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JJ Monitor
February 2016
PROSECUTORS PLAY IMPORTANT ROLE IN PEW'S JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORMS
Prosecuting attorneys work every day in the juvenile justice system, giving them a unique understanding of the challenges that exist when children come into contact with the courts. As a result, they have an important role to play when reforms are underway. In Hawaii, Kentucky, and South Dakota, for example, prosecuting attorneys proved key to deliberations about juvenile justice reforms.
 
Each of these states implemented broad changes to their juvenile justice systems in recent years with technical assistance from The Pew Charitable Trusts. In a new brief, elected prosecuting attorneys in these states discussed their experiences in helping implement data-driven reform in their respective states. They shared the importance of participating in collaborative efforts to achieve better outcomes.
 
"Prosecutors in Kentucky rarely get involved in policy, because we have a healthy deference to the legislature and its role," said Prosecuting Attorney Steve Gold. "But this process had the potential to institutionalize changes that could make our community safer, so we definitely wanted to be involved in that."
 
CJJ Announcements
We Want to Hear From You! 
CJJ is proud to serve as a coalition of State Advisory Groups, organizations, individuals, and youth who are dedicated to juvenile justice reform. We envision a nation in which fewer children are at risk of delinquency; and if they are at risk or involved with the justice system, they receive every possible opportunity to live safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
 
We would not be able to accomplish these goals without our members. We would like to hear from both CJJ members and non-members about how we can improve our member services!
 
We are asking our newsletter subscribers to please complete this short survey (2-3 minutes) to let us know the issues and services that you find most valuable. This will help us continue to provide crucial benefits to our current members, while adding new benefits that are tailored to welcome new advocates into the CJJ family.
 
If you have questions regarding CJJ membership, please contact Katie Mercier, CJJ's Senior Associate of Conferences and Membership, at mercier@juvjustice.org .
2016 CJJ Annual Conference
The 2016 CJJ Annual Conference, " Redefining Leadership: Engaging Youth, Communities, and Policymakers to Achieve Better Juvenile Justice Outcomes," will take place on April 20-23 at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC. Register between now and March 4th to receive a discount! A conference room block is available at the Washington Hilton Hotel. Click here to make a reservation. Click here for the draft agenda. Please contact Katie Mercier at mercier@juvjustice.org with any questions.
 
Become a Sponsor
CJJ invites all individuals and organizations to sponsor our Annual Conference. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization; therefore, sponsorships may be partly or wholly tax-deductible. Sponsors will be acknowledged in the conference program and on CJJ's website; sponsors will also be eligible to receive a complementary or discounted CJJ membership.
 
Exhibit at the Conference
This year, CJJ also has a limited number of exhibitor spaces available. Exhibiting at CJJ's Annual Conference allows your organization an even greater opportunity to reach CJJ's members, partners, and other juvenile justice stakeholders. Exhibitors receive exhibit space, waived conference registration(s), acknowledgement in the conference program and on CJJ's website, a complementary or discounted CJJ membership, and additional benefits depending on their support level.
Help Us Plan the 2016 Youth Summit!
CJJ is proud to host an annual Juvenile Justice Youth Summit. The event brings together emerging leaders (under the age of 25) who are interested in juvenile justice reform. Over two days, these next generation leaders gain a better understanding of the current juvenile justice system, examine trending reform topics, and participate in various skill-building, hands-on activities.
 
CJJ is currently planning the content for the 2016 Juvenile Justice Youth Summit, " Agents of Change: Rethinking, Reshaping, and Reforming the Juvenile Justice System ." We would love to hear from young adults under the age of 25 about what topics, activities, and skill-building sessions to include on this year's agenda.
 
Please take a few moments to complete this survey , which will ask about your interests in juvenile justice reform and this year's Youth Summit. To ensure your feedback is incorporated into the agenda, please complete the survey by Friday, February 19.
 
For questions about the Youth Summit, please contact Katie Mercier at mercier@juvjustice.org .
Federal Juvenile Justice Policy 
Many exciting things have been happening in federal juvenile justice policy. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that Miller v. Alabama's prohibition on mandatory juvenile life without parole should apply retroactively. Their 6-3 decision in Montgomery v. Louisiana gives thousands of people, who are currently serving time in prison, the opportunity to have their sentences reheard and the hope for release. President Obama adopted Department of Justice recommendations forbidding, among other things, solitary confinement for juveniles in federal prisons.

On February 11, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) took to the Senate floor today to ask members to approve S. 1169 by unanimous consent. The bill would reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), which serves as the landmark federal legislation related to juvenile justice in the United States. The bill was opposed by Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), who took objection to the bill's phase-out of the valid court order (VCO) exception. This provision is used to incarcerate young people for status offense behaviors such as skipping school, running away from home, and missing curfew. Before the bill can become law, the Senate will have to approve the measure and the House will have to consider and pass a similar bill. Both chambers have until the end of 2016, when the 114th Congress comes to an end, to take this action.
 
CJJ's Executive Director Marie Williams and Deputy Executive Director Lisa Pilnik co-wrote a blog post about many of these developments in the Huffington Post. You can read their full article entitled, "Yesterday Was a Huge Day for Youth Justice. Tomorrow Could Be Even Better," here. If you'd like to learn more about these developments, sign up to receive CJJ's Federal Policy Update. 
Webinar Recording: Youth with Intellectual and Development Disabilities in Juvenile Justice  
CJJ held a webinar on "Youth with Intellectual and Development Disabilities in Juvenile Justice" on February 16. It provided an overview of the issues that youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience in the juvenile justice system. Participants unpacked how intellectual and developmental disabilities can affect behavior, how those behaviors are perceived, and how such perceptions can increase risk for system involvement.  It also introduced strategies for communities to better identify disabilities. Click here to view the recording. 
CJJ Blog Post: Interview with Tina Frundt
CJJ recently published an interview with Tina Frundt, Director of Courtney's House, on its blog. She discusses her recent appointment to the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. She also talks about the work and mission of Courtney's House. Click here to read her full interview.
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Join CJJ as a member today! 
Member and Partner News
CJJ's State Advisory Groups (SAGs), Organizational, Individual, and Youth Members
Each issue, CJJ is pleased to highlight the latest news and innovations from our members. Learn more about our membership. 
Member Spotlight: New Hampshire State Advisory Group on Juvenile Justice
The Manchester, NH School Board recently sanctioned the roll out of New Hampshire's training program for all public school 8th graders. Officers from the Manchester Police Department will work with children to educate them on the value of communicating and being respectful of law enforcement. The training will begin in March 2016 and run through the end of the school year for the 1,050 students in five different middle schools. The New Hampshire State Advisory Group on Juvenile Justice purchased the content from the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee and customized it from the "Effective Police Interactions With Youth" training curriculum. Other local DMC Committees have plans to offer this training through their Certified Police Officers at the Boys & Girls Clubs and Police Athletic League venues. Click here to learn more.
International Association of Chiefs of Police
Each issue, CJJ is pleased to highlight the latest news and innovations of the International Association of Chiefs of Police .
Supporting the Role of Law Enforcement in Juvenile Justice Reform
CJJ and IACP are looking for young people who are interested in applying to participate in an upcoming roundtable that will focus on police and youth engagement. This event will bring together youth from across the country to share their thoughts and experiences with law enforcement leaders.
 
Participants will take part in a two-day long training and conversation in Washington, DC in late April 2016. Insights shared by the youth and law enforcement leaders who attend this gathering will be used to inform the curriculum of a national law enforcement training institute, as well as resources for law enforcement across the nation. 
 
Applications will be accepted through March 4. To apply, please complete this online survey. A Word version is available here. For more information about qualifications and event details click here.
 
This effort is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). In Fiscal Year 2015, OJJDP competitively selected the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), in partnership with CJJ to manage this effort.
 
Please share this information with your networks and any young people who you think would be interested in this opportunity. If you have questions, please contact Naomi Smoot, CJJ's Senior Policy Associate, at smoot@juvjustice.org.
Models for Change
Each issue, CJJ is pleased to highlight the latest news and innovations of th e Models for Change Initiative of th e  MacArthur Foundation.
NCMHJJ Publishes Two New Resources
The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice at Policy Research Associates, Inc. and the Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc. announced the release of " Strengthening Our Future: Key Elements to Developing a Trauma-Informed Juvenile Justice Diversion Program for Youth with Behavioral Health Conditions ." This report was developed as part of the 2014-2015 Policy Academy-Action Network Initiative. It presents the current understanding of child trauma in the context of juvenile justice, identifies nine implementation domains essential to achieving a trauma-informed juvenile justice diversion approach, and highlights case examples from the four states involved in the initiative.

In addition, The Chronicle of the International Association of Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates (IAYFJM) recently published an article written by NCMHJJ staff on school-based diversion models for youth with behavioral health needs. The article explores the School Responder Model, a school-based diversion approach that emerged from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation's Models for Change Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network. The article, entitled "Breaking the School to Prison Pipeline," was published in the January 2016 edition of the Chronicle.
CCLP Releases Graduated Responses Toolkit
The Center for Children's Law and Policy has prepared a new toolkit designed to help jurisdictions create an effective graduated response system or improve an existing system. The publication collects best practices and examples from jurisdictions around the country that have successfully reduced incarceration for technical violations of probation. The toolkit was prepared with the support of the Public Welfare Foundation. 
National Juvenile Justice Network
Each issue, CJJ is pleased to highlight the latest news and innovations of the National Juvenile Justice Network and its members.
When We Lock Kids Up, What Exactly are We Sentencing Them To?
NJJN's director, Sarah Bryer, penned an op-ed detailing recent tragedies of kids who were abused or who died in secure custody. She argues for a radical change to our approach for youth in trouble with the law.
Roundup: Nonprofit and Social Change Training and Leadership Programs
Finding out about training and leadership programs is often hit-or-miss. Here's a partial round-up of nonprofit and social change training and leadership programs, compiled by the National Juvenile Justice Network. 
Branding the Passports of People Who Commit Sex Offenses
The passage of H.R. 515 into law is a chilling and unprecedented development in U.S. policy. While it seeks to restrict international sex tourism and trafficking by branding the passport of anyone on a sex offense registry, research indicates it will be ineffective. As this op-ed from NJJN's director notes, however, the law goes much further, as it identifies a class of individuals as different - a dangerous step, with ugly historical echoes. 
Other News and Announcements
The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges will host their National Conference on Juvenile Justice on March 20-23 in Las Vegas, NV and the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking on May 11-12, 2016 in Reno, Nevada. They will also host a hearing on "Judges and Communities of Healing: The Federal Role in Improving Juvenile and Family Courts" on February 23. If you have any questions or to RSVP, please contact Sarah Grabowska at sgrabowska@ncjfcj.org or 775-784-6711.
The Advancement Project, A&E, and United Way Worldwide have partnered on the Shining A Light initiative and created a Fund for Progress on Race in America grant program. Learn more. 
The SAS Institute is hosting a webinar on Using Analytics to Help Reform Juvenile Justice. Click here to register.
MST Services produced a new infographic on inequality in the juvenile justice system. 
The Center for the Study of Social Policy has instituted the Accelerating Change Award. Innovative initiatives with evidence of strong results serving or advocating on behalf of this population are invited to apply. Applications are due February 19, 2016.
The American Bar Association Joint Task Force on Reversing the School-to-Prison Pipeline released a preliminary report on The School-to-Prison Pipeline. Learn More. 
A national evaluation showed that juvenile drug courts implementing the Reclaiming Futures model saw significant reductions in crime and delinquency and saved $11 million in one year. Learn more.
The following news articles on juvenile justice and related issues appeared over the last month:
CJJ invites you to share news from your SAG, organization, state, or region! Inclusion and editing of submissions are subject to CJJ editorial guidelines.