinationact.org
[3]: mailto:lhayes@harnettlaw.com
[4]: mailto:gannon@juvjustice.org
[5]: http://www.juvjustice.org
[6]: mailto:mccarthy@juvjustice.org
[7]: mailto:mark.ferrante@njjjc.org
[8]: mailto:munson@juvjustice.org
[9]: http://www.juvjustice.org
[10]: mailto:gannon@juvjustice.org
[11]: mailto:munson@juvjustice.org
[12]: http://njjn.org/issue_171.html
[13]: mailto:spain@juvjustice.org
[14]: http://www.justicepolicy.org
[15]: http://www.ncjrs.gov/html/ojjdp/dmc_ta_manual/
[16]: http://modelprograms.samhsa.gov/template.cfm?page=nreppover
[17]: http://www.nicwa.org/services/training/institutes/classes.asp?FormConfID=21
[18]: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/publications/PubAbstract.asp?pubi=234394
[19]: http://www.futureofchildren.org/pubs-info2825/pubs-info_show.htm?doc_id=388485
[20]: http://www.abanet.org/initiatives/youthatrisk/about.shtml
[21]: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/publications/PubAbstract.asp?pubi=233687
[22]: mailto:info@juvjustice.org