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Administrator Harp Convenes Restorative Justice Working Group

On July 15, 2019, restorative justice advocates and practitioners from across the country joined OJJDP leadership in Washington, DC, to begin preparing an OJJDP guide that will help jurisdictions implement effective restorative justice programs.

Restorative justice focuses on balancing the interests and needs of victims/survivors, offenders, and communities. It also holds offenders personally accountable not only to their victims, but also to the community at large—often through face-to-face meetings and reparative actions such as financial restitution to victims, the repair of victims’ damaged property, or work for the betterment of the community.

left quoteI think it's really important to put the victim at the center of the equation, to make sure we’re asking them what they expect and what they need.right quote

—Anne Seymour

Director of the Fairness, Dignity & Respect for Crime Victims & Survivors Project


Many victims report they benefit from restorative justice programs and are more satisfied with these programs than traditional approaches to juvenile justice. Face-to-face meetings in which young offenders take responsibility for the harm they have caused—followed by actions to repair the harm—constitute a powerful form of accountability that can transform a young person’s life and at the same time build practical skills through community service projects.

Over the past several decades, restorative justice practices have expanded rapidly and now involve multiple models and approaches. “The juvenile justice field has never really settled on a set of definitions, principles, and practices that guide restorative justice,” Administrator Harp said. “Practitioners need guidance on what they can expect to see in a restorative justice process, and what the practical outcomes of the process are.”

The working group’s daylong meeting considered a range of possible topics for the restorative justice guide, including—


The working group will meet several times over the next 2 years, with the goal of producing a user-friendly guide that offers standard definitions for the components of restorative justice and for its foundational values. The guide will describe planning and implementation, best practices, and the use of outcome measures to assess program effectiveness. It also will provide a framework that engages all juvenile justice system stakeholders—including law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, victim advocates, defense attorneys, and probation personnel—in the restorative justice process. “The goal is to give practitioners a more ingrained understanding of what restorative justice is,” said Administrator Harp.

 

 

Judge Steve Teske, Anne Seymour, Ramkanta Tiwari, Christina McMahan, Laura Corbett Wilt, Chyrl Jones, Sharletta Evans, Mark Umbreit, Pastor Travis Claybrooks. Back row (from l. to r.): Jon Powell, Sandra Pavelka, Caren Harp, James Backstrom, Doug Thomas. Front row (from l. to r.): Judge Steve Teske, Anne Seymour, Ramkanta Tiwari, Christina McMahan, Laura Corbett Wilt, Chyrl Jones, Sharletta Evans, Mark Umbreit, Pastor Travis Claybrooks. Back row (from l. to r.): Jon Powell, Sandra Pavelka, Caren Harp, James Backstrom, Doug Thomas.

Resources:

The Office has created a mailbox that the public may use to submit comments, suggestions, and ideas on the topic of restorative justice. The feedback may inform the working group discussion and the planned restorative justice guide.

A Restorative Justice In Focus webpage that offers information about restorative justice practices, the working group members, and links to helpful resources will be released shortly.


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OJJDP-Supported Training for Juvenile Prosecutors Held in Columbia, SC

A group photo of prosecutors from across the country who attended OJJDP's “The Role of the Juvenile Prosecutor” training  in Columbia, SC.

Prosecutors from across the country attended “The Role of the Juvenile Prosecutor” training at the National Advocacy Center in Columbia, SC. The training is a partnership between OJJDP and the National District Attorneys Association.

 

 

Increasingly, the juvenile justice system is diverting youth who have committed low-level, nonviolent offenses from formal adjudication to alternatives such as treatment, restitution, or service programs. Significant research developments over the past two decades have contributed to this rising tide of reform. Research on adolescent brain development has shown that young people are more capable than adults of changing their behavior. In addition, research has shown that childhood abuse and neglect and a history of substance abuse can cause trauma to the developing brain and are correlated with a higher risk of delinquency. Evidence-based interventions are now available to address these problems and reduce the risk of reoffending.

Because juvenile prosecutors need ongoing training to be consistent with the latest science and research, the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), with support from OJJDP’s National Training and Technical Assistance Center, has developed a new curriculum, “The Role of the Juvenile Prosecutor.” NDAA piloted the training at the Advocacy Center in Columbia, SC, on July 31–August 2, 2019.

In her opening remarks, OJJDP Administrator Caren Harp expressed enthusiasm about OJJDP’s renewed commitment to training juvenile prosecutors and the expertise of the participating faculty. She also emphasized the importance of the juvenile prosecutor’s role in ensuring youth justice and community safety.

Faculty members included Susan Broderick, a former prosecutor who, along with OJJDP Administrator Caren Harp, was instrumental in updating NDAA’s National Prosecution Standards for juvenile justice; John Delaney, a former Chief Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia’s Juvenile Court Unit; Anthony Pierro, Chief Juvenile Attorney in the Ocean County, NJ, Prosecutor’s Office; Lindsey Moreland, Assistant District Attorney in Davidson County, TN; and Kristi Browning, NDAA Program Director.

The training featured presentations on the following topics:

 

In addition to Administrator Harp, Associate Administrator James Antal and Deputy Associate Administrator Jeffrey Gersh attended the training.

Resources:

NDAA’s National Prosecution Standards for juvenile justice are accessible online.


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OJJDP Hosts First National AMBER Alert in Indian Country Symposium

Photo of Pamela Foster, mother of Ashlynne Mike and advocate for missing children, with OJJDP Deputy Administrator Chryl Y. Jones.Pamela Foster (left), mother of Ashlynne Mike and advocate for missing children, with OJJDP Deputy Administrator Chryl Y. Jones.
The Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act was born out of the tragic abduction and murder of 11-year-old Ashlynne Mike of the Navajo Nation in 2016. At the time, tribal law enforcement officers did not have an AMBER Alert plan to notify people living on the reservation—a serious problem shared by tribes across the country. The enactment of the 2018 legislation represents significant progress in addressing the problem: It makes federally recognized tribes eligible for AMBER Alert grants and permits the use of grant funds to integrate state or regional AMBER Alert communication plans with tribes across the nation.

As part of a broader initiative to help tribal communities effectively implement the Act’s provisions and improvepreparedness and coordination in responding to cases of missing and abducted children, OJJDP hosted the first National AMBER ALERT in Indian Country Symposium on July 30–August 1, 2019, in Albuquerque, NM. U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico John C. Anderson and OJJDP Deputy Administrator Chyrl Jones offered introductory remarks on the symposium’s opening day.

“We are already seeing the positive results yielded through partnering with tribal, state, federal, and local stakeholders,” Deputy Administrator Jones said. “A 2018 survey of tribes revealed that 76 of the 100 responding tribes reported participating in their state AMBER Alert plan, [and] 75 tribes reported having an emergency plan or checklist. [But] much still remains to be done to connect tribes across the country with their state and regional AMBER Alert plans.”

left quoteNothing was worse than knowing there was no AMBER Alert when we needed it most. We had no way to tell the public about what happened. It’s devastating knowing there may have been a chance to save Ashlynne’s life if there was an AMBER Alert system in place. right quote

—Pamela Foster
Mother of Ashlynne Mike

The conference brought together tribal leaders and representatives of OJJDP, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), the AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program (AATTAP), and state AMBER Alert coordinators to exchange information and share best practices for implementing AMBER Alert plans in Indian country.

Topics included an overview of the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act, the AMBER Alert process, the role of the state AMBER Alert coordinator, the Navajo Nation’s recent development of an AMBER Alert program, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, and NCMEC’s role in the AMBER Alert response. Presenters also discussed the law enforcement alert portal, challenges that tribes face when integrating state and regional AMBER Alert communication plans, and resources and ongoing support available through AATTAP and partner programs. Ashlynne Mike’s mother, Pamela Foster, shared her family’s story and discussed what can be done to improve the response to missing and abducted children in Indian country.

 

Resources:

In this issue of OJJDP News @ a Glance, learn about the new AMBER Alert in Indian Country website. The site offers tribal communities information about training and technical assistance, the national effort to implement the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act, and opportunities for collaboration with other AMBER Alert partners throughout the country.

Read OJJDP’s recently released Implementation of the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2018: A Report to Congress. The report provides an assessment of the readiness, education and training needs, technological challenges, and obstacles encountered by tribes in the integration of state or regional AMBER Alert communication plans.


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OJJDP Participates in National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Conference

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges logoOn July 28–31, 2019, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) hosted its 82nd Annual Conference in Orlando, FL. NCJFCJ provides training, technical assistance, and research to enhance the effectiveness of the nation’s juvenile and family courts.

 

At the conference, juvenile justice, child welfare, and court professionals participated in more than 50 sessions on a range of topics, including balanced and restorative justice, the connection between foster care and domestic child sex trafficking, the constitutional rights of children in child protection cases, trauma-informed care to address the commercial sexual exploitation of youth, and judicial responses to the opioid crisis.

On July 29, OJJDP Administrator Caren Harp led two sessions on OJJDP’s Title II Formula Grants program, which helps states address the four core protections of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act—deinstitutionalization of status offenders (DSO), separation of juveniles from adult inmates, removal of juveniles from adult jails and lockups, and system efforts to reduce disproportionate minority contact (DMC) with the juvenile justice system. The first session provided an overview of OJJDP's new outcomes-based approach to determining compliance with the DMC requirements; panelists shared how they defined and achieved successful reduction of DMC in their jurisdictions. In the second session, Administrator Harp and Memphis and Shelby County (TN) Juvenile Judge Dan Michael facilitated a group discussion about successful programs and strategies to help reduce the number of status offenders held in secure facilities, and reliance on the valid court exception.

In a panel discussion on July 30, OJJDP Associate Administrator Kellie Blue, Children and Family Futures' Senior Program Associate Tessa Richter, and the Colorado Judicial Department’s Dependency and Neglect System Reform Liaison Jenna Quigley discussed an OJJDP-supported initiative to instill research-based family drug court principles into state court, child welfare, and substance abuse treatment systems. OJJDP has provided states with intensive technical assistance, facilitated by Children and Family Futures, to develop a systems change plan and implement the plan. The panel discussion considered strategies to elevate practice and improve outcomes for families involved in the child welfare system.

Resources:

Information about OJJDP-supported training and technical assistance for juvenile drug treatment courts and family drug courts is available online.

OJJDP’s Model Programs Guide offers reviews and ratings of juvenile and family drug court programs.


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Nearly 1,700 Suspected Child Sex Predators Arrested During Operation Broken Heart

Internet crimes against children task force program logoOn June 11, 2019, Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Edward O’Callaghan announced that Operation Broken Heart led to the arrest of almost 1,700 suspected online child sex offenders.

The OJJDP-funded Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces conducted this operation during the months of April and May 2019 as a coordinated investigation to identify and arrest suspected online child sex offenders. Mr. O’Callaghan made the announcement at the National Law Enforcement Training on Child Exploitation.

“The results of Operation Broken Heart demonstrate what is possible when law enforcement agencies at every level come together to solve complex cases and bring criminals to justice,” said Mr. O’Callaghan.

The operation targeted suspects who produce, distribute, receive, and possess child pornography; engage in online enticement of children for sexual purposes; engage in the sex trafficking of children; and travel across state lines or to foreign countries to sexually abuse children.

During this operation, the task forces investigated more than 18,500 complaints of technology-facilitated crimes targeting children and delivered more than 2,150 presentations on Internet safety to more than 201,000 youth and adults.

OJJDP launched the ICAC Task Force program in 1998 to help federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative responses to individuals who use the Internet, online communication systems, or computer technology to exploit children. The work of the task forces encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, and community education.

The 61 ICAC task forces are located in all 50 states and comprise more than 4,500 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. To date, ICAC task forces have reviewed more than 922,000 complaints of child exploitation, which have resulted in the arrest of more than 95,500 individuals. In addition, since the ICAC program's inception, more than 708,500 law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and other professionals have been trained on techniques to investigate and prosecute ICAC-related cases.

National Law Enforcement Training Held in Atlanta, GA

On June 11–13, 2019, OJJDP and its federal partners convened the National Law Enforcement Training on Child Exploitation in Atlanta, GA. The Office of Justice Programs and OJJDP have coordinated this specialized training for more than a decade to expand the knowledge base of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement professionals involved in investigating or prosecuting technology-facilitated crimes against children. More than 1,600 investigators, prosecutors, and digital forensic examiners attended the training, which featured more than 100 lectures and informational sessions and 45 hands-on computer workshops.

In his opening remarks, then-Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Matt M. Dummermuth recognized one of the training participants, Darian Dasko. As a deputy with the Las Animas County, CO, Sheriff’s Department, Officer Dasko was part of a team of federal, state, and local officers who tracked down a child abductor across several states and safely recovered two young girls. Dasko arrested the suspect on May 21, 2019, and he was sentenced to life in federal prison. “It’s professionals like Officer Dasko who form the backbone of our response to child endangerment,” said Mr. Dummermuth.

OJJDP leadership and staff attending the training included Administrator Caren Harp, Deputy Administrator Chyrl Jones, Associate Administrator James Antal, Deputy Associate Administrators Jeffrey Gersh and Jacqueline O’Reilly, and ICAC Program Manager Lou Ann Holland.

Resources:

Read the Department of Justice press release on the results of Operation Broken Heart. For state-level Operation Broken Heart results, contact the appropriate state ICAC task force commander; contact information for task force commanders is available online.

To learn more about OJJDP’s ICAC Task Force program, visit the Office’s website.

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Staff Spotlight: Cynthia Pappas, Senior Policy Advisor
Photo of Cynthia Pappas, OJJDP Senior Policy AdvisorCynthia Pappas, OJJDP Senior Policy Advisor.
As Senior Policy Advisor in the Special Victims and Violent Offenders (SVVO) Division, Cynthia Pappas oversees OJJDP initiatives to prevent youth violence and support child and youth victims of violence and sexual exploitation.

These initiatives include efforts to increase the availability of direct support services for young victims of gang-related violence and their families, and to develop comprehensive prevention and public health and safety plans that address violence in homes, schools, and communities.

In May 2019, Cynthia and SVVO leadership organized the first meeting of OJJDP’s K–12 School Safety Best Practices Working Group, which consists of experts in education, law enforcement, school safety, and threat assessment. The working group’s goal is to develop national school safety guidelines and best practices as well as a training curriculum for school stakeholders.

In addition, Cynthia helps develop and guide OJJDP programs that support services for children and youth who are victims of child sexual exploitation and domestic sex trafficking. One OJJDP grantee, Youth Collaboratory, has worked jointly with Wichita State University’s Center for Combating Human Trafficking to produce a toolkit that offers information about emerging research and best practices in addressing the sex trafficking of young people.

left quoteOur children are exposed to so much trauma—physical and sexual abuse, peer victimization, and community violence. Left untreated, this trauma can lead to lifelong health and social issues. I’m passionate about helping professionals in the field better identify and respond to children exposed to violence and supporting programs and practices that help to make homes, schools, and communities safer for children and youth. right quote

—Cynthia Pappas
Senior Policy Advisor

Cynthia is supporting the work of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges’ National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking, which helps judicial officers better understand the dynamics of domestic child sex trafficking, the applicable laws and legal considerations involving trafficking victims, how to identify trafficked and at-risk children, and how to connect these youth to appropriate services.

Through an award to the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Cynthia is responsible for OJJDP’s intervention and treatment programs for adolescent sex offenders and youth with sexual behavior problems, their child victims, and their family members.

Before joining OJJDP in August 2014, Cynthia served for 10 years as a senior social science analyst with the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, where she designed and managed national programs to advance community policing with a focus on child abuse and neglect, child sexual predators, and school safety. 

Cynthia earned dual bachelor’s degrees in psychology and administration of justice from the Pennsylvania State University and a master's degree in forensic sciences from the George Washington University, where she served as a university police officer and crime prevention training coordinator from 1995 to 1999.


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Upcoming Events

National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking: September 9–11, 2019

National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking thumbnailIn partnership with OJJDP, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges has established the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking, a workshop to help judicial officers better understand the dynamics of domestic child sex trafficking, the applicable laws and legal considerations involving trafficking victims, how to identify trafficked and at-risk children, and how to connect these youth to appropriate services. The workshop, offered several times a year in varying locations, uses hypothetical case scenarios, small group discussions, interactive exercises, and lectures to enhance knowledge and skills in identifying and working with children who have been or are at risk of being sex trafficked. The interactive format enables judges and other court personnel from different jurisdictions and with varying levels of experience to learn from one another. The next workshop will be held in Scottsdale, AZ. Additional information is available on the website.

Law Enforcement Investigative Response to Child Sex Trafficking: September 9–11, 2019

This no-cost training, to be held in Pensacola, FL, will offer information and resources to help attendees better understand, recognize, and investigate cases involving child sex trafficking and exploitation. Participants will learn about the dynamics of trafficking and exploitation to improve skills related to interviewing the victim and interrogating the trafficker. The training is offered by the National Criminal Justice Training Center. Registration information is available online.

Initial Response Strategies and Tactics When Responding to Missing Children Incidents: September 13, 2019

When responding to missing children incidents, accurate and timely situational assessments and the immediate deployment of resources are vitally important. During this training, attendees will learn about the critical steps for first responders to take as they respond to these incidents and how their actions can influence the short- and long-term response of law enforcement. Offered by the National Criminal Justice Training Center, the training will be held in Logan, UT. Registration information is available online.

Child Homicide Investigations: September 16–17, 2019

National Criminal Justice Training Center logoThe National Criminal Justice Training Center will hold this training in Elkhart, IN. It will focus on understanding and building relationships between forensic pathologists, homicide investigators, and prosecutors to successfully investigate and prosecute child homicide cases. The training is designed for prosecutors as well as court system, law enforcement, social work, and victim service professionals. Registration information is available online.

The training will also be held September 23–24, 2019, in Santa Rosa, CA; November 18–19, 2019, in New Orleans, LA; and January 25–26, 2020, in San Diego, CA.

Conducting Child Abuse Investigations: September 16–20, 2019

To be held in Wilmington, DE, this no-cost training will provide information about using a multidisciplinary team approach in the investigation and prosecution of all types of child abuse cases. Participants will learn about medical evidence, interviewing child victims/witnesses and adult suspects/witnesses, and legal issues involved in the investigation and prosecution of child physical and sexual abuse cases. The training is offered by the National Criminal Justice Training Center. Registration information is available online.

The training will also be held November 18–22 in Pittsburgh, PA.

High in Plain Sight: Alcohol, Drug, and Concealment Trends and Identifiers: September 20, 2019

Presented by the National Criminal Justice Training Center, this training will examine drug concealment trends evident at school, home, or inside vehicles. It will also discuss new drug trends, including marijuana legalization, vaping (the inhalation or exhalation of the vapor produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device), and nontraditional forms of marijuana. More than 70 visual aids will be offered to help attendees better understand where drugs and alcohol are being concealed “in plain sight.” The training will be held in Appleton, WI. Registration information is available online.

OJJDP’s State Relations and Assistance Division National Training Conference: September 24–26, 2019

This OJJDP training is designed for staff of designated state agencies and members of state advisory groups. It will include training and workshops pertinent to the implementation of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018, presentations on partnerships available through the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education, and remarks from an Office of National Drug Control Policy representative. The event will be held in Kansas City, MO. Registration information is available online.

Meeting of Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice: September 25, 2019

OJJDP will convene an in-person meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice (FACJJ) in Kansas City, MO. A representative from the Office of National Drug Control Policy will present data to frame the context of the nation’s opioid problem and discuss how the Administration is responding to the epidemic. FACJJ is a consultative body established by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended (Section 223). Composed of members of state advisory groups on juvenile justice, FACJJ advises the President and Congress on matters related to juvenile justice, evaluates the progress and accomplishments of juvenile justice activities and projects, and advises the OJJDP Administrator on the work of OJJDP. FACJJ meetings are open to the public. Registration information is available online.

Forensic Interviews at Trial: Preparation and Presentation: September 25–26, 2019

National Children’s Advocacy Center logoDesigned for prosecutors and forensic interviewers, this course hones the skills needed to successfully present testimony and strategically counter common defense tactics during child abuse trials. To be held in Huntsville, AL, the training is sponsored by the National Children’s Advocacy Center. Training methods include lecture and audience discussion, review of recorded forensic interviews, experiential skill-building exercises, and participation in mock court. Registration information is available online.

Psychology of School Threat Assessments: September 26–27, 2019

Sponsored by the National Criminal Justice Training Center, this training offers guidance on how to implement a multidisciplinary threat assessment and management plan, identify normal versus abnormal childhood behavior, determine accurate youth violence risk and protective factors, and diagnose problems within threat assessment and management protocols. To be held in Denver, CO, the training is designed for educators, law enforcement professionals, prosecutors, and tribal partners. Registration information is available online.

The training will also be offered October 17–18, in Dearborn, MI, and November 12–13, in Huntsville, AL.

Victim Advocacy Training in the Child Advocacy Center: October 1–3, 2019

Victim advocates in child advocacy centers support children and families by providing crisis intervention, information about the investigation and criminal justice process, and ongoing assistance in connecting families to helpful resources. This training, provided by the National Children’s Advocacy Center, will include sessions on the criminal justice system, the dynamics of child abuse, crisis development and resolution, effective listening techniques, the impact of trauma on children, the rights of crime victims, and intervention strategies. The training will be held in Huntsville, AL. Registration information is available online.

International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference: International Association of Chiefs of Police 2019 conference logoOctober 26–29, 2019

More than 16,000 public safety professionals attend this conference each year to learn new techniques, advance their knowledge, network with their peers, and equip their departments for ongoing success. Sponsored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the conference includes an exhibit hall that showcases products and services to assist the law enforcement profession. The event will be held in Chicago, IL. Registration information is available online.

Criminal Connections: Child Pornography and Child Sexual Abuse: October 28–29, 2019

During this training, sponsored by the National Criminal Justice Training Center, participants will learn about the additional trauma that child victims experience when child pornography is involved in sexual abuse cases. The training, to be held in Maynard, MA, will explore investigative strategies that address the relationship between child sexual abuse and child pornography to supplement an investigation and corroborate victim statements. Registration information is available online.

Protecting Children in a Digital Age: November 14, 2019

This day-long seminar, to be held in Huntsville, AL, is designed for law enforcement, child protection teams, school officials, social workers, counselors, educators, community leaders, and staff members of programs that serve youth. Presented by the National Criminal Justice Training Center, this seminar will provide information about the different types of technology used by children and teens, including devices and apps, and discuss a proactive approach to digital safety that includes ongoing communication, the setting of guidelines, and training in digital citizenship. Registration information is available online.


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News in Brief

Department of Justice Officials Visit New NCMEC Headquarters

Shown (from l. to r.) are NCMEC Senior Vice President Michelle DeLaune, NCMEC President John Clark, OJJDP Administrator Caren Harp, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katie Sullivan, and Deputy Associate Attorney General Taylor McConkie.Shown (from l. to r.) are NCMEC Senior Vice President Michelle DeLaune, NCMEC President John Clark, OJJDP Administrator Caren Harp, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, and OJP Deputy Associate Attorney General Taylor McConkie.

On July 19, 2019, the leadership of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) provided OJJDP Administrator Caren Harp and other Department of Justice officials a “behind-the-scenes” tour of NCMEC operations at the organization’s new facilities in Carlyle, VA. The move consolidates NCMEC operations, previously carried out in two offices in Alexandria, VA.

Since 1984, OJJDP has supported NCMEC to serve as an information clearinghouse and resource for families of missing and exploited children and the professionals who serve them. Among other activities, NCMEC manages a 24-hour, toll-free missing children’s hotline at 800–THE–LOST; the CyberTipline, a centralized reporting mechanism for public and electronic service providers to report instances of apparent child sexual exploitation; the AMBER Alert secondary distribution program; and the Child Victim Identification Program, which serves as the central U.S. repository for information related to child victims depicted in sexually exploitive images and videos.

“It was truly an honor to see NCMEC’s new headquarters,” said Administrator Harp. “The facility enables all the NCMEC team to work together in one place, and I know this will enhance the team’s collaboration and effectiveness.”

Read this blog post to learn more about the visit and OJJDP's partnership with NCMEC.

OJJDP Adds Court Data to Statistical Briefing Book

Statistical Briefing Book logoOJJDP has updated its Statistical Briefing Book to include national estimates of delinquency and petitioned status offense cases processed in juvenile courts through 2017.

Resources include:

Data Snapshot Highlights Youth in Residential Placement

The National Center for Juvenile Justice and OJJDP have released a Data Snapshot that provides an overview of trends and characteristics of youth in residential placement in 2017. The Data Snapshot reports that the number of detained and committed youth in residential placement continues to decline. Following are some highlights:

Access the full list of Data Snapshots on OJJDP’s Statistical Briefing Book website.

Juvenile Justice Facility Administrators Training Held in Boston, MA

On August 3–6, 2019, the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators (CJCA) offered a pilot training in Boston, MA, for administrators of state and local secure juvenile justice facilities. OJJDP Administrator Caren Harp and Associate Administrator TeNeane Bradford offered remarks on the training’s second day. The training included presentations and workshops on a range of topics, including best practices in facility supervision, conditions of confinement, the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018, strategies to maintain safety and security, staff wellness, racial and ethnic disparities, family engagement, and positive youth development. Information from the OJJDP-funded CJCA toolkit, Recruiting, Hiring, and Retaining Qualified Staff, was incorporated into the training.

As part of a 6-month followup process, which will include a webinar series and monthly conference calls, participants will develop an action plan to address an emerging issue or challenge facing their facility. Issues may include staff recruitment and retention, reentry planning, and training frontline staff in strengths-based approaches and youth skill building. The August training is a pilot study. In collaboration with OJJDP, the National Institute of Corrections will conduct an evaluation to inform the training’s future development.

AMBER Alert in Indian Country Website Launched

Screenshot of the AMBER Alert websiteOJJDP’s AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program (AATTAP) has developed a new website that features one-stop access to information about training and technical assistance, the national effort to implement the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act, and opportunities for collaboration with other AMBER Alert partners throughout the country.

The website’s content includes access to child protection trainings for tribal communities, the AMBER Alert webinar series, checklists for first responders and investigators, AMBER Alert in Indian Country news, and a needs assessment survey to identify training and technical assistance needs in tribal communities.

The website also provides information about AATTAP’s initiatives to implement the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act. Through the AMBER Partners Network—the website’s secure portal—AMBER Alert program coordinators, missing persons clearinghouse managers, and child abduction response team members in Indian country can easily participate in online discussions with counterparts throughout the country and access relevant information and resources.

New Issue of The AMBER Advocate Available

Thumbnail of The AMBER Advocate newsletterThe OJJDP-supported AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program (AATTAP) has released a new issue of The AMBER Advocate. The top story describes how Gina DeJesus, who was kidnapped in Columbus, OH, in 2004 and held captive by the father of a friend for 9 years, is using her personal experience to help find missing and abducted children.

The issue also includes articles about the AATTAP seminar, Community Response to High-Risk Victims of Child Sex Trafficking; a Missing and Exploited Children Task Force operation in Washington state that resulted in 25 arrests; and a special message from Jim Walters, AATTAP Administrator, on the need for a cultural shift in law enforcement’s responses to cases of runaway children.

In addition, “Faces of the AMBER Alert Network” articles feature interviews with the director of the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons and a detective in the Glendale, AZ, Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division. They share the challenges, successes, and lessons learned from their experiences in recovering missing and abducted children.

Peer Guides Program Kicks Off at UNITY Conference

At a national conference organized by United National Indian Tribal Youth, known as UNITY, 12 new youth “peer guides” met in person for the first time, gathered program input from hundreds of American Indian and Alaska Native youth, and participated in training to develop and lead six regional learning events and webinars focused on promoting positive youth development in Indian country. The group will serve as an advisory committee for the overall initiative as well as project advisors for other youth-developed projects.

At the conference, the OJJDP-supported Tribal Youth Resource Center and The Resource Basket provided training and support to the new youth leaders. OJJDP has funded the peer guide program through a 3-year Intertribal Youth Development Initiative grant. About 2,000 attendees participated in the UNITY conference, which was held July 4–8, 2019, in Orlando, FL.

“Congratulations to the 12 new peer guides who were selected through a national application process that sought to open new leadership opportunities for those with a passion for empowering indigenous youth, families, and communities,” said OJJDP Program Manager Kara McDonagh. “We look forward to working closely with the peer guides to develop resources and lead free trainings across the country for youth who want to make a positive difference in the lives of their peers.”

Drug Court Professionals Gather for National Meeting

NADCP RISE Conference logoOn July 14–17, 2019, the OJJDP-supported National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) held its annual conference in National Harbor, MD. Through advocacy, training, and membership programs, NADCP works to improve the justice system’s response to individuals with substance abuse problems by ensuring that they have access to evidence-based treatment and restoration, ultimately leading them toward productive, drug-free lives.

The conference, “RISE 19,” brought together more than 6,000 leaders and staff from adult, family, juvenile, veterans, and other types of drug treatment courts; the recovery community; law enforcement; veteran service organizations; and legislators and other key stakeholders to learn the latest evidence-based practices for serving individuals with substance abuse disorders. Leanetta Jessie, Program Manager in OJJDP’s Intervention Division, participated in the panel discussions “OJJDP Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts: A Collaborative Approach for Programs, Research, Training, and Technical Assistance” and “Federal Funders Forum.”

“OJJDP has a longstanding commitment to the drug treatment court model, which balances accountability with treatment,” said Kellie Blue, head of the Office’s Intervention Division. “OJJDP was honored to participate in this conference and interact with other experts who are working to help ensure that youth and families impacted by substance abuse disorders move on to lives of recovery and stability.”

National Children’s Alliance Holds Leadership Conference

National Children’s Alliance conference logoThe OJJDP-supported National Children’s Alliance (NCA) hosted its annual leadership conference June 2–5, 2019, in Washington, DC. The conference provided continuing education, networking opportunities, and exposure to innovative programs and ideas for about 700 administrators, coordinators, and board members of children’s advocacy centers (CACs) and CAC chapters.

Recognizing that child abuse is a multifaceted problem, CACs involve multidisciplinary teams of professionals—child protective and victim advocacy services, medical and mental health agencies, and law enforcement and prosecution—to provide a continuum of services to victims. Working together, these professionals gain a more complete understanding of each case, allowing them to identify the most effective response to instances of child abuse.

The conference featured sessions on topics that include the provision of mental health services in rural communities; the power of digital and social media in effecting social change; evidence-based assessment; the reduction of vicarious trauma in CACs; introduction to NCAtrak, a case management tool; the prosecutor’s role in the multidisciplinary team; and family engagement.

“OJJDP recognizes the efficacy of the CAC model,” said James Antal, Associate Administrator, who attended the conference with his staff from the Special Victims and Violent Offenders Division. “CACs shorten the length of time to disposition in child abuse cases, increase the likelihood that abused children will receive medical and mental health services, and improve caregiver satisfaction with the investigative and prosecutorial process.”


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New Publications

All OJJDP publications may be viewed and downloaded on the publications section of the OJJDP website. Print publications may be ordered online at the National Criminal Justice Reference Service website.

Juvenile Arrests, 2017 (Bulletin)

 

National Report Series

NCJ 252713

 

This bulletin documents the latest trends in arrests involving juveniles (youth younger than age 18) by drawing on arrest estimates developed by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Juvenile Justice based on analyses of data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reporting program. Arrests of juveniles peaked in 1996, at nearly 2.7 million, and have since declined—the number in 2017 was 70 percent below the 1996 peak. In comparison, arrests of adults fell 21 percent during the same period. The juvenile arrest rate for aggravated assault declined in the past 5 years, the robbery arrest rate stayed about the same, and the murder arrest rate increased annually since 2012. By 2017, juvenile arrest rates for larceny-theft, burglary, and arson were at their lowest levels since at least 1980, while rates for motor vehicle theft increased annually since 2013. Male and female juvenile arrest rates have declined in the past 10 years; however, the relative declines have been greater for males than for females across many offenses.

 

View and download this publication.


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News From the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Seal of Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention


The Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will hold its next meeting on September 12, 2019. The meeting, which is open to the public, will discuss the Department of Education’s Title I funding programs.

Register for the meeting.


The Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is an independent body within the executive branch of the federal government operated under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The council's primary functions are to coordinate federal juvenile delinquency prevention programs, federal programs and activities that detain or care for unaccompanied juveniles, and federal programs relating to missing and exploited children.

The council is made up of 22 members—13 ex officio and affiliate members and 9 practitioners. The ex officio members are: the Attorney General; the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development, and Labor; the Assistant Secretary of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy; and the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Affiliate members are the Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Defense, and the Interior, and the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of HHS. The nine juvenile justice practitioner members are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate Majority Leader, and the President of the United States. In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Council holds public meetings up to four times a year in which members discuss activities to facilitate and support cross-agency coordination.


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News From the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice
Seal of the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice

The July 15, 2019, meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice (FACJJ) featured reports from newly created FACJJ subcommittees on their efforts to ensure compliance with the Juvenile Justice Reform Act (JJRA) of 2018, increase state advisory groups’ (SAGs’) access to informational resources, and more effectively meet the needs of at-risk youth in rural areas.

In her introductory remarks, OJJDP Administrator Caren Harp reported that she has invited representatives from the Department of Education’s Title I funding programs to participate in OJJDP’s State Relations and Assistance Division National Training Conference in Kansas City, MO, in September. “The Title I programs address the needs of at-risk youth, the same population as OJJDP’s Title II [Formula Grants] programs,” said Administrator Harp. “There’s a huge opportunity for SAGs to partner. I’ve asked the Department of Education folks to come to the September meeting and talk about Title I funding and areas we can be partnering in, including corrections, reentry, prevention, and school intervention.” TeNeane Bradford, head of OJJDP’s State Relations and Assistance Division, added that representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Runaway and Homeless Youth program will also attend the September conference to share information about that program and resources available to SAGs.

Judge David HejmanowskiDavid Hejmanowski is a judge in the Delaware County (OH) Probate/Juvenile Court, where he previously served as a juvenile/probate magistrate and juvenile court administrator. He is an instructor at the Ohio Supreme Court Judicial College, where he teaches juvenile and family law, among other topics. He also worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office. Among other professional activities, Judge Hejmanowski is a member of the Ohio Judicial Conference Juvenile Law and Procedure Committee, the Governor’s Council on Juvenile Justice, and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges’ Curriculum Committee. Judge Hejmanowski was chair of the Delaware County Bar Association’s Juvenile Committee from 2006 to 2015. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hiram College and a law degree from Ohio State University., Chair of the Subcommittee on Compliance With the Juvenile Justice Reform Act, said the group has been working to help OJJDP draft regulations pertinent to the JJRA. The Act replaces the term “adequate” with “effective” to describe state systems that monitor for compliance with the core requirements; however, the statute does not define “effective.” The JJRA also imposes additional requirements for the use of the valid court order exception, which allows judges to issue detention orders in status offense cases if youth have violated a valid court order. The Act states that “a second or subsequent order” may not be issued, and Judge Hejmanowski noted that states have been requesting clarification of that term. OJJDP will promulgate rules defining an “effective” system of monitoring and “a second or subsequent order.”

The Subcommittee on Educating the Field, headed by Anthony PierroAnthony Pierro is Chief Juvenile Attorney in the Ocean County (NJ) Prosecutor’s Office, where he previously served as chief of special litigation and director of the Community Relations Unit as well as assistant prosecutor. The New Jersey Governor appointed Mr. Pierro to New Jersey’s SAG in 2014. Mr. Pierro is a member of the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform’s Juvenile Prosecutors Leadership Network, New Jersey Juvenile Prosecutors Leadership Network, New Jersey Council on Juvenile Justice System Improvement, Ocean County Council on Juvenile Justice System Improvement, and Ocean County Youth Services Commission. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Seton Hall University and a law degree from New England Law/Boston., has been working to develop an online “gateway” to information, resources, and training for practitioners who are new to the juvenile justice field. “We want to make sure that anyone entering the juvenile justice [field can] . . . access the information they need to become familiar with all the work we do in juvenile justice.” He added that the subcommittee aims to develop a basic training program for juvenile justice professionals that “will be available to anyone . . . at any time.”

Kathryn RichtmanKathryn Richtman is Director of the Ramsey County (MN) Attorney’s Juvenile Division, which is responsible for the diversion and prosecution of all of the county’s delinquency cases. She previously served as assistant Scott County attorney and as a judicial law clerk in the First Judicial District. She is a co-chair of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association’s Juvenile Law Committee and a member of the Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force, the Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, and the Ramsey County Safe Harbors for Youth Planning Committee. Ms. Richtman has served more than 10 years as a member of Minnesota’s SAG. She received the Advocates for Human Rights Special Recognition Award in 2012 and the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office Special Achievement Award in 2008. Ms. Richtman received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Minnesota and a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law., head of the Subcommittee on Special Topics, reported that the group has identified addressing the needs of at-risk youth in rural areas as a major priority. According to Ms. Richtman, the group met with Betty-Ann Bryce, a special advisor on rural issues at the Office of National Drug Control Policy, who offered to provide specialized trainings to SAGs on meeting the challenges of poverty and drug abuse in rural communities. The subcommittee offered a range of recommendations to OJJDP, including increasing rural communities’ access to opportunities to apply for federal funding, providing training and technical assistance to ensure the sustainability of grant-funded programs, expanding OJJDP collaboration with other federal agencies serving youth and families in rural areas, and designating an OJJDP go-to person for information and resources on rural issues.

OJJDP has restructured the FACJJ to enable the Office to better meet its mandate of responding to states’ concerns and addressing emerging issues in the juvenile justice field. The streamlined committee consists of 14 SAG members who represent diverse perspectives, subject-matter expertise, and geographic locations. Joseph VignatiJoseph Vignati is Assistant Commissioner/Chief of Staff at the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, where his previous service included work as deputy commissioner. In his earlier years at the Department of Juvenile Justice, Mr. Vignati developed a continuum of privatized alternative services for youth detained in Fulton and Dekalb Counties. From 2008 to 2014, he worked as administrator of the Justice Division at the Governor’s Office for Children and Families. Mr. Vignati also served as deputy director and grants monitor for the Children and Youth Coordinating Council. His grants work included oversight of 65 state and local grant-funded projects. His term as a SAG member began in 2016. Mr. Vignati received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Augusta University and a master’s degree in public administration from Georgia State University. is the FACJJ Chair and Melanie ShapiroMelanie Shapiro is Director of Juvenile Justice Policy for Maryland’s Office of the Public Defender, where she previously served as chief attorney and supervising attorney in the Baltimore City Juvenile Division. As director, she represents the Office during the Maryland legislative session and in joint efforts to improve the juvenile justice system, including participation in Maryland’s SAG, the Work Group to Study Safe Harbor Policy for Youth Victims of Human Trafficking, and the School to Prison Pipeline Commission. She has also developed trainings and policies for the Office’s juvenile defense practice. Ms. Shapiro most recently served on FACJJ from 2016 to 2018. She received a bachelor’s degree in government with a minor in religious studies from Franklin & Marshall College and a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. is Vice Chair.

The Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice is a consultative body established by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended (Section 223), and is supported by OJJDP. Composed of members of state advisory groups on juvenile justice, the committee advises the President and Congress on matters related to juvenile justice, evaluates the progress and accomplishments of juvenile justice activities and projects, and advises the OJJDP Administrator on the work of OJJDP.


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