Prioritize Plan to Implement a Developmental Approach in Juvenile Justice Reform

This program furthers the Department's mission by providing grants and cooperative agreements for research and evaluation activities to organizations that OJJDP designates.

The Committee on Law and Justice (CLAJ) of the National Research Council (NRC), will convene a committee of approximately twelve to fifteen members to assess and prioritize strategies and policies to effectively reform juvenile justice using a developmental approach and prepare a report on recommended implementation strategies. The committee will examine existing literature and consult experts on implementation science, prioritization using a cost and benefit analysis, and multidisciplinary collaboration. The committee will also examine all recent and related reports, such as the Defending Childhood task force report, to ensure alignment with related recommendations. The report will include committee recommendations about practice and policy strategies, the strengths and weaknesses of potential approaches and the applicability of previous reform experiences in the United States.

The committee will be composed of individuals with expertise in the following areas: Juvenile Probation, Delinquency Prevention, Juvenile Justice, Juvenile Law, Economics, Econometrics, Public Health, Child Welfare, Education, Sociology, Public Policy, Law Enforcement and other areas as appropriate.

The study committee will be identified and recruited through a process that will include consideration of nominations from the study sponsor (OJJDP), NRC staff and leadership and members of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Selection of committee members will be conducted consistent with NAS procedures regarding committee composition, particularly with regard to balance and conflict of interest considerations, and final appointment is at the discretion of the NAS presidents.

The plan of work will be informed by a team of 3-4 OJJDP staff to ensure alignment with related reports and finalized with the committee once that group has been selected and has begun to meet. The committee will hold three two day meetings along with one workshop and will prepare a report on the recommended implementation strategies identified as having potential for reforming juvenile justice through a developmental approach in the United States. The committee will also prepare three briefs to accompany the report; a summary and a brief for two target audiences, policymakers and practitioners. The NAP published copies of the report and briefs will be sent to the sponsors within 3 months of the report's initial release.

NCA/NCF