Apply Today to Join the 2022 Emerging Leaders Committee! |
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Are you passionate about improving the youth legal system? Do you want to help make the system better for all youth? Are you under the age of 24? Join CJJ's Emerging Leaders Committee! Applications are open until December 3rd 2021.
The Emerging Leaders Committee is a partnership between CJJ and young people in the field of juvenile justice, many of whom bring lived expertise to their work. ELC members develop leadership and advocacy skills, learn about the juvenile justice system, and organize CJJ's Annual Youth Summit, a virtual and in person gathering that allows young people to come together to explore how they can lead reform in the youth legal system.
Who can become a member of the ELC?
Anyone ages 16 to 24 who is passionate about reforming the youth legal system can become a member of the ELC. Youth with lived expertise, including those who are still involved with the system and those who are currently incarcerated are encouraged to apply. Youth who are members of State Advisory Groups are strongly encouraged to submit applications.
How often does the ELC meet?
The ELC meets remotely by phone once a month with opportunities for additional involvement with specific projects.
Are members of the ELC paid?
Yes! ELC members are paid hourly for a maximum of six hours a month.
How do I become a member of the ELC?
Complete the application, including a resume and an optional letter of recommendation, here. If you are unable to submit online, please download the application here and submit to Naomi Smoot Evans at evans@juvjustice.org.
Please share this email or flyer with young people who want to get more involved with CJJ's work and network with the broader juvenile justice reform community!
For questions, please contact Naomi Smoot Evans at evans@juvjustice.org.
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Fast Approaching: Don't Miss CJJ's Racial and Ethnic Disparities Conference |
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CJJ's 2021 National Racial and Ethnic Disparities Conference will focus on ways that young people and their communities, as well as law enforcement, court officials, advocacy groups, and State Advisory Groups can work together to combat racial and ethnic disparities (R/ED).
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To register for the conference or learn more about the event, click here.
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To view a draft of the agenda click here.
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Save the Date: CJJ's Annual Conference |
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Join us for CJJ's 2021 Annual Conference. This event is scheduled to take place May 18-21, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for additional details!
Need more information?
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Congress and the Administration Recognize YJAM! |
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Every October, YJAM is celebrated to encourage local, state and federal action to improve our youth legal system.
On October 19th, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced a resolution honoring YJAM. The resolution expresses the commitment to youth who "...are placed under the commitment of the juvenile court system are able to access age-appropriate services and education and remain closer to their families, which reduces the likelihood that those youth will commit offenses in the future."
Meanwhile, in the House, Representative Tony Cardenas (CA-29), David Trone (MD-6), and Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) introduced of a resolution designating October 2021 as "National Youth Justice Action Month". This action gives recognition to the importance of treating and rehabilitating youth in the legal system.
“For decades, our nation’s juvenile justice model has failed young people,” said Congressman Cárdenas. “Growing up in Pacoima, I saw how a system that prioritizes increasingly punitive policies over efficient and effective rehabilitation ruins the lives of generations of children and devastates communities. My resolution aims to shine a light not only on children’s potential for rehabilitation and growth, but also on how our antiquated juvenile justice system keeps them from doing so.”
The Coalition for Juvenile Justice and the National Juvenile Justice Network applauded the actions taken by both chambers.
"We are grateful for the leadership that Sen. Whitehouse, Rep. Cardenas, Rep. Spartz, and Rep. Trone have shown on addressing the needs of young people in the legal system," said Naomi Smoot Evans, Executive Director at the Coalition for Juvenile Justice. "While we have come a long way in reducing the number of young people who are arrested and incarcerated, we still have much farther to go, particularly as it relates to reducing the number of young people who are sent to the criminal justice system, and addressing the racial and ethnic disparities that exist in our courts. YJAM is an important opportunity to honor how far we have come, and recommit to the important work that stands before us."
K Ricky Watson, Jr. Executive Director at the National Juvenile Justice Network stated, “We hope Youth Justice Action Month encourages Congress and individuals across the nation to rethink our approach to youth who come into contact with the legal system. Children need compassion, not court systems. We must deconstruct our harmful carceral institutions and instead build a framework that views all youth as children, wrapping them in supports so they can thrive."
Similarly, joining in this effort, President Joe Biden released a statement about valuing youth and their experience in relation to the juvenile justice system. Biden states "During National Youth Justice Action Month, I call upon States and communities to join me in seeking justice for our youth and modernizing our juvenile justice system, a system that should allow young people to build their lives and grow with freedom and dignity."
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Federal Update: Senate Introduces Appropriations Bills |
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Last week, the Senate introduced key appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2022, including the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. This bill includes funding for youth justice programs, including:
- $80 million for programs under Title II of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA);
- $110 million for mentoring;
- $68 million for programs under Title V of the JJDPA, including $6 million for trafficked girls, $20 million for tribes, $10 million for girls, $10 million for children exposed to violence and $12 million for PROMISE grants to local communities;
- $5 million for indigent defense; and
- $50 million to reduce youth incarceration.
Currently, Title II is funded at $67 million, and Title V is funded at $62 million.
The Senate and House will next need to reach an agreement on a final spending level for Fiscal Year 2022.
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Fourth Quarter:
Join us Thursday, December 2, 2021 from 4p.m.-5p.m. Eastern for a conversation with author Daphne Robinson about her book, Delinquent: How the American Juvenile Justice System is Failing Black Children. The book focuses on the racial and ethnic disparities within the youth legal system, and what we as professionals can do today to reduce the number of Black young people arrested tomorrow.
To purchase the book click here. To register to join click here.
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Creating Change through Game Design
Wednesday, October 27th, 2021, 4p.m. -5p.m. ET
Using the tabletop game, The Run Around, designed by youth experts in the juvenile justice system, we will present a field-tested game design method for engaging teens in social justice. Teens give voice to their lived experience and design for the changes they want to see, while also supporting their social-emotional skill development and wellness. The Run Around invites players to understand and develop compassion for youth of color at the intersection of oppressive policies, practices, and systems.
Presenters:
Janelle Ridley, Founder, Transition HOPE
Bernardo Semis, Game Designer, Transition HOPE and IThrive Games
Michael Pearson, Game Designer, Transition HOPE and IThrive Games
Jourdan Henderson, Game Designer, Transition HOPE and IThrive Games
Justin Martin, Game Designer, Transition HOPE and IThrive Games
Kaleya Casterlow, Game Designer, Transition HOPE and IThrive Games
This webinar is free for CJJ members. To become a member click here.
This webinar is free for CJJ members. To become a member click here.
To register for this webinar click here.
Understanding What It Takes for SAGs and State Agencies to Achieve Better Evidence-Supported Implementation Outcomes
Thursday, November 18th, 2021, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET
Participants engaging in this webinar will learn foundational concepts about the effective use of implementation science to support state and local policies, programs, and practices. As SAG members and administrators responsible for translating evidence into practice to achieve public safety and optimal youth development outcomes, participants in juvenile justice systems should operate with effective, supportive, integrated, and comprehensive approaches. Implementation science-informed practices can significantly improve the leadership, workforce development, continuous quality improvement, communications and collaboration activities required by today’s human services and juvenile justice systems.
Presenter:
Robin Jenkins, Ph.D. , Senior Implementation Specialist & Associate Director, The Impact Center at FPG Child Development Institute
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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New Publications and Resources
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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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