This podcast episode features the deputy administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and discusses OJJDP’s efforts to create equitable juvenile justice systems that promote safer communities, positive youth outcomes, stronger families, and healthier communities.
Hosted by Carol Gordon, this podcast episode welcomes Chryl Jones of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Jones discusses her career path and involvement in efforts to promote positive outcomes for youth and their families. Jones discusses OJJDP’s goals and mission statement, and efforts to help states, local governments, and tribes, to empower youth and create safer communities; she also discusses OJJDP’s transformation of how the juvenile justice system has reformed in order to support families and to reduce youth separation from communities and support structures, and reducing reliance on confinement in large facilities. The podcasters also discuss OJJDP’s priorities to treat children as youth fairly and equitably; research, training, and technical assistance to support community programming as well as funding for programming that enables re-entry into the community and the unification of families. Jones discusses a number of OJJDP-supported and funded programs that promote juvenile justice system reform and reinvestment to counter youth violence, drug use, and to overcome challenges faced by victims of abuse.