OJJDP News @ A GlanceOJP Seal
Printer-Friendly Version
How OJJDP Is Promoting Youth Justice and Safety: 2016 Wrap-Up

Photo of happy familyOJJDP has two primary responsibilities—to address the needs of youth who have come into contact with the juvenile justice system or who are at risk of doing so and to protect children who are victims of violence, crime, and abuse.

In fiscal year 2016, OJJDP awarded more than $283 million in grants to help at-risk youth, protect children, and improve juvenile justice systems nationwide. Following are highlights of how OJJDP’s research, programs, and initiatives are helping to make a difference in the lives of the youth and families we serve.

Budget and Administration Division

Led by Associate Administrator Janet Chiancone and Deputy Associate Administrator Will Bronson, the Budget and Administration (B & A) Division is responsible for OJJDP's budget, human resources, office support, contract and procurement support, performance measurement, and award administration activities.

In 2016, B & A conducted an officewide efficiency assessment, which revealed the need for a better document tracking and information management system to improve communication and efficiency within the Office. In October, OJJDP launched its enhanced SharePoint Portal Main Page. The SharePoint site is the central tool for information dissemination, project team management, as well as document, records, and workflow management across the Office. The B & A-managed tool is expected to improve the overall operating efficiency of OJJDP, resulting in enhanced service to internal and external stakeholders.


 

Core Protections Division

Led by Acting Associate Administrator Marlene Beckman, OJJDP’s Core Protection Division (CPD) helps states and territories comply with the regulations of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act. To ensure compliance, CPD provides training and technical assistance (TTA) on compliance monitoring. The states can request training and technical assistance through OJJDP TTA360—the Office’s web-based, user-friendly request system.

CPD is developing final rules that improve child protection and help states in meeting the JJDP Act’s mandates. In August, OJJDP published new proposed Title II Part B Formula Grant regulations in the Federal Register for public comment. The proposed regulations are designed to eliminate subjectivity in determining states' compliance. The Office received approximately 300 pages of comments from 72 respondents; the comments are undergoing internal review.


CPD recently updated the policy document, Monitoring of State Compliance With the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. The report describes the information states and territories must submit to demonstrate compliance with the core requirements of the Act.

Innovation and Research Division

Led by Associate Administrator Catherine Doyle and Deputy Associate Administrator Brecht Donoghue, the Innovation and Research Division administers the Office's research, training and technical assistance (TTA), and communications activities.

 

In 2016, the division’s Research Unit released a number of resources and tools to assist practitioners, such as the Implementation Guides section of OJJDP's Model Programs Guide and a Data Snapshots series, which provides information about justice system-involved youth in an easy-to-understand, graphical format. The Office's research team and Juvenile Justice and System Improvement Division partnered with American Institutes for Research to develop the recently released Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Guidelines. The Guidelines will ensure a more uniform approach to the provision of treatment and services based on current research in adolescent development, substance use, youth interventions, family engagement, and juvenile drug courts. The team also partnered with the Urban Institute on The Bridge Project—an effort to develop research-to-practice resources that will advance the understanding, translation, and application of research and research-based strategies. The project recently released a brief entitled Stakeholders' Perceptions of Research and Practice Gaps in Juvenile Justice. To learn more about The Bridge Project, visit the OJJDP website.

In January, the division hosted a Training and Technical Assistance Provider Network meeting. In addition to sharing information about the technical and administrative resources and support available to OJJDP-funded TTA providers, the event featured presentations designed to provoke discussion about how racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system can be identified and addressed. Presentations also centered on how providers can adopt a developmental approach to their TTA to ensure that practitioners are equipped to address the needs of children and youth.

OJJDP is committed to providing researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and the public with timely and reliable juvenile justice information. In 2016, the division’s Communications Unit disseminated information through a range of vehicles, including OJJDP.gov; social media; a newsletter and a listserv that alert subscribers to important funding opportunities, resources, and events; and research publications. The Communications Unit was responsible for the successful promotion of the Changing Minds public education campaign, which launched in October 2016.

Juvenile Justice System Improvement Division

Led by Associate Administrator Kellie Blue and Deputy Associate Administrator Nicole Dennis, the Juvenile Justice System Improvement (JJSI) Division coordinates OJJDP's work with law enforcement, judges and courts, corrections, and other juvenile justice components to promote system improvement and best practices. This work includes overseeing the OJJDP-sponsored National Juvenile Justice Prosecution Center (NJJPC), which provides curriculums and resources to educate, inform, and support juvenile prosecutors nationwide. NJJPC has developed a web-based databank to provide prosecutors with access to up-to-date information on case law and data-driven practices regarding adolescent brain development. Recently, NJJPC worked with the National District Attorneys Association to update its Juvenile Prosecution Standards and prepare an accompanying Policy Positions and Guidelines document. These tools will assist prosecutors and other juvenile justice professionals as they work toward consistency and fairness in the juvenile justice system.

JJSI is also working to address substance use by youth, a serious and widespread problem in the United States. JJSI, along with the Innovation and Research Division, coordinated the development of the research-informed Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Guidelines to ensure the effective treatment of substance-using youth who come into contact with juvenile courts. These courts are working with young people and their families to identify the mental, social, and/or emotional issues that may contribute to youth's substance use-related crimes. The Guidelines will provide juvenile drug courts with an evidence-based, treatment-oriented approach that emphasizes family engagement and that addresses the substance use and often co-occurring mental health challenges these youth experience.

State and Community Development Division

Led by Associate Administrator Robin Delany-Shabazz and Deputy Associate Administrator Jennifer Yeh, OJJDP’s State and Community Development (SCD) team manages OJJDP's state formula and block grants—working closely with Core Protections and training and technical assistance staff—and major U.S. Department of Justice violence prevention initiatives. This year, SCD completed its integration and alignment of separate prevention funding streams into the cohesive and strategically focused Safe and Thriving Communities initiative.


In all its efforts, SCD is raising awareness about children’s exposure to violence, the consequences of childhood trauma, and the need for developmentally appropriate interventions. These include national and focused technical assistance and initiatives programs such as the Defending Childhood State Policy Initiative, the Tribal Policy Initiative, the Changing Minds national public awareness campaign, efforts to engage faith- and community-based organizations in youth violence prevention work, and training for law enforcement and educators on children’s exposure to violence. SCD also co-leads the Office for Victims of Crime-OJJDP Supporting Male Survivors of Violence initiative.

 

SCD has recently begun a focused effort to directly engage with State Advisory Groups (SAGs) to strengthen relationships with states. By the end of 2016, OJJDP leadership and SCD staff will have visited or met with eight SAGs. These meetings are the first wave in a multiyear plan to visit with each of the 56 SAGs. OJJDP’s participation in SAG meetings is part of a larger effort to provide more responsive support to states in their efforts to reform youth justice systems across the country. This effort will include webinars and trainings for SAG members to increase collaboration and infuse innovation nationwide.

Youth Development, Prevention, and Safety Division

Led by Associate Administrator James Antal and Deputy Associate Administrators Jeffrey Gersh and Jacqueline O'Reilly, the Youth Development, Prevention, and Safety (YDPS) Division administers policies and programs that focus on positive youth development and protecting children against victimization. In December, YDPS staff coordinated OJJDP’s Tribal Youth National Conference. The biennial conference brings together OJJDP-funded programs to share successes and challenges in creating, expanding, and sustaining innovative, developmentally appropriate, and culturally relevant approaches to support tribal youth. The conference featured a Trauma-Informed Policing With Tribal Youth virtual simulation which provided tribal law enforcement personnel with skills to improve outcomes in their interactions with youth. More than 40 federally recognized tribes attended the conference.

The explosion of technology has facilitated child exploitation, making it a global threat. Increasingly, child pornography is shared anonymously and untraceably via encrypted files on the “Darknet.” Keeping up to date is crucial in the rapidly evolving area of technology-facilitated crimes against children. In April, YDPS staff helped organize OJJDP’s 2016 National Law Enforcement Training on Child Exploitation. The conference brought together nearly 1,500 U.S. and international law enforcement professionals to learn cutting-edge techniques, improve collaboration, and learn from experts in their fields. Several federal officials attended the 3½-day event, including U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch who told participants, “I have no illusions that our task will be easy, but I also have no doubt that together, we can help to realize our nation’s most sacred obligationproviding security and opportunity for our children and ensuring justice for all.”


Back to top


OJJDP Sponsors Institute for Police-Youth Engagement
Photo of meeting“You hold one of the most important leadership positions in your communities,” Administrator Listenbee said to the attendees. “Take your rightful place at the decisionmaking table and work within your communities to help develop and implement policies to improve police and youth engagement.”
On November 15–17, 2016, OJJDP sponsored the first Institute for Police-Youth Engagement to explore best practices and innovative approaches for improving interactions between youth and law enforcement. The meeting, held in Louisville, KY, was led by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in partnership with the Coalition for Juvenile Justice.

Police chiefs from urban, suburban, tribal, and rural communities across the nation gathered for roundtable discussions on current agency practice and policy in response to young people, opportunities for improvement, and the development of action plans within individual agencies to improve police-youth engagement.

Topics covered included the police chief’s role in advocating for youth; strategies for engaging, communicating, and problem-solving with youth; diversion of youth from the juvenile justice system as a way to promote positive life outcomes; implicit bias and disproportionate minority contact; the science of adolescent development; and the long-term effects of children’s exposure to violence and other adverse childhood experiences.

Research has shown that more than 90 percent of youth desist from criminal behavior as they mature into adulthood. In response, the juvenile justice system is in the process of moving away from a juvenile justice model focused on punishment and toward approaches that foster prosocial development and accountability. In addition, many youth who come into contact with law enforcement have been exposed to violence and trauma in their neighborhoods, schools, and homes. Traumatized children are more likely to suffer from a substance use disorder; experience depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder; fail or have difficulties in school; and become involved in the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

“We must look holistically at these young people, not just at behavior that is often viewed as delinquent,” said Administrator Listenbee in his remarks at the institute on November 16. “We must not label these children as delinquent or bad, but learn to identify and respond to children who have been exposed to violence.”

Administrator Listenbee provided an overview of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) recently launched national campaign to raise awareness, teach skills, and inspire public action to address children’s exposure to violence and childhood trauma. The multiyear Changing Minds campaign will assist teachers, coaches, law enforcement officers, counselors, health professionals, social workers, and others who regularly interact with children to take meaningful action in supporting children who may be affected. Developed through the DOJ’s Defending Childhood Initiative, which is administered by OJJDP, the national education campaign features digital and print content intended to reach adults who interact with children and youth in grades K–12.

Resources:

To learn more about the differences between the developing adolescent brain and the adult brain and how these differences present key challenges for law enforcement, read the OJJDP–IACP brief, The Effects of Adolescent Development on Policing.

For information on the science of childhood trauma, and how five everyday gestures can help children heal, visit the website of the Changing Minds public awareness campaign.

Back to top


Justice Department Convenes Panel on Community-Based Approaches to Juvenile Justice
Photo of Robert Listenbee and a lady
On October 21, 2016, juvenile justice experts and government officials gathered at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs to discuss community-based models for reducing recidivism and promoting positive development for justice-involved youth.

The event, held in Washington, DC, featured remarks by Karol V. Mason, Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs; OJJDP Administrator Robert L. Listenbee; and National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Director Nancy Rodriguez.
Patrick McCarthy, president and CEO of The Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Vincent Schiraldi, senior research fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Program in Criminal Justice, presented a paper they coauthored with Miriam Shark, former associate director of the Casey Foundation, as part of the Executive Session on Community Corrections. The Executive Session is cosponsored by NIJ and the Harvard Kennedy School.

Citing recent research on adolescent development, the negative effects of youth confinement, and the high and rising costs of this practice, the paper The Future of Youth Justice: A Community-Based Alternative to the Youth Prison Model, recommends replacing the youth prison model with (1) evidence- and community-based programs for most justice-involved young people and (2) small, homelike facilities close to the youth’s communities for the few who do need to be removed from the community and put in a residential facility.

A panel of experts discussed and responded to the ideas put forward in the paper. Panelists included Da’Quon Beaver, RISE for Youth; Phyllis Becker, director, Missouri Division of Youth Services; Kristin Henning, professor of law and director of Georgetown University’s Juvenile Justice Clinic. Other presenters were Karl Racine, Attorney General for the District of Columbia; Liz Ryan, president and CEO, Youth First; Tracey Wells-Huggins, associate director, Justice for Families; and Dr. Jennifer Woolard, associate professor of psychology and codirector of the Graduate Program in Developmental Science at Georgetown University. Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health and Director of the Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, moderated the panel.

“We know the impact of trauma on kids,” said Ms. Mason, encouraging attendees to continue working toward a developmentally based, trauma-informed juvenile justice system. “We know—based on the research—that our current juvenile justice system does not work. So, let’s go out and create something that does work.”

Resources:

Read a blog post on "The Pitfalls of Youth Incarceration" by Assistant Attorney General Mason.

To learn more about how the science of adolescent development is informing juvenile justice reform, read the OJJDP-commissioned reports, Reforming Juvenile Justice: A Developmental Approach and Implementing Juvenile Justice Reform: The Federal Role.

OJJDP’s Smart on Juvenile Justice initiative is helping guide states across the nation toward effective models that maximize savings, improve public safety, and serve the needs of justice-involved youth. Learn more about the initiative.

Back to top


Stakeholder Corner: Big Brothers Big Sisters of America’s Bigs in Blue Initiative Is Helping To Bridge Gaps Between Police and Youth
Roanoke Bigs in Blue participants—Little Brother Robert and Big Brother Ryan—enjoy their weekly relationship-building activities.Bigs in Blue participants—Little Brother Robert and Big Brother Ryan, a match from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia—enjoy their weekly relationship-building activities.

Photo provided by BBBSA. Photographer: Paula Greenway

By Pam Iorio

In communities across the country, relationships between police and the communities they serve are strained. The challenges are complex, and many are left feeling that the solutions will always be out of reach. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) is using the power of mentoring to improve relations between police and communities through a national police-youth mentoring program called Bigs in Blue.

Law enforcement officers volunteer as “Bigs,” and are matched in one-on-one relationships with “Littles” in the communities they serve. They build relationships by spending time together and sharing experiences.

The Bigs in Blue program has been operating successfully for several years in jurisdictions, including Miami, FL; St. Louis, MO; Baltimore, MD; Newark, NJ; Milwaukee, WI; and Roanoke, VA. BBBSA is funding the expansion of the program to even more jurisdictions. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles just launched their Bigs in Blue program through a partnership with the Los Angeles Rams. Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region, the affiliate in Philadelphia, PA, will begin their Bigs in Blue program at several elementary schools in January 2017.

In Roanoke, Big Brother Ryan—a detective with the Roanoke Police Department—visits his Little Brother Robert weekly. They spend time doing homework and being active. Ryan says he remembers when he and other officers first started visiting their Littles. Some of the kids in the classroom were fearful. Over time, even the kids who weren’t matched with officers got to know the Bigs who came to their school. Now, they look forward to seeing them at school and in the neighborhood. Big Brother Ryan says the program has been positive for him, too. “When you’re a police officer, a lot of times, you deal with the 1 percent of people who are negative. You can get jaded,” he said. “Ninety-nine percent of our interactions are with that 1 percent. That’s why I wanted to do this. Being in the neighborhood, with the kids, you get to see how good people are.” Ryan and Robert’s story was featured in a recent Today Show segment.

BBBSA has three active grant awards with OJJDP to mentor nearly 27,000 youth who may have incarcerated parents, and/or be at risk, be high risk, be underserved, or be system involved. These grants will support BBBSA in helping to reduce youth delinquency, recidivism, substance use, truancy, and other problem behaviors. BBBSA will use its own assessment and survey vehicles to collect data, measure outcomes, and improve technical assistance.

Resources:

Visit the website of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for more information about the Bigs in Blue program.

Former Tampa, FL, Mayor Pam Iorio is president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. She has led the organization since 2014. Points of view or opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Back to top


Upcoming Events

Children’s Law Institute: January 11–13, 2017

The Children’s Law Institute, hosted by New Mexico State University’s Southwest Region National Child Protection Training Center, is a multidisciplinary conference that addresses important issues in child welfare and juvenile justice. The institute, which will take place in Albuquerque, NM, will provide educators, child welfare workers, judges, lawyers, juvenile justice personnel, child advocates, and others stakeholders with up-to-date information on the law, best practices, and changing trends locally and nationally, as well as opportunities to network and share information. Registration information is available online.

San Diego International Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment: January 31–February 3, 2017

The objective of the San Diego International Conference—sponsored by the Chadwick Center for Children and Families —is to develop and enhance professionals' skills and knowledge in the prevention, recognition, assessment, and treatment of all forms of child and family maltreatment as well as enhancing investigative and legal skills. Topics include mental health and trauma counseling, forensic interviewing, child welfare, and substance abuse. Learn more from the conference brochure.

National Mentoring Summit: February 1–3, 2017

National Mentoring Summit logoConvened by MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, this annual event, to be held in Washington, DC, will bring together practitioners, researchers, corporate partners, government and civic leaders, national youth-serving organizations, and the network of affiliate Mentoring Partnerships to explore and advance mentoring’s positive impact on individuals and communities. The theme for this year’s summit is “Building Relationships, Advancing the Movement.” Registration information is available online.

Transforming a Truancy Court to a Problem-Solving Court: February 3, 2017

The National Center for School Engagement is providing training, to be held in Denver, CO, that is designed for professionals engaged in helping students and families improve school attendance in conjunction with the courts—including judges, magistrates, school district personnel, juvenile parole officers, and girls athletic leadership schools. Problem-solving courts assist in overcoming underlying causes of truancy in a child's life by engaging the family and community partners in collaborative support of the child. The ultimate goal of these efforts is to achieve regular school attendance and dismiss truancy petitions. Registration information is available online.

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America National Leadership Forum and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 13th Prevention Day: February 6–9, 2017

"Engineering Healthy Communities," the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s National Leadership Forum, will take place in National Harbor, MD. The forum will provide opportunities for attendees to learn the latest strategies to fight substance abuse and hear from nationally known prevention experts, federal administrators, and policymakers. Sessions will focus on making positive systematic progress, learning from theory about what works, implementing those practices in a comprehensive manner, and resolving substance abuse problems. Registration information is available online.

National Conference on Juvenile Justice: February 12–15, 2017

National Conference on Juvenile Justice logoThe National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges’ annual conference will take place in New York, NY. Topics include alternatives to detention, trauma-informed justice, crossover youth, dating violence, ending solitary confinement, recidivism, disproportionate minority contact, sex trafficking of minors, juvenile drug courts, runaways, and the Interstate Compact for Juveniles. Registration information is available online.

Conducting Unexplained Child Death Investigations: February 13–16, 2017

 

This training, sponsored by the National Criminal Justice Training Center, will provide law enforcement personnel, child protective services staff, prosecutors, and other child-serving professionals with up-to-date practices and tips for the investigation of unexplained child deaths. Topics include possible causes of death and the investigative steps involved in evidence identification, collection, and documentation. The training will take place in Portsmouth, NH. Registration information is available online.

 

This training will also take place in New Orleans, LA, on July 31–August 3, 2017.

 

Missing Children Seminar for Chief Executive Officers: February 20–21, 2017

 

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is offering this 2-day seminar in Forsyth, GA, to familiarize police chiefs, sheriffs, public safety directors, and clearinghouse managers with the issues related to missing child cases, including strategy development, community assessment, the media, effective policies and practices, technical assistance, training, and resources for survivors of child abduction. Registration information is available online.

 

Multidisciplinary Team Response to Child Sex Trafficking: February 27–March 2, 2017

 

This team-based training, offered in Chicago, IL, by the National Criminal Justice Training Center, will improve multidisciplinary team (MDT) responses to child sex trafficking cases and assist those wanting to establish a formal MDT in their community to effectively respond to child sex trafficking. Subject matter experts will work with teams to identify gaps and develop short- and long-term response plans. The training will help attendees differentiate between child abuse and child sexual abuse cases and help them recognize and locate youth at risk. Registration information is available online.

 

This training will also take place in Hartford, CT, on April 18–21, 2017.

 

National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking: March 6–7, 2017

 

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is conducting this institute in partnership with OJJDP and Rights4Girls. To be held in Austin, TX, the interactive training will use hypothetical case scenarios, small-group discussion, survivor testimony, practical courtroom exercises, and lectures to provide juvenile and family court judges with tools they need to identify children who are being trafficked or are at risk for victimization as well as effective intervention strategies that respond to the individualized needs of each victim. Only judges and court officers may register for this training. Registration information is available online.

 

Child Abuse and Exploitation Investigations: March 20–24, 2017

This training, to be conducted in Albany, NY, is sponsored by the National Criminal Justice Training Center. Presenters will provide participants with up-to-date information on investigating and prosecuting various types of child abuse cases and the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach when investigating and prosecuting child abuse, sexual abuse, and exploitation cases. Topics include interviewing children and suspects, evidence collection, case management, technologies that facilitate child abuse and exploitation, and current legal issues. Registration information is available online.

33rd International Symposium on Child Abuse: March 27–30, 2017

National Children Advocacy Center logoThe National Children’s Advocacy Center will host its 33rd International Symposium on Child Abuse in Huntsville, AL. This conference will offer more than 130 workshops. Sessions will address topics such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, exposure to violence, polyvictimization, exploitation, intervention, trafficking, and prevention. More information about the symposium is available online.

17th Annual International Family Justice Conference: April 4–6, 2017

The Family Justice Center Alliance will host its annual conference in Milwaukee, WI. This event includes training and interactive peer-to-peer discussions on issues related to the handling of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, elder abuse, and stalking cases with special focus on law enforcement response, criminal prosecution, civil legal assistance, and advocacy. The Alliance welcomes law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, shelter staff, community-based victim advocates, and all others interested in the future of family violence intervention and prevention. More information about this conference is available online.

LEAD Conference: Moving from Research to Policy & Practice to Improve the Lives of Youth: April 6–7, 2017

The conference, to be held in Washington, DC, will focus on how to best apply research in the development and implementation of sound policies and practices in child-serving fields, featuring the work of Georgetown University's Center for Juvenile Justice Reform. Reflecting the importance of cross-systems collaboration, the event will focus on key developments in child welfare, juvenile justice, education, behavioral health, and family engagement. Breakout sessions include evidence-based approaches for multisystem youth; reducing racial and ethnic disparities in youth-serving systems; and advances in behavioral health assessments, services, child welfare, school suspension/expulsion, and youth corrections reform. Registration information is available online.

 

Institute for New Juvenile and Family Court Judges: April 24–28, 2017

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) designed this institute, to be held in Reno, NV, to provide participants with a better understanding, practical tools, and best practices in cases coming before juvenile and family courts. Presenters will share insights on ethical issues, child and adolescent development, schools and courts, the Indian Child Welfare Act, trauma-informed justice, abuse and neglect, delinquency, interpersonal violence, custody, divorce, self-represented litigants, judicial safety and security, and dealing with the media. The training also prepares judicial scholars for participation in other NCJFCJ institutes on family law, delinquency, dependency, and domestic violence. Registration information is available online.

National Conference on Children and the Law: April 27–28, 2017

The American Bar Association will conduct its 17th National Conference on Children and the Law, entitled “SOAR—Strengthening Our Advocacy for Results.” To be held in Tysons Corner, VA, the conference will focus on how advocates for children and families can improve outcomes and effect improvements in the law, the court system, social services, and other systems serving the needs of children and youth. Registration information is available online.

Back to top


News in Brief

OJJDP Reflects on Legacy of Former Attorney General Janet Reno

Former Attorney General Janet RenoFormer Attorney General Janet Reno. Photo source: Santa Clara Law Digital Commons

Janet Reno, the 78th Attorney General of the United States, passed away on November 7, 2016. Ms. Reno was the longest serving attorney general in the 20th century, and the first woman to ever serve in that capacity. OJJDP will remember Ms. Reno best for her decades-long advocacy on behalf of our nation’s children. Throughout her career, Ms. Reno adhered to the principle that providing safe, stable, and nurturing environments, combined with community-based early intervention strategies, are key to ensuring that children grow up to lead productive and successful lives and avoid contact with the juvenile justice system.

“Janet Reno’s leadership laid the groundwork for many of OJJDP’s efforts to prevent and address the trauma caused to children by early exposure to violence, crime, and abuse,” said Administrator Listenbee. “Her tireless defense of children is an important part of her legacy, and her dedication continues to inspire us at OJJDP today.”

White House Event Addresses Breaking Barriers for Girls

On November 14–15, 2016, the White House Council on Women and Girls and The National Crittenton Foundation hosted “Young Women Leading the Way: Strategies and Solutions To Breaking Barriers for Girls and by Girls.” The event was attended by federal officials, including representatives from OJJDP; advocates; scholars; representatives from community-based organizations; and young women who are activists and changemakers within their own communities. Following a screening of the documentary “Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope,” Catherine Pierce, Senior Advisor to the OJJDP Administrator, moderated a panel discussion on “Youth, Trauma, and Resilience.” During the panel, Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Karol V. Mason referenced OJJDP-funded efforts, such as the National Survey on Children’s Exposure to Violence and the Changing Minds public awareness campaign and noted that, “the courts, prosecutors, systems, and schools are understanding the connection of children’s exposure to violence and other outcomes with children.” Administrator Listenbee expressed the hope that raising awareness about the pervasiveness and impact of children’s exposure to violence will enhance treatment services “so girls can get the right care in their own locations without ever coming into the juvenile justice system.”

To learn more about how OJJDP is addressing the unique needs of at-risk and system-involved girls, visit the OJJDP website.

OJJDP Leaders Discuss Needs of System-Involved Chicana/Latina Girls at Conference

“Because girls are a much smaller population in juvenile justice system than boys, they’re often overlooked, so there is a lack of awareness of these girls’ experiences,” said OJJDP Senior Policy Advisor Georgina Mendoza McDowell at the first-ever conference on Chicana/Latina Girls in the Juvenile Justice System.

The conference—held on November 2, 2016, in Salinas, CA—was sponsored by OJJDP’s National Girls Initiative, the National Compadres Network, and the NoVo Foundation. Approximately 100 experts, advocates, researchers, and Latina girls and young women attended the conference. The conference was organized to identify the needs of at-risk and system-involved Chicana/Latina girls and to increase interest in gender-responsive, culturally based, and trauma-informed juvenile justice system reforms.

Ms. McDowell conceded that it is “very difficult to find data and information uniquely on Latina girls” and announced the release of the OJJDP bulletin, Delinquency Cases Involving Hispanic Youth, 2013. According to Catherine Pierce, Senior Advisor to the OJJDP Administrator, nearly 30 percent of young people arrested are girls and young women, many of whom have witnessed or experienced violence. And, although they pose little threat to public safety, they continue to be arrested and detained for nonviolent acts, including status offenses.

More information on OJJDP’s work with at-risk girls is available online in the Reducing Reliance on Confinement and Improving Community-Based Responses for Girls At Risk of Entering the Juvenile Justice System solicitation and the Office’s policy guidance on Girls and the Juvenile Justice System.

OJJDP Administrator Pens Article on Law Enforcement’s Role in Changing Minds About Children’s Exposure to Violence

IACP logoIn an article published in the December 2016 issue of Police Chief magazine, Administrator Listenbee explores the critical role law enforcement can play in elevating our nation’s response to children’s exposure to violence. Such exposure is significantly correlated with a range of adverse outcomes later in life, including involvement in the justice system.

“For most young people, their initial contact with the justice system is through an interaction with a law enforcement officer,” Administrator Listenbee writes. “That officer may be among those supportive and caring adults who can help guide a youth toward healing and away from further involvement with the justice system, while law enforcement officers who interact regularly with young people may recognize signs of trauma and take the first steps to guide them to available services and programs.”

Administrator Listenbee also provides an overview of Changing Minds, the Justice Department’s recently launched national campaign to raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of children’s exposure to violence and the trauma that may result. Changing Minds has developed a website, ChangingMindsNOW.org, and a toolkit with video, digital, and print content to educate teachers, coaches, health professionals, guidance counselors, law enforcement officers, and other adults who work with children about children’s exposure to violence and how to mitigate the effects of trauma through caring and supportive gestures.

OJJDP Participates in a Series of State Advisory Group Meetings

Administrator Listenbee offered remarks at State Advisory Group meetings in Hawai’i and Utah on December 15, 2016, in Georgia on December 12, in New York on December 6, and in Iowa on December 1. Among a range of topics, Administrator Listenbee highlighted the successes of OJJDP’s Smart on Juvenile Justice Initiative, which is currently supporting reforms in Georgia, Hawai’i, Kentucky, Kansas, South Dakota, and West Virginia. Mr. Listenbee reported that juvenile commitments have dropped by 33 percent in Georgia and 45 percent in Kentucky since July 2015. In addition, admissions to the Hawai’i Youth Correctional Facility have decreased from a high of 193 in fiscal year 2008 to 47 in fiscal year 2015; South Dakota closed the STAR Academy, a state-run residential facility in April 2016, and expanded statewide evidence-based interventions; and, as of July 2016, West Virginia expanded its community-based alternatives with the evaluation of 12 existing youth reporting centers and the opening of three additional centers.

Mr Listenbee also spoke about OJJDP’s proposed Formula Grants regulations and the recently launch Changing Minds public awareness campaign—a national education campaign to raise awareness about the urgency and prevalence of childhood trauma and exposure to violence, and to motivate adults who regularly interact with children and youth to take action and help.

Mr. Listenbee also spoke to State Advisory Groups in Richmond, VA, on November 30; Harrisburg, PA, on November 17; and Orlando, FL, on October 31. OJJDP’s participation in SAG meetings is part of a larger effort to provide more responsive support to states in their efforts to reform youth justice systems across the country.

Administrator Listenbee Highlights Juvenile Justice Reform at Conference

On November 9, 2016, Administrator Listenbee discussed new developments in OJJDP’s juvenile justice system reform efforts at the 12th Annual Strengthening Youth and Families Conference in Arlington, TX. Among other achievements, Listenbee highlighted the Smart on Juvenile Justice Initiative’s fiscal year 2016 Age of Criminal Responsibility Training and Technical Assistance program, which will fund training and technical assistance to states that have an age of criminal responsibility below 18 years old. “We hope to analyze states’ capacities to raise the upper limit of juvenile justice jurisdiction to 18 years old,” Listenbee said. “Doing so will not only improve life outcomes, but also reduce recidivism for youth, in accordance with evidence-based practices.”

Winning poster from the 2016 poster contest2016 winning poster by Michael Wu from Walnut Elementary School in Walnut, CA.

OJJDP Announces 2017 National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest

OJJDP invites fifth graders nationwide to participate in the 2017 National Missing Children's Day poster contest. Submissions are due by March 16, 2017. The annual contest creates an opportunity for schools, law enforcement, and child advocates to discuss the issue of missing and/or exploited children with youth, parents, and guardians and to promote child safety.

OJJDP will invite the national winner and his or her parents or guardians and teacher to Washington, DC, to participate in the National Missing Children's Day commemoration in May 2017. The ceremony honors the heroic and exemplary efforts of agencies, organizations, and individuals to protect children. National Missing Children’s Day has been commemorated in the United States since 1984, when it was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan.

OJJDP Releases Fall 2016 Issue of Journal of Juvenile Justice

OJJDP has released the fall 2016 issue of the online Journal of Juvenile Justice. This issue features articles on the variables that are associated with contact with the juvenile justice system and recidivism for youth; reasons for the 20-percent-turnover rate among correctional officers in juvenile facilities; and research into trauma and adversity found among justice-involved youth. Topics also include an examination of research and testing of disproportionate minority contact prevention, decisionmaking, and treatment services; a comparison of masculine beliefs held by incarcerated sex abusers and youth incarcerated for other offenses; and a comparison of the mental and behavioral health profiles of male and female youth placed in intensive, home-based treatment.

Department of Justice Launches Violence Reduction Clearinghouse Toolkit

Violence Reduction Network Logo

The Justice Department’s Violence Reduction Network (VRN) has introduced an online Violence Reduction Clearinghouse toolkit that allows users to build and download a custom toolkit of evidence-based strategies, best practices, training, technical assistance, publications, and more to help reduce violence. Users can browse by topic area, such as justice-involved youth, which includes OJJDP-sponsored or -produced resources. Topics also include human trafficking, gang violence, community policing, domestic violence, and social media.

Established in 2014 and administered by the Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance, VRN enhances and improves the capacity of local jurisdictions to address violent crime and increase public safety. For more information on the VRN clearinghouse toolkit, visit the VRN website.

Back to top


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.

The Role of Technology in Youth Harassment Victimization The Role of Technology in Youth Harassment Victimization (Bulletin)
NCJ 250079

Justice Research Series

This bulletin discusses key findings from the National Institute of Justice-sponsored Technology Harassment Victimization study. It is a followup study to OJJDP’s second National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence. The study examines technology-involved harassment within the context of other types of youth victimization and risk factors to improve current policy and practice regarding the issue. Of the 791 respondents, 230 (34 percent) reported 311 unique harassment incidents in the past year. Sixty-one percent of harassment victims were boys and 60 percent were white and non-Hispanic. Youth who experienced mixed forms of harassment said they could not get away from the harassment because they were being victimized across multiple environments—at school, at home, and online. The perpetrators were often current or past friends or romantic partners and thus more likely to know personal details about their victims. Texting was the predominant type of technology used in mixed-harassment incidents.

View and download this publication.

Delinquency Cases Involving Hispanic Youth, 2013 Delinquency Cases Involving Hispanic Youth, 2013 (Bulletin)
NCJ 249915

National Report Series

This bulletin provides an overview of juvenile court handling of delinquency cases involving Hispanic youth. In 2013, 53 percent of all delinquency cases involving Hispanic youth were petitioned to court for formal case processing. Of petitioned delinquency cases involving Hispanic youth, 62 percent resulted in the youth being adjudicated delinquent. Property offenses accounted for the largest proportion of cases involving Hispanic youth in 2013 (32 percent); cases involving person offenses constituted a smaller proportion of the caseload (21 percent). Larceny–theft offenses accounted for the largest proportion of cases involving Hispanic females, followed by disorderly conduct and simple assault offenses (39 percent, 36 percent, and 35 percent, respectively). Youth age 15 or younger accounted for more than 60 percent of disorderly conduct cases involving Hispanic youth.

View and download this publication.

Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Guidelines Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Guidelines (Report)
NCJ 250368

Youth substance abuse is a serious and widespread problem in the United States. It often co-occurs with mental health disorders and can negatively impact adolescent development. Juvenile drug treatment courts are designed for youth with substance use disorders who come into contact with the juvenile justice system. These courts offer an important way to respond to the needs of substance-using youth and treat their complex disorders, which require specialized interventions. Until now, these courts have had no research-based guidelines to follow. This report presents the necessary evidence-based, treatment-oriented guidelines; provides summaries of the research that underlies each guideline statement; and offers relevant implications for practice and implementation.

View and download this publication.

Coming Soon—

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders—OJJDP Listening Session Report
NCJ 245321

Listening Session Report

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is an umbrella term for a range of disabilities of varying severity that affect youth who were exposed to alcohol during prenatal development. Youth with FASD often have poor social skills, lack impulse control, have difficulty managing conflict, and they are at increased risk for involvement with the juvenile justice system. There is a need to educate legal and judicial professionals about FASD so they can more effectively respond to youth who come into contact with the juvenile justice system. As part of its ongoing commitment to improving outcomes for all youth, OJJDP hosted a 2-day listening session on FASD. This report summarizes the information on diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitative care that was shared during the listening session as well as perspectives on the adjudication of youth with FASD.

Back to top


Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Seal

On November 15, 2016, the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention convened its final meeting under the Obama Administration to discuss advances made in the areas of trauma-informed care, school discipline, and reentry; to discuss transition plans; and to discuss how to move the work forward. Administrator Listenbee facilitated the meeting, which took place at the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) in Washington, DC.

Photo of Coordinating Council meeting participantsCoordinating Council meeting participants included, from left to right: Jennifer Burnszynski, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Karol V. Mason, Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs; U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch; OJJDP Administrator Robert L. Listenbee; and Jeff Slowikowski, OJJDP’s Senior Advisor for Strategic and Community Engagement.
Attendees included U.S. Attorney General and council chair Loretta E. Lynch; Karol V. Mason, Assistant Attorney General for OJP; and council members and designees from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Defense, the Interior, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Homeland Security, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Also in attendance were participants from the Corporation for National and Community Service.

“This is a council that has truly changed lives,” said Attorney General Lynch. “The unseen wounds some of our children carry are just as dangerous as those we can see. The work you’re doing is changing the lives, hearts, and minds of our children.”

The council heard several presentations, including an update on the Changing Minds public awareness campaign from OJJDP Senior Policy Advisor Georgina Mendoza McDowell.

SAMHSA Lead Policy Analyst Rebecca Flatow Zornick spoke about her office’s national strategy to address trauma. “Addressing trauma requires a multipronged, multiagency public health approach inclusive of public education and awareness, prevention and early identification, and effective trauma-specific assessment and treatment,” said Ms. Zornick.

 

Monique Chism, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Education Department, spoke about the impact of the Justice and Education Departments’ Supportive School Discipline Initiative, highlighting components of the School Discipline Guidance Package—specifically, a Dear Colleague Letter that advises how public schools can discipline students without discrimination, a Directory of Federal School Climate and Discipline Resources, and a Compendium of School Discipline Laws and Regulations. She cautioned, however, that “There is still a tremendous amount of work left to do. . . . Students of color, English learners, and students with disabilities are disciplined more often than their classmates.”

 

Tonya Robinson, HUD General Counsel, reported significant gains from HUD’s partnership with OJJDP on the Juvenile Reentry Assistance Program (JRAP). In 2016, 21 JRAP grants were awarded to expunge, seal, or correct juvenile or criminal records; to mitigate the collateral consequences reentering youth experience; and to leverage the National Bar Association’s pledged 4,000 hours of pro bono legal services. First quarter reports from 18 grantees indicated that 99 youth received legal assistance.

Mr. Listenbee acknowledged Judge Trina Thompson, Dr. Lauire Garduque, and Reginald Betts, whose council terms have ended. Mr. Listenbee then welcomed three new practitioner members—Jacob Horowitz, policy director for the Public Safety Performance Project at The Pew Charitable Trusts; Jim S. Germain, residential care advocate for New York City’s Administration for Children Services and cofounder of Preparing Leaders of Tomorrow, Inc.; and Dr. Francisco A. Villarruel, associate chair for education and outreach at Michigan State University.

With 13 federal agency/ex officio and affiliate members transitioning off the council, Assistant Attorney General Mason assured attendees that the work will go on. “There’s little question in my mind that the momentum we’ve generated will continue,” she said. “Come January 20, the council’s work will carry on with an incredibly talented and committed career staff from all the partnering federal agencies,” she said.

“Each participating agency, organization, and individual seated at this table has a stake in the future success of our children,” Administrator Listenbee said. “We are at our best when we embrace a common vision and when we work together. Success requires perseverance and patience. Our children deserve no less.”

Resources:

Watch a webcast of the meeting.

Meetings of the council are open to the public. Visit the council’s website to read minutes from past meetings and access meeting handouts, register for the next meeting, and learn more about the council.

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 23 members—13 ex officio and affiliate members and 10 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 10 juvenile justice practitioner members are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate Majority Leader, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and the President of the United States.
Back to top


News From the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice
 Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice logo

Administrator Listenbee has appointed 10 new members to serve on the 2016–17 Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice (FACJJ). Composed of members of state advisory groups on juvenile justice, FACJJ advises the President and Congress on juvenile justice matters, evaluates the progress of juvenile justice activities, and advises the OJJDP Administrator on the work of the Office.

The new members are—

  • Judge Thomas Broome, Rankin County Court Judge; Chair, Mississippi Council of Youth Court Judges.
  • Wendy Henderson, Director, Bureau of Youth Services, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
  • Jane Kallal, Executive Director, Family Involvement Center, Arizona.
  • Judge Mary Beth Kelly, Vice Chair, Bodman PLC Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group; Chair, Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice.
  • Cheryl Massaro, Director, Flagler Youth Center, George Washington Carver Community Center, Florida.
  • Melanie Shapiro, Chief Attorney, Baltimore City Juvenile Office of the Public Defender.
  • Paula Smith, Juvenile Probation Officer, Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.
  • Penelope Spain, (Chair, FACJJ Transitioning Youth Subcommittee), Cofounder and Chief Executive Officer, Open City Advocates, Washington, DC.
  • Clarence Thomas, Director, Wyoming’s Eastern Shoshone Department of Juvenile Services.
  • Joe Vignati, Deputy Commissioner, Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice.

FACJJ meetings are open to the public; anyone may register to attend and observe. Register for the next web-facilitated meeting, which will take place on January 12, 2017, 2–5 p.m. ET.

Resources:

More information on FACJJ and new member biographies are available online.


Back to OJJDP News @ a Glance home