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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation are collaborating on a $1 million effort targeting the behavioral health needs of youth in contact with the juvenile justice system. The project is aimed at diverting youth with behavioral health conditions from the juvenile justice system to community-based programs and services.

Most youth in contact with the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental or substance use disorder. Studies have found that 60-70 percent of youth in the juvenile justice system met criteria for a mental disorder; over 60 percent of these youth also met criteria for a substance use disorder. Of those youth with mental and substance disorders, almost 30 percent experienced disorders so severe that their ability to function was highly impaired. Youth suffering from these behavioral health disorders often end up unnecessarily in the juvenile justice system rather than getting the proper help they need – help that could vastly improve their prospects for attaining healthy, productive lives.

Under this initiative, up to eight states will be selected competitively to participate based on their commitment to improving policies and programs for these youth. This innovative collaborative effort integrates SAMHSA’s Policy Academy mechanism, which brings together state leadership teams to learn about effective interventions and the latest research, and the MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change Action Network strategy, which supports and links teams working on similar innovations in policy and practice. These combined resources will support state efforts to develop and implement policies and programs that divert youth away from the juvenile justice system early. The initiative will emphasize:

• Reducing the overrepresentation of youth of color in the juvenile justice system;

• Incorporating screening and assessment practices throughout the juvenile justice system; and

• Recognizing the important roles of evidence-based practice, treatment, and trauma-informed services.

Technical assistance will be provided to the selected states throughout the duration of this initiative to guide the establishment of models and strategies for diverting youth with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders as early as possible from the juvenile justice system to appropriate community based behavioral health service.

This project will be coordinated by the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice at Policy Research Associates, Inc. and the Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc. For more information or for an application, contact Joe Cocozza at jcocozza@prainc.com or John Morris at jmorris@tacinc.org.

Resources: Full Press Release can be found at http://www.macfound.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lkLXJ8MQKrH&b=6479569&ct=11659439

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for funding to operate a National Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Resource Center under the Second Chance Act. This program furthers the Department’s commitment to providing services and programs to facilitate offenders’ successful reintegration into society.

Eligibility
Eligible applicants are limited to any national nonprofit organization (including a tribal nonprofit organization) that provides reentry programming training and technical assistance, and has special expertise and national-level experience in effective practices in offender reentry programming and research application. BJA may elect to make awards for applications submitted under this solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on the merit of the applications and on the availability of appropriations in future years.

Deadline
Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April 19, 2012.

Contact Information
For technical assistance with submitting an application, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726 or 606-545-5035, or via e-mail to support@grants.gov.

For assistance with any other requirements of this solicitation, contact the BJA Justice Information Center at 1–877–927–5657, via e-mail to JIC@telesishq.com, or by live web chat.

Resources
For Full Announcement, go to http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/12ReentryResourceCenterSol.pdf

Announcing the Juvenile Justice Quarterly – the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) electronic newsletter for state legislators, legislative staff, and others interested in state juvenile justice policy. This newsletter provides periodic updates on juvenile justice legislation and budgets; highlights innovative policies and programs; and connects you with new reports and news of upcoming NCSL events.

The Juvenile Justice Quarterly is prepared under a partnership project of NCSL’s Criminal Justice Program and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The NCSL project is designed to help states tap the best research and information available in considering juvenile justice policy options and reforms.

Resources:
Current and previous issues can always be accessed at the Juvenile Justice Quarterly homepage, http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=24391.

For questions, comments, or feedback please contact Anne Teigen at anne.teigen@ncsl.orgor Rich Williams at rich.williams@ncsl.org or (303) 364-7700.

The Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps is pleased to announce a new Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare System Integration Technical Assistance initiative. This project is jointly supported by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (MacArthur Foundation), and is being coordinated and managed by the Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps which is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Utilizing proven tools, procedures, protocols and publications developed and utilized during the MacArthur Foundation Models for Change initiative (including the Guidebook for Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare System Coordination and Integration: Framework for Improved Outcomes by Janet K. Wiig with John A. Tuell, CWLA, 2004, revised 2008), four competitively selected jurisdictions will receive technical assistance and consultation during a 12 month period designed to improve outcomes for youth and families that populate multiple youth systems.

This project is part of a broader collaboration between OJJDP and the MacArthur Foundation and includes three additional initiatives:

• Disproportionate Minority Contact Reduction: Using a data-driven approach and effective strategies to achieve measurable reductions in racial and ethnic disparities within the juvenile justice system. The Center for Children’s Law and Policy (CCLP) will provide technical assistance and project oversight. Contact CCLP at tdavis@cclp.org.
• Mental Health Screening and Risk/Needs Assessment: Using evidence-based tools for effective case planning to achieve reductions in out-of-home placements and recidivism. The National Youth Screening and Assessment Project (NYSAP) at the University of Massachusetts Medical School will provide technical assistance and project oversight. Contact NYSAP at Laura.Guy@umassmed.edu.
• Mental Health Training for JuvenileJustice: Providing comprehensive adolescent development and mental health training to juvenile correctional and detention staff to improve staff knowledge, understanding and ability respond to youth with mental health needs. The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice at Policy Research, Inc., will provide technical assistance and project oversight. Contact NCMHJJ at kskowyra@prainc.com.

OJJDP and the MacArthur Foundation are interested in involving as many jurisdictions as possible in this collaboration. While jurisdictions are not prohibited from applying for more than one initiative, the selection process will consider whether a jurisdiction is applying for multiple projects.

For more information on the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare System Integration Technical Assistance initiative, including eligibility criteria, application instructions and deadlines, please visit http://www.rfkchildren.org or contact John A. Tuell (jtuell@rfkchildren.org) or Janet K. Wiig (jwiig@rfkchildren.org), Co-Directors for the project.

Resources:
Information Guide and Request for Applications is available at: http://www.rfkchildren.org/images/stories/ojjdp-rfk%20requestforproposal.pdf
Demonstration Project Application Form is available at: http://www.rfkchildren.org/images/stories/ojjdp-rfk%20application%20form.pdf

Suicide Prevention in Juvenile Detention and Correctional Facilities

Webinars hosted by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center & the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators

Part 1: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 and Part 2: Tuesday, March 6, 2012	
        3:00-4:30 Eastern Time			        3:00-4:30 Eastern Time

It is important to participate in both webinars to experience the entire training. Part one will be on 2/28. Part two will be on 3/6.

During this two-part webinar series, participants will spend time discussing a range of issues related to suicide prevention in juvenile detention and correctional facilities. We will discuss:

• how negative attitudes regarding prevention impede our suicide prevention efforts
• demographic and facility characteristics of juvenile suicide
• suicide prevention policies and procedures
• responding to a suicide within the facility (case study)

This webinar series is appropriate for anyone who has responsibility for creating or implementing suicide prevention policies within juvenile detention and correctional facilities including:

• state juvenile correctional administrators
• facility directors
• mental health directors
• training directors

Presenter: Lindsay M. Hayes, Project Director, National Center on Institutions and Alternatives
Mr. Hayes is a nationally recognized expert on suicide prevention in correctional settings. Mr. Hayes has conducted the only national studies of suicide in jails, prisons and juvenile facilities for the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ). He is a technical assistant consultant that assesses suicide prevention practices and conducts training seminars in state and local juvenile facilities throughout the country, and also acts as a federal court monitor and consultant to the USDOJ’s Civil Rights Division

How to register for the webinars: Registration is required and space is limited. Click here to register or paste the following URL into your browser: http://edc.adobeconnect.com/sprc-cjca/event/registration.html.

Contact for questions and technical support:
If you have any questions, contact Tiffany Kim, SPRC Training Coordinator, at tkim@edc.org or 202-572-3717.
Also contact Tiffany if you’d like to schedule a time to test your connection to Adobe Connect (the webinar platform) and the phone line prior to the live event.

Race and incarceration have a compounded effect on wage growth

A study by Christopher Lyons & Becky Pettit published in Social Problems and reviewed in Criminological Highlights examined the compounded effect of race and incarceration on wages of black and white residents of Washington State. The researchers tracked the average hourly wages of individuals for two years prior to incarceration and two years after release. Blacks not only tended to earn less than whites, but after incarceration the gap between the hourly wages of blacks and whites increased. This widening gap occurred even when various other factors were controlled. These included employment history, education, offense type, length of sentence, and age. The study also found that a favorable work history did not help those who had been incarcerated as much as it did those who had not been incarcerated.

Resources:
Click here at The Sentencing Project: Race and Justice News for more information; http://www.sentencingproject.org/detail/news.cfm?news_id=1241&id=167

The early registration period ends tomorrow, February 15. Take advantage of the discounted rate for one of the most widely-anticipated conferences focusing on model and promising evidence-based programs for youth.

April 11-13, 2012 Marriott Rivercenter San Antonio, Texas

Conference Rates: '
Pre-conference (Wednesday, April 11, 2012): $150
Main conference (Thursday - Friday, April 12 - 13, 2012):
$250 - Early registration fee (ends on February 15, 2012)
$350 - Regular registration fee

Registration is on a first come, first serve basis and will close on March 23, 2012.

Resources:
Download the conference agenda online.

Click here for more information, www.blueprintsconference.com

National Entry Resource Center-Video footage, pictures, and presentations from a groundbreaking forum on recidivism and reentry are now available on the National Reentry Resource Center website. The forum, coordinated by the Council of State Governments Justice Center, brought together leaders from all 50 states. Click here to learn more and to access these resources.

To bring home one of the key themes from the forum, we have also published a case study from Vermont on how policymakers made it easier to track changes in their state’s recidivism rates. Throughout the forum, many state leaders discussed the difficulty they faced in generating routine reports that clearly and succinctly track changes in the state’s recidivism rates. Without such user-friendly, practical, and current data, designing a recidivism-reduction plan that is likely to succeed and that can be monitored effectively is nearly impossible. “It’s really hard making policy if you don’t have good data to base it on,” Vermont State Senator Richard Sears said. Without such information, he added, “we couldn’t say what programs were working and where to invest money.”

This case study describes Vermont’s experience establishing and maintaining a reliable recidivism measure as part of its statewide recidivism reduction strategy — a challenge that will be familiar to policymakers everywhere. The steps that Vermont policymakers took to address this challenge are a useful example of what state (and local) leaders grappling with similar issues can do in their jurisdictions.

Resources: To read this case study, Making it Count: What Policymakers Everywhere Can Learn From Vermont’s Experience Improving How They Tracked Recidivism, click here.

Building a Continuum of Services for Youth in Custody

Join us for a Webinar on March 7
Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/215916894

The fact is that we do know a substantial amount about what works for youth who are committed to our juvenile justice systems. Effective systems feature a range of services – a continuum of services – and do not place all or most offenders in the same type of program. While the range of programs may vary, they are guided by research and characteristics of effective programs; youth are placed based on an assessment matching a youth’s risk to public safety and his specific needs; and the community is engaged and viewed as partners in program design, delivery and evaluation of outcomes. NC4YC is proud to present the webinar: “Building a Continuum of Services for Youth in Custody: Effective Programs, Risk and Needs Assessment and Engaging the Community”. The distinguished panelists and moderator will engage participants in an interactive discussion regarding:

1. Core elements of effective programs: the components of a successful “Continuum of Services”
2. Building the “Continuum of Services” by strategically aligning programs into an effective array of services
3. Strategies for engaging the community at various levels of the Continuum of Services

Moderator:
Ms. Elissa Rumsey, Compliance Monitoring Coordinator, USDOJ/OJJDP

With Special Opening Remarks by OJJDP Acting Director, Ms. Melodee Hanes

Panelists:
Mr. Paul DeMuro, Senior Consultant to the Annie E. Casey Foundation and to the National Juvenile Detention Association.

Mr. Tim Decker, Director of the Missouri Division of Youth Services

Mr. Michael Lawson, Youth and Family Advocate

View the full description of this webinar at: http://nc4yc.org/component/eventlist/categoryevents/1-webinar.html

Title: Building a Continuum of Services for Youth in Custody
Date: Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EST

The Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University, in partnership with the Juvenile Law Center, is pleased to announce its inaugural Information Sharing Certificate Program:

Information Sharing Certificate Program
October 1-4, 2012 Washington, DC
This new program, supported with funding from the MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change Initiative, is designed to enable leaders in the juvenile justice, child welfare, education, behavioral health and other child serving fields to overcome information sharing challenges that prevent the communication and coordination that is necessary to adequately serve youth known across multiple systems of care. Upon completion of the three-day program, participants apply the knowledge they gain through the development and implementation of a Capstone Project—a reform agenda they undertake in their organization/community to initiate or continue information sharing efforts.

The application for the Information Sharing Certificate Program will be posted on the CJJR website in March 2012. For more information on the program, please visit: http://cjjr.georgetown.edu/certprogs/informationsharing/certificateinformationsharing.html

If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact Kristina Rosinsky, Program Manager, at klr45@georgetown.edu.

New Juvenile Justice Grants:

Prison Rape Elimination Act Demonstration Projects
Purpose: Assist local adult and juvenile facilities in implementing prevention, identification, and response mechanisms that will reduce the incidence of sexual abuse in confinement facilities.
Funder: Bureau of Justice Assistance
Eligibility: A unit of state government, although it is expected that in many cases collaborative partnerships must be established with local and tribal government agencies. According to the solicitation, "facilities or systems that have reflected a higher than average number of reported sexual assaults on the annual administrative records review submitted to BJS will be given priority."
Amount: Awards of up to $600,000 for two years.
Deadline: March 15.
Contact: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/12PREAsol.pdf.

Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act Grants
Purpose: To strengthen collaboration among communities, the Federal Government, and State, local and tribal governments and enhance intergovernmental cooperation and coordination on the issue of alcohol use among youth.
Funder: Department of Health and Human Services
Eligibility: The applicant pool is limited to domestic public and private nonprofit entities that are current or former Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC) grantees.
Amount: HHS expects to make about 78 awards of up to $50,000.
Deadline: March 29.
Contact: www.samhsa.gov/grants/2012/sp12003.aspx.

Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program Purpose: Assist jurisdictions with the implementation requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Funder: Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking.
Eligibility: States, tribes and territories.
Amount: Awards of up to $400,000 for two years.
Deadline: April 3.
Contact: http://www.smart.gov/funding.htm.

Technology Careers Training Demonstration Projects for Incarcerated Adults and Juveniles Purpose: For efforts to prepare juveniles and adults for jobs in the tech field, including: computer-assisted design, engineering and construction, Braille transcription and wireless/broadband services.
Funder: Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Eligibility: Government units only.
Amount: Up to six one-year awards for $750,000; there is no match requirement.
Deadline: March 2.
Contact: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/12SCATechCareersSol.pdf

In a new partnership, the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and the MacArthur Foundation are jointly offering $2 million in funding to support innovative and effective best practices in juvenile justice reform across the country. Juvenile justice reform enhances public safety, produces better outcomes for youth and communities, and saves taxpayer money.

States and local jurisdictions are invited to learn more about this opportunity to receive funding and technical assistance from organizations that helped develop best practice models as part of the Foundation’s Models for Change juvenile justice reform initiative.

The targeted reforms include:

• Mental Health Screening and Risk/Needs Assessment: The National Youth Screening and Assessment Project at the University of Massachusetts Medical School will provide technical assistance on the use of evidence-based tools for case planning to reduce out-of-home placements and recidivism. Contact Laura Guy at laura.guy@umassmed.edu or click here for more information, http://www.nysap.us

• Mental Health Training for Juvenile Justice: The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice at Policy Research, Inc. will provide comprehensive adolescent development and mental health training for juvenile correctional and detention staff to improve their ability to respond to youth with mental health needs. Contact Kathy Skowyra at kskowyra@prainc.com or click here for more information, http://www.ncmhjj.com/news/OJJDPMac_Announcement.pdf

• Disproportionate Minority Contact Reduction: The Center for Children’s Law and Policy will provide technical assistance on evidence-based strategies to measurably reduce racial and ethnic disparities within the juvenile justice system. Contact Tiana Davis at tdavis@cclp.org or click here for more information, http://www.cclp.org.

• Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare System Integration: The Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps will provide technical assistance on implementing effective practices to reduce recidivism and out-of-home placement and to improve correctional alternatives for youth in the juvenile justice system, with a history of maltreatment. Contact John Tuell at jtuell@rfkchildren.org or Janet Wiig at jwiig@rfkchildren.org or click here for more information, http://www.rfkchildren.org/images/stories/ojjdp-rfk%20%20announcement.pdf

On January 18, 2012, Assistant Attorney General Laurie O. Robinson announced that Melodee Hanes has been designated as the acting administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Hanes, who has served as the Acting Deputy Administrator for Policy at OJJDP for the past 2 1/2 years, replaces Jeff Slowikowski, who served as Acting Administrator for nearly 3 years. Slowikowski will become the acting deputy administrator for policy at OJJDP.

Prior to joining OJJDP, Hanes spent 16 years as a deputy county attorney in Des Moines, Iowa, and Billings, Montana, where she prosecuted child abuse, sexual assault, and homicide cases. She has trained child protection investigators and served as an adjunct professor of law at Drake University, where she taught child abuse law, forensic medicine, and forensic law. Hanes is a graduate of Drake University School of Law.

Resources:

Read the full release at www.ojp.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/2012/ojppr011812.pdf

Read Melodee Hanes' biography a www.ojjdp.gov/about/StaffDetail.asp?si=121.

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has released, “2010 OJP Annual Report: Mapping a Course.” The report discusses OJP’s commitment to outreach and collaboration with the criminal and juvenile justice fields, and describes OJP’s innovative programs and technology, evidence-based programs and practices, and funds management. The report is available online.

Resources:
Download the 2010 OJP Annual Report at: www.ojp.gov/newsroom/pdfs/10ojpannual_report.pdf.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has launched the Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Virtual Resource Center. This online center provides DMC coordinators, state advisory group members, and other juvenile justice professionals with tools and resources to support their state and local DMC efforts.

The Web site also provides networking opportunities for users to exchange data and information, share DMC training materials, and notify others about upcoming conferences, events, and current policies, practices, and procedures. Regular Web site spotlights will feature state and local DMC delinquency prevention and systems improvement activities.

Resources:
To visit the DMC Virtual Resource Center, go to: www.nttac.org/index.cfm?event=dmc.modelResource.

To read a spotlight on a state’s DMC efforts, go to: www.nttac.org/index.cfm?event=dmc.efforts.

On Monday, November 14, 2011, House and Senate conferees released the “minibus” appropriations report, which includes Fiscal Year 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) spending. The conference report, a consolidated appropriations bill for several agencies including the Department of Justice, provides $63 million for the Second Chance Act.

The compromise appropriations bill resolves differences in Second Chance Act funding between the House, which allotted $70 million for the program, and the Senate, which provided no funding. The bill is expected to go to the full House and Senate for consideration this week.

"The Second Chance Act is having a tremendous impact nationally. It has changed the way state and local leaders think about prisoner reentry and it's demonstrating how we can reduce recidivism, which not too long ago many thought was impossible. Continued funding is a victory for every community seeking to increase public safety and to help families and neighborhoods receiving people released from prison and jail," commented Justin Jones, Director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

The bill provides $2.2 billion for state and criminal justice programs, including:

• $63 million for Second Chance Act programs;
• $9 million for Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act programs;
• $470 million for Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants;
• $6 million for comprehensive criminal justice reform and recidivism reduction efforts by states, also known as Justice Reinvestment;
• $35 million for drug courts;
• $10 million for residential
  substance abuse treatment programs;
• $20 million for Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act programs;
• $12.5 million for prison rape prevention and prosecution, and other programs.

In addition, the package contains a continuing resolution that funds other federal operations until December 16, 2011 – or until Congress completes the remaining nine FY 2012 appropriations bills.

Resources:

Click here to see the legislative text approved by the conferees.
To read the conference report, click here.
To learn more about the Second Chance Act, click here.

On November 20th at 10 pm EST, MSNBC will premiere "Young Kids, Hard Time," a one-hour documentary narrated by Rick Springfield that reveals the reality of young kids serving long sentences in adult prisons.

"Young Kids, Hard Time" explores what life is like for young kids staring down decades behind bars. Calamari Productions was granted access inside the maximum security Wabash Valley Correctinal Facility in Carlisle, Indiana - the only adult prison in the state of Indiana that houses kids sentenced as adults. The film delves into the everyday struggles encountered by these 53 kids on the Youth Incarcerated As Adults (YIA) cellblock.

Resources:
For more information, email info@calamariproductions.com.

Additional resources are available from the Juvenile Justice Corrections/Detention topical page on the NCJRS web site, at https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Topics/Topic.aspx?topicid=129.

CrimeSolutions.gov is an easy-to-use database of criminal justice programs, that span an array of justice topics, ranging from corrections and reentry to courts, crime and crime prevention, drugs and substance abuse, forensics and technology, juvenile justice, law enforcement, and victims and victimization. A variety of search options allows you find information - like the best strategies for delinquency prevention - easily. Each program profile has a description of its target audience, evaluation outcomes, costs, and other important details practitioners and policy makers look for when addressing juvenile justice and delinquency prevention issues.

Most importantly, every program has been assessed by a team of researchers and subject matter experts. These experts have rigorously examined evaluation findings and related research to figure out which programs appear to be effective, which appear to be promising, and which appear to have no effects. These ratings give practitioners and policy makers a sense of what programs are tried-and-true, and what programs may require adjustments or new approaches to get the best results.

Resources:
For additional information, visit CrimeSolutions.gov at: http://www.crimesolutions.gov/default.aspx and sign up for updates though the RSS feed at: http://www.crimesolutions.gov/Rss.aspx or http://www.crimesolutions.gov/feed.svc/Fetch/Rss?74ee4c45-0c9d-495d-91c7-c93220c43cce.

You may also contact Anna Johnson at: Anna.Johnson2@usdoj.gov or 202-305-8561.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) announces the availability of OJJDP News @ a Glance, September/October 2011. This bimonthly newsletter highlights OJJDP's National Conference for Children's Justice and Safety: Unite, Build, and Lead. The issue also includes special features on the following topics:

• Journal of Justice launched
• OJJDP published Emergency Planning Guide for Justice Residential Facilities
• OJJDP Bulletin presents Finding From Hot Spots Policing Study
• Upcoming events

Resources: “OJJDP News @ a Glance,” September/October 2011 (NCJ 235961), is available online at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/html/ojjdp/newsatglance/235961/index.html

The National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ) has published, “Juvenile Court Statistics 2008,” which was developed with funding from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Drawing on data from the National Juvenile Court Data Archive, the report profiles more than 1.6 million delinquency cases that U.S. courts with juvenile jurisdiction handled in 2008. It also describes the trends in delinquency cases processed by juvenile courts between 1985 and 2008 and the status offense cases they handled between 1995 and 2008.

Read the report online.

Resources:
Download the full report at: www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/publications/StatBBAbstract.asp?BibID=258095

Access the Statistical Briefing Book for detailed statistics on a variety of juvenile justice topics at: www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has published National Center for Youth in Custody.

This fact sheet provides an overview of the mission, objectives, and services of the recently launched National Center for Youth in Custody. Emphasizing the rehabilitative goals of the juvenile justice system, the center will deliver training and technical assistance; identify, document, and promote evidence-based approaches to working with youth in custody; and serve as a resource for juvenile justice practitioners, youth in custody, and families. The center will provide training curriculums, Webinars, and professional development, among other services.

Resources:
“National Center for Youth in Custody” (NCJ 235770) is available online at http://www.ojjdp.gov/publications/PubAbstract.asp?pubi=257757

Print copies can be ordered online from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJP) has released Emergency Planning for Juvenile Justice Residential Facilities.

This guide describes how facilities can ensure that youth receive the supports and services they require during the disruptions that emergencies inevitably cause. It is the first comprehensive planning guide to address the specific needs of children, youth, and families involved in the justice system during an emergency. The document provides step-by-step guidance to help ensure the efficient continuation of operations during an emergency, the reduction of risk to the physical plant, and the safety and well-being of the youth and staff who live and work in the nation’s juvenile justice residential facilities.

Resources:

"Emergency Planning for Juvenile Justice Residential Facilities" (NCJ 234936) is available online at http://www.ojjdp.gov/publications/PubAbstract.asp?pubi=256884

Print copies can be ordered online from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) released the new online Journal of Juvenile Justice at its 2011 National Conference, "Children's Justice and Safety: Unite, Build, Lead.” The Journal is an accessible, practical tool for a diverse researcher and practitioner audience. The semi-annual, peer-reviewed journal is sponsored by OJJDP and will address a variety of issues in juvenile justice, such as juvenile victimization, delinquency prevention, intervention, and treatment.

The inaugural issue covers topics ranging from the unique risk factors associated with crossover youth to the benefits of comprehensive restorative justice programs. Articles that report the findings from evaluations of Parents Anonymous and King County’s Child Protection Mediation Pilot showcase programs that demonstrate promise in reducing child maltreatment and increasing the efficiency of case processing, respectively. Additionally, the journal includes items on the development of standards for defining and measuring recidivism and a method that may improve the reliability of juvenile justice screening and assessment instruments.

Resources:

Access the Journal of Juvenile Justice at: http://www.journalofjuvjustice.org

Manuscripts are now being accepted at: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jojj

Any day now, Congress will make important decisions about funding critical programs that prevent delinquency, protect children from the dangers of adult jails and prisons, and keep communities safe. Cuts of 60-90% are now being considered.

Tell Congress that deep cuts to federal support that now supports state and local juvenile justice and delinquency prevention efforts will hurt kids and families and jeopardizing public safety. Cuts of this magnitude will result in more children in dangerous, costly lock-ups, greatly increasing risks of suicide, sexual and physical abuse, and disconnection from family, positive support, education and the workforce.

Tell Congress to reject the House cuts and adopt funding levels for Title II, Title V and JABG as close as possible to those included in the President's budget, and no less than the levels recommended by the Senate.

Click here to Take Action!, http://sparkaction.org/alert/congress-budget-cuts-puts-kids-community-saf

Please post to your lists, your Facebook pages, your Web links, etc. We need to act today and your help to broadly circulate this is needed and greatly appreciated!!

Resources:
To find out more about Jjfedleadership go to, http://lists.juvjusticelists.org/listinfo.cgi/jjfedleadership-juvjusticelists.org

On October 18, 2011, at 3 p.m. E.T., the National Criminal Justice Association will sponsor “Using Evidence Informed Principles in Juvenile Justice: Lowering Recidivism, Reducing Secure Detention and Promoting Positive Youth Development.”

This Webinar will discuss how state programs are helping to improve outcomes within state juvenile justice systems and the populations they serve. The presentation will highlight how policy changes have affected secure detention and how evidence-based approaches to juvenile justice can make communities safer, save taxpayers money, and help better allocate resources.

Resources: For more information about the Webinar, visit ncjp.org/content/using-evidence-informed-principles-juvenile-justice-lowering-recidivism-reducing-secure-dete.

Registration is available online.

The Interstate Commission for Juveniles has issued a request for public comment on proposed rules relevant to the implementation of the Interstate Compact for Juveniles. The Interstate Compact for Juveniles (ICJ) is a multistate agreement that provides the procedural means to regulate the movement across state lines of juveniles who are under court supervision.

Written comments should be submitted to:
Ashley Lippert, Executive Director
Interstate Commission for Juveniles
836 Euclid Avenue
Lexington, KY 40502
859-721-1062 (O)
859-721-1059 (Fax)
Comments must be submitted by October 24, 2011, the date of a public hearing scheduled for Norfolk, VA.

Resources: For additional information about the proposed rules, the procedure for submitting comments, and the public hearing, visit juvenilecompact.org.

The CSG Justice Center, in partnership with the Public Policy Research Institute at Texas A&M University, has released an unprecedented statewide study of nearly 1 million Texas public secondary school students, followed for at least six years. Among its startling findings are that the majority of students were suspended or expelled between seventh to twelfth grade.

Funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies and the Open Society Foundations, this study also found that when students are suspended or expelled, the likelihood that they will repeat a grade, not graduate, and/or become involved in the juvenile justice system increases significantly. African-American students and children with particular educational disabilities who qualify for special education were suspended and expelled at especially high rates.

Resources:
View this CSG report online at: http://justicecenter.csg.org/resources/juveniles

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) recently partnered with the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) to produce a video on preventing the sexual exploitation of children. The video features moderated discussions of child sexual exploitation and current initiatives being used to protect children. Panelists include Francey Hakes, National Coordinator for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction at the U.S. Department of Justice; Dr. Michael Bourke, Chief Psychologist at the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); and Ashley Natoli and Kevin Jones, Community Supervision Officers, Sex Offender Unit at CSOSA.

Watch the video online

Learn about Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice strategy to combat child sexual exploitation, at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has published "Juvenile Residential Facility Census, 2008: Selected Findings."

This bulletin, part of the Juvenile Offenders and Victims National Report Series, summarizes 2008 data from the biannual Juvenile Residential Facility Census, which collects information about the facilities in which juvenile offenders are held—including size, structure, type, ownership, and security arrangements, as well as the number of juveniles who died in custody during the past 12 months. According to the bulletin, the number of juvenile offenders in custody dropped 12 percent from 2006 to 2008.

Resources:
"Juvenile Residential Facility Census, 2008: Selected Findings" is available at http://www.ojjdp.gov/publications/PubAbstract.asp?pubi=253761.

Print copies can be ordered online from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service

Read other publications in the National Report Series at http://ojjdp.gov/publications/PubResults.asp?sei=86.

The Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics has released “America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well Being, 2011” (NCJ 235151). The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is one of the 22 Federal agencies that constitute the Forum.

Since 1997, the Forum has published this annual report, which provides detailed information on the welfare of children and families. This year’s report provides detailed statistics about youth’s family and social environment, economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education, and health. Findings from the 2011 report suggest that fewer 12th graders engaged in binge drinking, more 8th graders reported using drugs, and fewer teens died from injuries. Read more findings in the full report, available online.

Resources:
To read the full report, visit: http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/index.asp.
Print copies can be ordered online from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service: https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/shoppingcart/ShopCart.aspx?item=NCJ%20235151&repro=0

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has published its Final Plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 in the July 8, 2011, Federal Register. The Final Plan describes discretionary program activities that OJJDP intends to carry out during the current fiscal year.

The Plan's development was guided by priorities of the Department of Justice set forth by the Attorney General and took into account all of the submissions received in response to OJJDP's request for comments on its Proposed Plan, which was published in the Federal Register in January 2011.

Resources: OJJDP's Final Plan for FY 2010 is available online at http://www.ojjdp.gov/about/FederalRegister2011ProgramPlan.pdf

On August 3, 2011, at 2 p.m. E.T., the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s National Training and Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC) will host the Webinar, “Disproportionate Minority Contact: Issues and Trends at the National, State, and Local Level.” The Webinar will describe the issues that state and local communities face when trying to reduce disproportionate minority contact (DMC). Representatives from four states will share their experiences and lessons learned in implementing delinquency prevention and systems improvement strategies that address DMC. Juvenile justice system and education stakeholders, community and youth advocates, and current OJJDP grant recipients are encouraged to attend. Registration is available online.

Resources:
- To register online, go to the registration page.
- For additional information on DMC, including tools and resources,
please visit the DMC page of the OJJDP Web site.
- The Webinar will be posted on NTTAC’s Web site 7–10 business days following the event, at https://www.nttac.org/index.cfm?event=workshopsConferences.pastwebinars

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy has recently posted the following publication online:

Return on Investment: Evidence-Based Options to Improve Statewide Outcomes – July 2011 Update – http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/11-07-1201.pdf

The 2009 Washington Legislature directed the Institute to “calculate the return on investment to taxpayers from evidence-based prevention and intervention programs and policies.” The Legislature instructed the Institute to produce “a comprehensive list of programs and policies that improve . . . outcomes for children and adults in Washington and result in more cost-efficient use of public resources.” The Legislature authorized the Institute to receive outside funding for this project; the MacArthur Foundation supported 80 percent of the work and the Legislature funded the other 20 percent. This main report summarizes our findings. Readers can download the two detailed technical appendices for in-depth results and statistical methods. (July 2011) Steve Aos, Stephanie Lee, Elizabeth Drake, Annie Pennucci, Tali Klima, Marna Miller, Laurie Anderson, Jim Mayfield, Mason Burley. #11-07-1201.

Resources:

The main report and two technical appendices can be downloaded from: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/pub.asp?docid=11-07-1201

To view all recently released WSIPP reports visit: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/date.asp?time=6

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) announces the availability of OJJDP News @ a Glance, May/June 2011. The bimonthly newsletter provides readers with news about OJJDP activities, publications, funding opportunities, and events. This issue's lead article reports on the Attorney General’s new public service announcement to raise awareness about the problem of children's exposure to violence and about the Justice Department’s Defending Childhood initiative. The issue also includes special features on the following topics:

• The May 25, 2011, observance of National Missing Children’s Day.
• The May 23, 2011, meeting of the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, which highlighted evidence-based alternatives to zero-tolerance policies and successful strategies for preventing children from dropping out of school.
• The OJJDP fact sheet, Highlights of the 2009 National Youth Gang Survey, which indicates that gang activity remains at high levels.
• OJJDP’s listening sessions on family engagement.
• Upcoming events.
Resources:
“OJJDP News @ a Glance,” May/June 2011 (NCJ 234318), is available online at http://www.ncjrs.gov/html/ojjdp/newsatglance/234318/index.html.

On June 22, 2011, OJP launched the Web site, CrimeSolutions.gov

The Web site is a resource to help practitioners and policymakers understand what works in justice-related programs and practices. It includes information on more than 150 justice-related programs and assigns ratings that indicate whether a program achieves its goals.

Office of Justice Programs Assistant Attorney General Laurie Robinson said, “CrimeSolutions.gov helps us take a ‘smart on crime’ approach that relies on data-driven, evidence-based analysis to identify and replicate justice-related programs that have shown real results in preventing and reducing crime and serving crime victims.”

Resources:
Read a press release about the launch at http://www.ojp.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/2011/OJP11105.htm

Visit www.crimesolutions.gov.

The U.S. Department of Education has published a plan to conduct case studies at 24 school sites across the nation to analyze bullying laws and policies. The study will identify promising strategies and practices schools use to combat bullying and will examine how state legislative requirements influence policies, including ways that state and district policies facilitate or create challenges for effective implementation. Comments are due by August 1, 2011, and may be submitted electronically to ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or mailed to the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, LBJ, Washington, DC 20202–4537.

Resources: To download the plan, go to:
http://edicsweb.ed.gov/browse/browsecoll.cfm?pkgserialnum=4634&utmsource=Federal+Regulations+and+Resources&utmcampaign=30ac75cebe-FederalRegulations6142011&utm_medium=email.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has announced the following funding fiscal year (FY) 2011 funding opportunities:
• Second Chance Act Juvenile Offender Reentry Program for Planning and Demonstration Projects
• Defending Childhood Task Force Technical Assistance Project

Resources:

To obtain further information about the above and other current OJJDP solicitations, including eligibility criteria and application deadlines, visit http://www.ojjdp.gov/funding/FundingList.asp

On June 15, 2011, at 2 p.m. E.T., the National Reentry Resource Center will sponsor, “Education and the World of Work: Anchors to a Strong Juvenile Reentry Plan.” This Webinar will highlight how strong educational programs in residential facilities can help youth find jobs, and describe how to ensure youth can find continuing education and vocational training in community-based settings. Registration is available online.

Resources:
For more information about the Webinar, visit: www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/announcements/webinar-on-how-education-and-work-can-contribute-to-a-strong-juvenile-reentry-plan.
To register, go to: https://justicecenter.webex.com/justicecenter/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=649853441

New research from the National Runaway Switchboard suggests that youth who have had multiple foster care placements are more likely to run away from their homes than youth who have only been placed once in a foster care setting. The report, "Running Away from Foster Care: Youths’ Knowledge and Access of Services,” showed that most runaway youth leave within the first 6 months after being placed, and that most of these youth have run away multiple times, with 25 percent running away more than 10 times. The report is free and available online.

Resources:
To find out about the National Runaway Switchboard and download resources, go to: www.1800runaway.org

Download the executive summary at: http://www.1800runaway.org/media/whytheyrun/reportfiles/042111Part%20C%20Exec%20Summary.pdf

Download the full report at: http://www.nrscrisisline.org/media/whytheyrun/report_files/NORC%20Part%20C%20Final.pdf

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has published, "Highlights of the 2009 National Youth Gang Survey." This fact sheet presents findings from the National Gang Center’s 2009 National Youth Gang Survey, which collects data from a large, representative sample of local law enforcement agencies to monitor the size and scope of the national gang problem. The fact sheet discusses the prevalence of gangs in the U.S., rates of gang activity and gang homicides, and factors that may influence gang violence.

Resources: "Highlights of the 2009 National Youth Gang Survey" (NCJ 233581) is available at http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/233581.pdf.

Print copies can be ordered online from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service at www.ncjrs.gov/App/ShoppingCart/ShopCart.aspx?item=NCJ+233581&repro=0

Register Now for OJJDP's 2011 National Conference! On October 12-14, 2011, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) will host its National Conference, "Children's Justice & Safety: Unite, Build, Lead," at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD.

Workshops, plenaries, and presentations by leading experts and researchers will promote evidence-based practices that address emerging concerns in delinquency prevention, juvenile justice, and victimization. Topics will include crimes against children, anti-gang strategies, children's exposure to violence, disproportionate minority contact, girls' delinquency, tribal youth programs, emergency planning for juvenile justice, faith-based and community involvement, mentoring, truancy and bullying, and substance abuse, among others. Registration is free. Register today.

Resources:
For more information about the conference, go to: http://www.ojjdp.gov/2011conference.

To register, go to: http://guest.cvent.com/d/tdqbfs

WASHINGTON, DC - With summer right around the corner, policymakers sometimes begin considering punitive policies towards youth based on the assumption that more free time leads to more youth crime. However, as a new report for DC Lawyers for Youth shows, at least in one jurisdiction there is no cyclical pattern of more arrests during summer months (June, July and August). Please share with those who might find this information useful in their work.

The brief, “Debunking Urban Legends: Summer Heat, Vacation Don’t Lead to More Youth Arrests,” found that since 2007, there has been no relation to an increase in juvenile arrests during summer months (June, July and August). The report takes a look at seasonal and annual weekly averages of juvenile arrests and the seasonal average of juvenile arrests for violent offenses from 2007 to 2010. According to the brief, juvenile arrests during specific weeks of summer have been lower than the rest of the year since 2007. In 2009 and 2010, weekly arrests of juveniles were more than 8% lower during academic year weeks.

Resources: To view this DC Lawers for Youth Issue Brief in full visit:
http://www.dcly.org/sites/default/files/Debunking%20Urban%20Legends%20Summer%20Arrests.pdf

The Center for Juvenile Justice Reform announced the release of "Safety, Fairness, Stability: Repositioning Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare to Engage Families and Communities," a paper co-authored by Joan Pennell, Carol Shapiro, and Carol Wilson Spigner, with Commentaries by Kordnie Jamillia Lee and Trina Osher. The paper was released at a symposium held at Georgetown University on May 13, 2011 and is now available along with related resource materials at: http://cjjr.georgetown.edu/resources.html

Children of Promise: The Legacy of Robert F. Kennedy will premiere this Friday, May 20 at 8pm on Investigation Discovery.

Children of Promise: The Legacy of Robert F. Kennedy examines the power of change, the strength of the human spirit, and RFK's enduring vision for our nation's youth. In focus is the Robert F. Kennedy Children's Action Corps in Massachusetts, an innovative agency founded in honor of the late statesman to successfully rehabilitate children and families of crime, violence, and neglect. Narrated by actor Mandy Patinkin, Children of Promise connects the life and work of RFK through archival footage, interviews with Kennedy family members, and stories of the young people whose lives have been turned around in his name.

Resources:
For further information on this world premiere event view http://investigation.discovery.com/tv/children-of-promise/about-children-of-promise.html

OJJDP Observes National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, May 3, 2011, is National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day. By observing this day, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) partners with other agencies to help raise awareness about the importance of children's mental health needs. This year's observance focuses on children dealing with trauma. OJJDP and partners hope to help the public recognize signs of child trauma, emphasize the need for treatment for children’s traumatic experiences, enhance children’s mental health and resilience skills, nurture children's social and emotional skills, and promote trauma-informed social services and supports. This year's national event in Washington, DC, will feature a panel with children’s mental health experts, a tribute to youth who have experienced early childhood trauma, and a related art exhibit.

Resources: For further information about National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day and related resources and events, visit www.samhsa.gov/children.

CJCA data is cited in the story, Town Relies On Troubled Youth Prison For Profits. The Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators, whose members represent youth facilities in all 50 states, reports that a guard-to-inmate ratio of 1 officer to 10 or 12 juvenile prisoners is common. The state audit of Walnut Grove found the guard-to-inmate ratio to be 1 to 60. Salaries are the largest expense of a correctional budget, and reducing staffing is typically a way to keep costs down.

The full story is available at http://www.npr.org/2011/03/25/134850972/town-relies-on-troubled-youth-prison-for-profits

The latest issue of the SAC Publication Digest is now available on the website of the Justice Research and Statistics Association. This Digest contains abstracts of Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) reports published July - December 2010, including reports produced for the SACs by outside authors or organizations. The SACs are state agencies that collect, analyze, and disseminate justice data, and these reports cover a wide array of topics and analysis approaches for criminal justice data at the state level.

Resources:
To view the new Digest, go to http://www.jrsa.org/pubs/sac-digest/sacdigest13.

New Task Forces Launched! On April 14, 2011 the Action Alliance announced the formation of five new task forces, bringing the total to 11.

"We are confident that the new task forces will bring the Alliance closer to achieving its goal of raising awareness about suicide and putting an end to this tragic loss of life," said Co-Chairs former Senator Gordon H. Smith, now President and CEO, National Association of Broadcasters, and Secretary of the Army John McHugh in a joint statement. "The Action Alliance now has a strong complement of task forces to comprehensively address the high-level, national issues that have challenged our progress over the past decade."

The task forces will focus on interventions to (1) ensure quality care in healthcare settings; (2) improve training of healthcare professionals; (3) partner with faith-based communities; (4) better protect youths in contact with the juvenile justice system; and (5) work with the news media and entertainment industry to ensure that their portrayal of suicide does not sensationalize it.

Resources:
-Click here to view the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention Newsletter online.
-Click here to view Additional information about the eleven task forces of the National Alliance for Suicide Prevention.

Register Now for OJJDP's 2011 National Conference! On October 12-14, 2011, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) will host its National Conference, "Children's Justice & Safety: Unite, Build, Lead," at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD.

Workshops, plenaries, and presentations by leading experts and researchers will promote evidence-based practices that address emerging concerns in delinquency prevention, juvenile justice, and victimization. Topics will include crimes against children, anti-gang strategies, children's exposure to violence, disproportionate minority contact, girls' delinquency, tribal youth programs, emergency planning for juvenile justice, faith-based and community involvement, mentoring, truancy and bullying, and substance abuse, among others. Registration is free. Register today.

Resources: For more information about the conference, go to http://www.ojjdp.gov/2011conference.

To register, go to http://guest.cvent.com/d/tdqbfs