Judiciary of Guam Juvenile Justice Community Supervision Implementation Project

As many as 100,000 youth younger than 18 years old are released from juvenile correctional facilities every year. These young people often return to their communities with complex needs, such as physical and behavioral health issues and barriers to education and employment. In FY 2015, OJJDP awarded planning grants to support states, local governments, and federally recognized Native American/Alaskan Native tribes and communities as they developed comprehensive juvenile community supervision strategic plans. Under this grant program, OJJDP selected FY 2015 grantees to receive awards to implement their strategic plans. This program is authorized pursuant to Section 101 of the Second Chance Act, Pub. L. No. 110-199.

The Judiciary of Guam will promote increased collaboration among juvenile professionals and agencies; develop and implement strategies for the identification, supervision, and treatment of youth with high risks and needs that may serve as a model for other agencies; objectively assess and/or evaluate the impact of innovative and evidence-based supervision and treatment strategies; and demonstrate the use and efficacy of evidence-based practices and principles to improve the delivery of community supervision strategies and practices. The target population for Guam's juvenile justice community supervision initiative includes all justice-involved youth, from diversion to post adjudicated cases, at all risk levels. To strengthen the island's justice system and improve services that will ensure better outcomes for these youth and their families, project goals proposed by the Judiciary of Guam, and endorsed by the Juvenile Justice Community Supervision Task Force, include (1) minimizing institutional placement of juveniles by strengthening family engagement and community supports; (2) ensuring that juvenile justice policies, programs, and interventions are founded on research around adolescent development; and (3) implementing evidence- and community-based programs that have been proven to reduce recidivism and to be effective.

CA/NCF