Reducing Rise for Girls in Alaska

The State of Alaska’s Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) has the goal of reducing delinquent behavior committed by girls throughout the state. Alaska aims to reduce the usage of secure placement in detention and treatment centers for girls involved with the juvenile justice system, while at the same time improving outcomes for the girls who are ordered to serve long, or short-term legal orders due to their past behavior. DJJ plans to use and expand upon its existing partnerships with its sister organization, the Office of Children Services (OCS) and a newer partnership with the Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) for this opportunity. This grant aims to provide preventative services to youth earlier in the lives to prevent delinquent acts from happening. Approximately two-thirds of Alaskan youth in the custody of OCS are Alaskan Native, or American Indian.  ANJC has several grant activities in Alaska’s juvenile justice system on behalf of all Alaskan youth.  This grant will aim to increase the capacity of both organizations to prevent delinquency amongst Alaskan teenage girls, reduce out-of-home placement(s), eliminate recidivism amongst girls in the juvenile justice system, and assist the State of Alaska in its efforts to comply the Department of Justice’s recent investigation and report regarding children with behavioral health disabilities and their legal rights under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12131-12134.