U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein offered remarks at event. “I’d like to begin by thanking each of you for the work that you do. Dealing with families and children in crisis is difficult. But our families, our communities, and our nation are better for it.” Photo courtesy of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

OJJDP Acting Administrator Eileen M. Garry reflected on the Office’s decades-long partnership with the council during NCJFCJ’s 80th annual conference, held July 16–19, 2017, in Washington, DC. “You are critical partners in helping us achieve positive outcomes for our nation’s youth,” Ms. Garry said. “We want to ensure that youth who come into contact with the juvenile justice system . . . are held appropriately accountable for their behavior, yet are treated fairly and given an opportunity to live a responsible, productive life.”

The conference also featured remarks from Virginia State Senator David Marsden and U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein as well as presentations on issues facing the family court and juvenile justice systems.

Our country’s bright future depends on the well-being of our children—and their families are key to ensuring their success. Thank you . . . for everything you do to protect and support these children and their families. The Department of Justice is proud to be your partner as we work toward that brighter future.

—U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein

OJJDP continued its tradition of offering presentations at the conference. In a session titled “Improving Approaches to System-Involved Youth With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders,” OJJDP Senior Policy Advisor Scott Pestridge discussed NCJFCJ’s OJJDP-supported guidelines Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Implications for Juvenile and Family Court Judges, provided updates on efforts of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders’ Justice Issues Work Group, and presented information from OJJDP’s Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Listening Session Report.

OJJDP Deputy Associate Administrator Brecht Donoghue and Research Coordinator Jennifer Tyson presented two sessions alongside staff from NCJFCJ’s research arm, the National Center for Juvenile Justice. One session provided data and information to help attendees stay current on trends in juvenile justice, including state juvenile arrest rates, diversion policies, and the use of risk and needs assessments. The second session, “A Blueprint to Better Data: Panel of Model Data Project Pilot Sites,” discussed OJJDP’s efforts to improve data and measurement practices. 

In “Raising the Age of Criminal Responsibility: Lessons Learned From the Field,” OJJDP Program Manager Julia Alanen and copanelists highlighted relevant OJJDP-funded training and technical assistance resources and lessons learned from states that recently raised their age of criminal responsibility to 18.

OJJDP Program Manager Karen Bachar moderated the session, “Countering the Trauma of Street Injustice and Family Violence: The Courts’ Role in Supporting Male Survivors of Violence.” She was joined by Casey Corcoran, Children and Youth Program Director at Futures Without Violence, and Judge Thomas E. Foster of the Kansas 10th Judicial District. Ms. Bachar also discussed how male survivors of violence experience trauma and highlighted OJJDP’s efforts, with the Office for Victims of Crime, to help professionals identify and help heal these young men.

“So many of the young people you encounter in your courtrooms have been traumatized by violence and abuse. They need loving, caring people in their lives, an opportunity to heal, and a chance for a new start,” said Ms. Garry. “This conference is a unique opportunity to share what you have learned works. We at OJJDP look forward to being part of those conversations.”

Resources:

Learn more about OJJDP’s Research and Statistics projects.

Visit OJJDP’s TTA360 for information on the agency’s full range of juvenile justice-related training and technical assistance.