CJJ Hosts 2022 Annual Conference |
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Last week, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) hosted its 2022 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., with nearly 350 attendees from more than 30 states in attendance. The conference marked the first time in more than two years that the Coalition has gathered in person.
On Wednesday, May 18th, CJJ got started with Hill Day, during which CJJ members met with Congress to discuss priorities for youth in the justice system. Hill Day is an important chance for Congress to hear the issues that impact youth in the justice system.
On Thursday, Liz Ryan, Administrator fo the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) addressed attendees and discussed her three priority areas for her time at OJJDP:
- treating children as children;
- supporting kids in their communities; and
- opening up opportunities for young people who were previously involved in the system.
Other speakers highlighted the State Advisory Group's success in the District of Columbia as they work to increase accessibility to diversion programs, and ways in which Utah has established pathways for families and youth to receive voluntary services and supports.
On Thursday, CJJ hosted its Annual Awards Luncheon, where 2022 award recipients were honored and reflected on their journeys and professional accomplishments. Yusef Presley received the Spirt of Youth award, Lisa Garry received the A.L Carlisle Child Advocacy Award, Melissa Milchman received the Tony Gobar Outstanding Juvenile Justice Specialist award and Elizabeth "Betsy" Clarke received the Marion Mattingly Lifetime Achievement Award.
Throughout the conference, attendees were able to join workshops and learn from speakers from around the country about topics such as truancy, and examples of successful community-based programs to address the needs of young people in the justice system.
CJJ would like to thank this year's sponsors, including The Pew Charitable Trusts, Annie E. Casey Foundation, PbS Education and Employment Foundation, Justice Resource Institute, and Pastor Edward L. Palmer.
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OJJDP Administrator, Liz Ryan, speaks to attendees at CJJ's 2022 Annual Conference. |
CJJ Immediate Past Chair, Pastor Edward Palmer, and CJJ Organizational Representative, Rachel Bingham, met with Members of Congress during Hill Day. |
CJJ 2022 Awardees included Melissa Milchman of D.C. (not pictured), Elizabeth "Betsy" Clarke of Illinois, Yusef Presley of Kansas, and Lisa Garry of Maryland. National Vice Chair Tracey Wells-Huggins led the awards luncheon. |
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Save the Date: CJJ's 2022 Youth Summit |
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Join CJJ for the 2022 Youth Summit in Tacoma, Washington. This year's theme is "From the Past, Here in Our Present, Into the Future: Cultivating Youth and Legal System Change." The event is developed by and for young people who are actively engaged in improving the youth justice system.
The Youth Summit will take place Aug. 1-2 at the Hotel Murano in Tacoma, Washington.
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Save the Date: Racial and Ethnic Disparities Conference |
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From Nov. 1-2, 2022, CJJ will host its 2022 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Conference in Louisville, Kentucky at the Omni Louisville. This year's theme will be "Removing the Blindfold: Investing in Young People, Communities and Healing."
To register, click here. To view a draft agenda click here.
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On Wednesday, May 4th, President Joe Biden announced the appointment of Liz Ryan as Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).
Liz is a longtime advocate for youth in the legal system, whose work spans nearly two decades. She most recently served as President of Youth First, a multi-state initiative focused on providing community-based solutions instead of incarceration. Liz also previously led the Campaign for Youth Justice where her work focused on ensuring that young people were not charged in adult criminal court, and that they were not placed in adult jails and prisons.
Liz officially started her role on May 16th. She took over the post from Chyrl Jones, who served as Acting Administrator since January 2021.
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June 23rd at 2:00pm ET
"If I Were White: Crime, Punishment and Injustice"
After failing the first grade, Darrell Lamont believed he could not learn. This belief plagued and fueled his decision to drop out of high school. He had no formal education or training and after hitting financial hardship Darrell turned to a life of crime selling crack cocaine. In 1991, federal agents in Bluefield, West Virginia arrested Darrell after being caught distributing 1 gram of crack cocaine. Darrell was an unfortunate victim of disparities in sentencing laws and facing the possibility of life in prison. Despite being convicted and sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of 37.5 years Darrell never gave up on bettering himself and those around him. Darrel became a jailhouse lawyer assisting other offenders in their cases and after studying years of law he was able to earn his freedom. Had it not been for Darrel's determination and perseverance to fight an unjust system and sentencing he would still be looking at a release date sometime in 2031.
To date, Darrell has earned his master's degree in Criminal Justice Administration. He is a narrator for the Obama Oral History Presidential Museum that will open in Chicago. And he is the author of a Number One New Release Memoir, "If I Were White: Crime, Punishment, and Injustice." In the book, Darrell uses his voice and lived expertise to spotlight the harsh, unfair, and often racially motivated legislation and its disproportionate effect on our minority communities.
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Tools for Student Collaboration with Education Systems
Friday, June 24th, 2022, 3:00pm-4:00pm ET
In a time of school closures, quarantines, and lockdowns, young people involved in the justice system experienced severe levels of disruption to their educational journeys. Communities best able to serve youth in this time period forged strong partnerships that cross bureaucratic boundaries. Hailly T.N. Korman and Bonnie O'Keefe from Bellwether Education Partners will share takeaways from their work with communities across the country, along with practical tools and techniques they used and adapted to build effective youth-centered partnerships between justice systems, schools, districts, and other youth-serving systems. Learn more in advance of this session at https://lostbydesign.org/.
Presenters:
Hailly T.N. Korman (She/Her/Hers), Senior Associate Partner, Policy and Evaluation, Bellwether Education Partners
Bonnie O'Keefe (She/Her/Hers), Associate Partner, Policy and Evaluation, Bellwether Education Partners
This webinar is free for CJJ members. To become a member click here.
To register for this webinar click here.
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Would You Like to Blog for CJJ? |
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CJJ is looking for bloggers for CJJ Today to author stories and posts about juvenile justice. We're particularly interested in stories from State Advisory Group members or staff, CJJ individual or youth members, and CJJ organizational members, about issues at the state or local level, interesting programs or approaches, and perspectives about the course of juvenile justice reform at the local or state level. We also welcome blog posts from other juvenile justice system stakeholders. Blog posts can be between 400-750 words in length. Click here to see our other guidelines for blogs.
Suggested topics could include:
- School to Prison Pipeline;
- Girls in the Juvenile Justice System;
- Remedying Racial and Ethnic Disparities;
- Adolescent Brain Development;
- Evidence-Based Practices;
- Status Offenses;
- Family and Youth Involvement; or
- Promising Practices or Program Spotlights.
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Other News and Announcements |
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Events and Trainings
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Center for Juvenile Justice Reform is accepting applications for the Training and Technical Assistance Program. The program will be held between July 2022 and June 2023, and will consist of virtual training (pre-recorded and live presentations), monthly jurisdictional technical assistance calls, support for and review of development of policies, training, and other materials, and up to three site visits by technical assistance providers. Applications are due June 10, 2022 at 11:59 EST. Download the application materials here.
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New Publications and Resources
- The Council of State Governments Justice Center released the following publications:
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A new family engagement framework that can help agencies access their own policies and practices regarding promoting positive outcomes for youth under system supervision. Read the brief here.
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CJJ invites you to share news from your SAG, organization, state, or region! Inclusion and editing of submissions are subject to CJJ editorial guidelines. |
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The Juvenile Justice Monitor is brought to you by staff and volunteer leaders of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, and supported by membership fees paid by CJJ's State Advisory Group Members, Members at Large, Organizational Members, and allies. We are grateful to all for their ongoing support.
Coalition for Juvenile Justice
1629 K Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006-1631
(202) 827-9751
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