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Attorney General Lynch Addresses National Summit on Preventing Youth Violence

    U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch

U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch provided an overview of ongoing federal initiatives and partnerships to address youth violence nationwide. “I have no doubt that … we will overcome these obstacles and that we will create the safer, more just society that all our young people deserve,” the Attorney General told summit attendees.

On May 11–13, 2015, the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention held its fourth National Summit in Arlington, VA. In a keynote address to the nearly 400 attendees, U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, heralded the efforts of the National Forum cities and applauded the reductions in homicide and juvenile violent crime rates experienced by the majority of the cities in 2014.

“[T]he work you’re doing to rally local stakeholders to improve law enforcement, increase support for violence prevention efforts, and expand access to family and social services is so critical,” said Attorney General Lynch. “Outstanding efforts like these are not only noteworthy—they are replicable and we are striving to bring them to more cities across the country.”

The Attorney General was joined at the summit by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; OJJDP Administrator Robert L. Listenbee; Director of the Office of Behavioral Health Equity, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, Larke N. Huang; Congressman Robert C. Scott (D-VA); and James Mercy, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Violence Prevention at the National Center for Injury Prevention.

Other participants included mayors and other city administrators, nonprofit leaders, health commissioners, academics, youth and victim advocates, and law enforcement personnel from across the country as well as officials and youth violence prevention innovators from Tela, Honduras; Cali, Colombia; Mexico and Brazil. Twenty youth from forum cities also participated throughout the summit.

This year’s summit—themed “Reducing Violence/Building Community: From Promise to Practice”—was the fourth gathering of cities participating in the National Forum. Launched in 2010 at the direction of President Obama, the National Forum is composed of 15 cities that partner with federal agencies, including OJJDP, to collaborate and support local efforts for preventing and reducing youth violence.

In addition to the nine forum cities reporting homicide and violent crime rate reductions in 2014, nonfatal shootings also dropped from previous years in these cities. The forum’s newest cities—Baltimore, Cleveland, Long Beach, Louisville, and Seattle—are working on plans to continue the positive work. The sites shared their comprehensive strategies to prevent youth violence and reduce gang violence.

Attorney General Lynch also highlighted a recently released solicitation for a U.S. Department of Justice initiative intended to support male survivors of violence and their families.

“We at the federal level stand with you as partners in addressing youth violence in our communities,” OJJDP Administrator Robert L. Listenbee said in his remarks to summit attendees. “You are at the forefront of a growing movement where cities, counties, states, and tribes are implementing evidence-based practices to address youth violence, and, in the process, changing the way they do business.”

Opening day sessions allowed participants to break into roundtables to discuss challenges—including forming partnerships, leveraging funds, and fostering effective community engagement—as well as strategies related to sustaining youth violence prevention efforts. Peer-to-peer interactions also brought together representatives from the project coordination, legal, law enforcement, health, education, social services, child welfare, and faith-based sectors, among others. The groups discussed best practices before reconvening into city-specific teams to catalog new ideas and strategies for their site plans.

Additional summit panels and workshops afforded attendees opportunities to discuss specifics of their violence prevention work with federal officials, local specialists, and other experts. Sessions focused on aligning city initiatives with other violence prevention initiatives, incorporating youth into the initiatives, and the Correctional Education Guidance Package released by the Justice and Education Departments to help states and local agencies strengthen the quality of education provided to the estimated 60,000 young people in confinement every day.

“[Now] I stand for something; before I stood for nothing,” said a youth participant in the closing day plenary “From Trauma and Adversity to Healing and Hope,” during which panelists discussed the interconnection of racial justice and healing. The speaker relayed his transformation from a teen drug dealer to an intervention peer specialist with Healing Hurt People.

Resources:

Attorney General Lynch’s remarks, as well as those of other summit speakers, are available online.

Mayors from Camden, NJ; Minneapolis, MN; Oakland, CA; and Salinas, CA, participated in the “Champions for Justice: Leaders Working to End Youth Violence” panel discussion. Watch a video of the panel discussion online.

Access additional information about the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention and cities’ plans and progress online.

Information about the Administration’s other youth violence prevention efforts, such as the OJJDP-led Defending Childhood Initiative and Community-Based Violence Prevention Demonstration program, as well as interagency programs, such as the White House’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative, the Violence Reduction Network, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s STRYVE initiative is also available online.


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Department of Justice Observes National Missing Children's Day
Speakers at this year’s National Missing Children’s Day observance. From left to right: Robert L. Listenbee, OJJDP Administrator; Karol V. Mason, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs; Carlina White, abduction survivor; Loretta E. Lynch, U.S. Attorney General; Patty Wetterling, parent of a missing child and board chair of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; and William Campbell, Judicial Officer, U.S. Postal Service.
Speakers at this year’s National Missing Children’s Day observance. From left to right: Robert L. Listenbee, OJJDP Administrator; Karol V. Mason, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs; Carlina White, abduction survivor; Loretta E. Lynch, U.S. Attorney General; Patty Wetterling, parent of a missing child and board chair of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; and William Campbell, Judicial Officer, U.S. Postal Service.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) marked its annual observance of National Missing Children’s Day with a ceremony at DOJ’s Great Hall in Washington, DC, on May 20, 2015. Hosted by OJJDP, the ceremony honors missing children and recognizes the efforts made by law enforcement personnel and citizens to protect children from harm.

“The Department of Justice will never pause, will never rest, and will never cease in our effort to protect this country’s young people,” said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch in her remarks. “We will do everything we can to find children who have gone missing, to reunite them with their loved ones, and to stand beside them and their families as they do the hard work necessary to recover their lives and restore their futures. And we will continue … to expand and advance this work together.”

The Attorney General was introduced by Karol V. Mason, Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs, who thanked the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) for its three-decade partnership with DOJ. Ms. Mason commended the center for its ongoing work to “develop and refine tools that are vital to protecting children,” such as the CyberTipline, theChild Victim Identification Program, and the AMBER Alert network.

 

left quote[T]o all of you who spend your days working to find missing and exploited children, we’re grateful for everything you do—and we’re proud to stand beside you.right quote

—Karol V. Mason

  Assistant Attorney General

Office of Justice Programs

NCMEC board chair Patty Wetterling offered remarks at the event as did abduction survivor and child advocate Carlina White, and Judge William Campbell, Judicial Officer of the U.S. Postal Service, who presented Ms. Mason with a framed version of the Missing Children "Forget-Me-Not" stamp.

Awards were presented to recognize the heroic efforts of people who have made a difference in recovering abducted children and in protecting children from exploitation. The awards and recipients were as follows:

Since 2000, OJJDP has hosted a national poster contest for fifth graders as a way to raise young people's awareness about missing children. This year, Sydney Kekel from City School in Grand Blanc, MI, received the Missing Children’s Day Art Contest Award.

The ceremony was preceded by and concluded with performances by the Washington Performing Arts Gospel Youth Choir of Washington, DC. The Marine Corps Junior ROTC Color Guard of Gar-Field Senior High School of Woodbridge, VA, was on hand for the Presentation of Colors.

President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25, 1983, as the first National Missing Children's Day. Since then, family members, friends, public agencies, and private organizations have gathered throughout the country to rededicate themselves to finding missing children, celebrating heartwarming stories of recovery, and honoring those who are still missing. This year’s DOJ commemoration was attended by more than 250 people, including families of missing children, law enforcement officers, child advocates, and others who support programs to recover missing and exploited children.

Resources:

Resources for parents of missing and abducted children are available via OJJDPs website.

The Offices Missing and Exploited Children's Program website offers resources and training and technical assistance to help practitioners develop and strengthen their responses to child victimization.

Information about the Office of Justice Programs’ (OJP’s) AMBER Alert Program is also available online. In recognition of National Missing Children's Day, OJP’s National Criminal Justice Reference Service has created a special feature, Missing Kids, which provides critical AMBER Alert information as well as access to resources for families and law enforcement.


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OJJDP Administrator Robert L. Listenbee Delivers Remarks at Coalition for Juvenile Justice Conference

The Coalition for Juvenile Justice annual conference, co-hosted by OJJDP, was held on June 10–13, 2015, in Coalition for Juvenile Justice logoWashington, DC. Titled “At the Forefront: Emerging Challenges and Solutions to Reforming Juvenile Justice,” the event brought together key leaders of juvenile justice reform and other stakeholders from various state agencies across the nation.

OJJDP Administrator Robert L. Listenbee, introduced by Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason, spoke at the conference. In his remarks, Mr. Listenbee stressed the Office’s commitment to safeguarding the well-being of the nation’s children and reforming the juvenile justice system to better meet the needs of system-involved youth.

Recalling OJJDP’s commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act last year, and the mandate set by its authorizing legislation, Administrator Listenbee noted the progress OJJDP and its state partners have made in addressing the core protections outlined in the Act, reducing out-of-home placement, and reforming the juvenile justice system.

Despite significant advances over the past 40 years—such as decreases in violent crime arrest rates for youth and drops in the number of youth in residential placement—Mr. Listenbee acknowledged that more work needs to be done. “Research shows—and we’ve all seen firsthand—that troubled youth often have better outcomes when they receive targeted, appropriate, community-based treatment and services,” Mr. Listenbee said. “Narrowing the ‘front door’ to the juvenile justice system is one of the most important ways we can continue to improve outcomes for youth. We have to provide the right services to the right kids at the right time to keep them out of the juvenile justice system.”

Listenbee assured conference participants of OJJDP’s dedication to working with state agencies, maintaining that the Office will continue to take a leadership role in reform and reinvestment efforts and “stand with states that are already working to transform what we know is excellent research into good policy and quality practice.”

The theme of collaboration to foster juvenile justice reform also ran through workshop sessions facilitated by OJJDP staff. Presenters detailed strategies for better collaboration between OJJDP and the states, offered practitioners tools to provide quality education to youth in juvenile justice facilities, and explored ways that federal and state partners can better work together to end racial and ethnic disparities within the juvenile justice system.

One OJJDP-facilitated session also provided opportunities for participants to learn more about the juvenile justice system reforms taking place in Georgia, Hawaii, and Kentucky and supported by the Office under the Smart on Juvenile Justice Initiative. Another OJJDP session offered a forum for youth and law enforcement to engage in dialog through a listening session designed to improve relationships and increase trust between communities and law enforcement.

In a session on ending racial and ethnic disparities within the juvenile justice system, panelists highlighted current disproportionate minority contact (DMC) data trends, discussed new and expanded ways of using the DMC-Reduction Model, provided examples of DMC-reduction success stories, and discussed the new standards for compliance with the DMC core requirement. Presenters also provided an overview of OJJDP's new training and technical assistance center, established to assist states and communities develop strategies to address racial and ethnic disparities within the system. The session was attended by 75 participants.

In addition to the sessions touching on various aspects of juvenile justice reform, the conference presented an opportunity for OJJDP to announce its new Core Protections Division, a division created to help states in their compliance activities by providing them with greater transparency and increased resources and support. The new division is headed by LeToya Johnson, who was on hand to answer questions from conference participants.

Resources:

Learn more about OJJDP’s Smart on Juvenile Justice Initiative.

Visit the Coalition for Juvenile Justice’s Resource Library.

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Justice Department Conducts National Law Enforcement Training on Child Exploitation

Current statistics on child exploitation in the United States—particularly on Internet crimes against children—are sobering. Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces, composed of state and local law enforcement agencies, reported a 126-percent increase in the number of documented complaints of child exploitation from 2009 to 2014. They also noted more than a 927-percent increase in complaints of child sex trafficking within the same period.

On June 2–4, 2015, the Department of Justice (DOJ) held a National Law Enforcement Training on Child Exploitation in Atlanta, GA. The 3-day training featured more than 70 unique classroom-based and 30 lab-based sessions, and provided cutting edge training to federal, state, and local law enforcement investigators, prosecutors, and forensic examiners responsible for combating child exploitation. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch welcomed attendees via videotaped remarks.

Approximately 1,200 attendees received training from presenters that included representatives from the ICAC Task Force Program, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section on topics as wide-ranging as computer and cell phone forensic analysis, victim and suspect behavior analysis, law enforcement data trends, and child forensic interviewing, among others.

The National Law Enforcement Training on Child Exploitation is funded as part of OJJDP’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program. The ICAC Task Force Program helps state and local law enforcement agencies develop effective responses to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and Internet crimes against children. Serving a total of 61 coordinated task forces representing more than 3,500 federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, the program helps to bolster the forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, and community education of state and local law enforcement.

Since its inception in 1998, the ICAC Task Force program has made significant strides in tackling the problem of child exploitation: training more than 465,000 law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and other professionals on investigating and prosecuting ICAC-related cases; and reviewing more than 516,000 complaints of alleged child sexual victimization that led to the arrest of more than 54,000 individuals.

In 2014 alone, ICAC task forces conducted more than 66,000 forensic examinations: their investigations contributed to the arrest of more than 7,800 individuals, and the program trained more than 31,000 law enforcement personnel, 1,940 prosecutors, and 3,150 other professionals working in the ICAC field. Funding for the ICAC task forces and training and technical assistance totaled $27 million in fiscal year 2014.

Resources:

Visit the ICAC Task Force Program website for more information about the program.

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Upcoming Events

Child Sex Trafficking—Law Enforcement Response: July 15–17, 2015AMBER Alert Logo

This training, presented in Medford, OR, by the AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program, will provide participants with information to properly understand, recognize, and investigate cases involving child sex trafficking and exploitation. In addition to taking a modular focus on the survivor’s perspective and changing perceptions regarding victims. Participants also will receive instruction on tactical implementation designed to identify human trafficking and exploitation, conducting enforcement operations, and the roles of nonprofits, probation, and parole. The training agenda and registration information are available online.

Visit the AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program website for other training opportunities, including:

2015 National Conference on School Discipline: July 15–17, 2015

Topics presented at the National Conference on School Discipline, to be held in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, will include: exemplary research-based programs; supportive, nonexclusionary disciplinary practices; common mistakes teachers make with classroom control; do’s and don’ts of applying positive behavior interventions; keys to working with minority students; and helping teachers thrive in classrooms filled with highly challenging students. Registration information for this event, sponsored by Development Resources, Inc., is available online.

Summit on Prosecution Integrity: July 19–21, 2015

Hosted by the National District Attorney’s Association, this summit will feature educational and strategy sessions for using best practices to address issues critical to prosecutors’ efforts in every state. The preliminary agenda for the summit—to be held in Chicago, IL—and registration information is available online.

Forensic Interviewing of Children Training: July 20–24, September 21–25, October 19–23, December 7–11, 2015

National Children's Advocacy Center logo

Sponsored by the National Children's Advocacy Center (NCAC), these comprehensive trainings, to be held in Huntsville, AL, include audience discussion, child interview practicum, a review of recorded forensic interviews, experiential skill-building exercises, and participation in a mock court simulation. Each attendee will receive a training manual, a recorded copy of their interview practicum, access to additional training materials online, and post-training support as requested. Registration information is available online.

See other training opportunities on the NCAC website, including:

American Bar Association Biennial National Conferences: July 22–25, 2015 American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law logo

The American Bar Association (ABA) Center on Children and the Law will host its biennial national conferences in Washington, DC.

The 4th National Parent Attorney Conference: Achieving Justice Against the Odds will be held July 22–23; the agenda is available online.

The 16th ABA National Conference on Children and the Law: Advancing Access to Justice for Children and Families will convene July 24–25; the agenda is available online.

The conferences will provide attorneys with current knowledge, best practices, and advocacy strategies to improve outcomes for children and families. Preconference sessions will focus on trial skills for parent attorneys and strengthening kinship care for children. Registration information is available online.

American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children's 23rd Annual Colloquium: July 22–25, 2015

The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children's Colloquium will address aspects of child maltreatment including prevention, assessment, intervention and treatment with victims, perpetrators, and families affected by physical, sexual, and psychological abuse and neglect. This year’s colloquium will be held in Boston, MA. Additional information on registration, workshops, presenters, and other networking and learning opportunities is available online.

National Forum on Criminal Justice: August 2–5, 2015

The event, sponsored by the National Forum on Criminal Justice, will focus on the integration of policy, practice, research and technology to improve public safety. This year's forum will be held in Atlanta, GA. Registration information is available online.

8th Annual National Rural Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Conference: August 5–7, 2015

Sponsored by the Coalition for Healthy Youth the conference, to be held in Lancaster, SC, will focus on exploring the critical issues facing rural communities today—especially the growing use of social media tools, and the issues of sustainability and environmental prevention—along with effective strategies to meet those challenges. Registration information is available online.

18th Annual International Gang Specialist Training Conference: August 10–12, 2015

Sponsored by the National Gang Crime Research Center, this conference provides more than 100 courses in many areas of expertise designed to "train the trainer" in law enforcement, corrections, prosecution, and K–12 as well as schools, prevention, and intervention. The conference will be held in Chicago, IL. Registration information is available online.Crimes Against Children Conference Logo

27th Annual Crimes Against Children Conference: August 10–13, 2015

This event provides practical instruction using current information, new ideas, and successful intervention strategies for professionals who are responsible for combating the many and varied forms of crimes against children. The event, sponsored by the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, is designed for law enforcement officers, child protection caseworkers, probation/parole officers, children's advocacy center staff, victim advocates, prosecutors, medical professionals, and therapists. Registration information is available online.

20th International Conference and Summit on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma: August 23–26, 2015

To be held in San Diego, CA, this conference will feature tracks on at-risk youth, child maltreatment, children exposed to violence, intimate partner violence, legal and criminal justice issues, sexual assault and victimization, trauma, and more. The event is hosted by the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma at Alliant International University. Registration information is available online.

38th National Child Welfare, Juvenile, and Family Law Conference: August 25–27, 2015

Sponsored by the National Association of Counsel for Children this event brings together the top leaders in child welfare, juvenile justice, and family law. Topics will include how to respond to abuse and neglect, and information on juvenile justice, family law, policy advocacy, custody law, parental rights, and practical skills. Registration information for this conference, which will be held in Monterey, CA, is available online.

14th European Regional Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect: September 27–30, 2015

International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Logo

Sponsored by the International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, the conference"Children First! Collaborative and Inter-Sectorial Responses to Child Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation”will cover a range of topics, including the prevention of child abuse and neglect through early and sustained involvement, interventions and programs for children and families experiencing adversity, addressing children’s rights and participation, reforms in child protection and welfare policy, children in out-of-home care, and evidence-based practices. Registration information about this event, to be held in Bucharest, Romania, is available online.

School-Justice Partnerships Certificate Program: September 28–October 2, October 29–November 4, December 6–10, 2015

Center for Juvenile Justice Reform Logo

The School-Justice Partnerships certificate program will be held at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Sponsored by the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform, the program is designed to provide school and district staff, court professionals, law enforcement, and other child-serving community leaders with the knowledge and understanding necessary to address the immediate and long-term needs of students known to, or at risk of entering, the juvenile justice system. Apply by July 10; application information is available online.

The center will hold two other certificate programs:

122nd Annual IACP Conference and Exposition: October 24–27, 2015IACP 2015 Logo

Featuring forums, technical workshops, and an exhibit hall, this annual event provides law enforcement professionals with opportunities to learn more about emerging trends in law enforcement and the latest developments in technology. The event, to be held in Chicago, IL, is hosted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Registration information is available online.

National Youth-At-Risk Conference: November 5–7, 2015

Hosted by the National Youth At-Risk Center of Georgia Southern University, this conference will train youth service providers on how to create safe, healthy, caring, and intellectually empowering educational environments. Participants will learn about current research-based programs and strategies that empower young people to overcome at-risk conditions that threaten their safety, health, emotional needs, or academic achievement. Registration information for the conference, which will be held in Las Vegas, NV, is available online.

American Society of Criminology Meeting: November 18–21, 2015

The theme for the American Society of Criminology’s (ASC’s) 2015 meeting, to be held in Washington, DC, is “The Politics of Crime and Justice.” ASC is the largest professional criminological society in the world and includes practitioners, academicians, and students in the fields of criminal justice and criminology. More information about the meeting, including the program, hotel arrangements, and registration, is available online.

12th Global Youth Justice Training Institute: December 1–3, 2015

Global Youth Justice Logo Global Youth Justice will host its 12th Global Youth Justice Training Institute in Las Vegas, NV. Participants will learn strategies to establish or enhance local youth justice diversion programs through teen, student, youth, and peer courts and peer juries. Topics will include training youth and adult volunteers; providing quality community services, programs, and referrals; and conducting mock family intake meetings as well as grant writing, funding opportunities, and more. Registration information is available online.

ZERO TO THREE’s 30th National Training Institute: December 2–4, 2015Zero to Three National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families Logo

The National Training Institute, to be held in Seattle, WA, is ZERO TO THREE’s annual multidisciplinary training event for experienced early childhood professionals. The institute has been developed to meet the learning and networking needs of those working with infants and toddlers in child welfare, early childhood education, early intervention, mental health, parent education, and pediatrics. Registration information is available online.

30th Annual San Diego International Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment: January 23–29, 2016

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

National Mentoring Summit: January 27–29, 2016

This annual event, sponsored by MENTOR, will be held in Washington, DC. The summit will bring together practitioners, researchers, corporate partners, government and civic leaders, national youth-serving organizations—and the network of affiliate Mentoring Partnerships—to explore and advance the positive impact of mentoring on individuals and communities. The theme for this year’s summit is "Connection, Growth, Opportunity." Learn more about the summit from MENTOR’s website.

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News in Brief

OJP Convenes Defending Childhood State Policy Meeting

Defending Childhood Initiative logo

On June 18–19, 2015, the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) hosted a Defending Childhood State Policy meeting. The objective of the meeting was to help three states—California, Massachusetts, and Michigan—develop a strategic plan for identifying, screening, assessing, and treating children who suffer from trauma caused by witnessing or experiencing violence in their homes, schools, or communities. OJJDP Administrator Robert L. Listenbee delivered the welcoming remarks and OJJDP’s Catherine Pierce gave the meeting’s closing remarks.

At the meeting, researchers, policymakers, federal officials, and juvenile justice practitioners offered presentations on:

In addition to attending presentations, individual state teams got the opportunity to build their capacity to mitigate children’s exposure to violence by participating in a number of facilitated work sessions. There was also a roundtable discussion of trauma initiatives underway in participating Thumbnail of "First Do No Harm" publicationstates. During the discussion, state representatives shared efforts to develop trauma-informed systems for youth as well as initiatives that focus on the screening, assessment, and treatment of youth with trauma symptoms resulting from exposure to violence.

OJP Diagnostic Center Releases Report on Arresting Parents in the Presence of Children

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Diagnostic Center has published First, Do No Harm: Model Practices for Law Enforcement Agencies When Arresting Parents in the Presence of Children. This report recommends several model practices that law enforcement agencies can use to limit the harm done to children in the aftermath of a parental arrest. The report also provides a detailed treatment of topics related to parental arrest, including the effects and extent of exposure to trauma and violence in children; current efforts at the national, state and local levels to improve the treatment of children during parental arrest; and model practices shown to improve the treatment of children during parental arrest.

OJP Diagnostic Center Releases Guide on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

The OJP Diagnostic Center has published Resource Guide: Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. This online guide provides resources and publications to help policymakers address commercial sexual exploitation of children at the state, local, and tribal levels.

Access OJJDP's resources for addressing the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

June Is Internet Safety Month

In May 2007, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution 205, establishing June as National Internet Safety Month to raise awareness about threats posed by the Internet and to encourage safe and responsible Internet usage. In recognition of Internet Safety Month, the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP's) National Criminal Justice Reference Service is offering a comprehensive list of resources on Internet safety, including a special section on Internet Safety for Children. In addition, OnGuardOnline.gov, supported by OJP and other sponsors, has provided the Net Cetera Toolkit to help parents, teachers, and other mentors start a conversation with children about navigating the Internet safely.


OJJDP is working to keep children safe online by supporting 61 Internet Crimes Against Children task forces throughout the country, each of which has a community outreach and public awareness component.

In addition, OJJDP staff sits on the editorial board of the www.stopbullying.gov website.

National Partnership for Juvenile Services Issues Guide to Working With Youth in Confinement

This guide from the National Partnership for Juvenile Services, the National Institute of Corrections, and OJJDP contains information intended to inform policy, procedure, and practice in juvenile justice facilities. The Desktop Guide to Quality Practice for Working With Youth in Confinement explores the background, principles, concepts, and knowledge at the core of juvenile justice and services for youth in confinement, and also highlights quality practices, including the skills necessary to effectively serve youth in confinement.

Watch a webinar about the guide or download presentation materials.

IACP Releases Youth Focused Policing Agency Self-Assessment Tool


International Association of Chiefs of Police logo

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), in collaboration with OJJDP, has released the Youth Focused Policing Agency Self-Assessment Tool. This resource will help law enforcement agencies assess their current strengths and areas for improvement in responding to youth crime, delinquency, and victimization. The tool, a component of the IACP’s Improving Law Enforcement Responses to Youth Program also will help them identify trends, resources, and community partnerships to improve the safety and well-being of youth in their communities. Learn more about youth-focused policing from the OJJDP-sponsored IACP Youth Focused Policing Resource Center.

Children's Bureau Unveils National Foster Care Month WebsiteChildren’s Bureau Unveils National Foster Care Month Website

In recognition of this year’s National Foster Care Month, the Children’s Bureau put together a website to recognize and celebrate the children, youth, and families involved with foster care. The 2015 National Foster Care Month website expresses the theme of this year’s commemoration, “Get To Know the Many Faces of Foster Care,” through narratives and videos that showcase the diversity among the children and youth in foster care, types of foster families, and professionals who play central roles in bringing children and families together. The website also provides resources for youth, foster families and caregivers, communities, tribes, and professionals working in foster care.

Juvenile Law Center Paper Addresses Reducing Length of Stay in Youth Facilities

The Juvenile Law Center has released Ten Strategies to Reduce Juvenile Length of Stay. This paper highlights recommendations for states to reduce the length of stay of youth in juvenile facilities and to expand the availability of community-based placement, including services for youth living at home. The paThumbail of the Equity Project's Training Curriculum Guideper cites research findings indicating that lengthy juvenile confinement is costly, largely ineffective at reducing recidivism, and potentially harmful to youth and communities.

Website and Curriculum Guide Support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth in the Juvenile Justice System

The Equity Project has launched a new website and online training curriculum guide to help juvenile justice practitioners support lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. The user-friendly website and guide provide resources, policy information, and interactive lessons to increase awareness of youth sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression issues within the juvenile justice system. The following topics are covered in the training curriculum: Understanding Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression; Dismantling Bias and Fostering Equity; Enhancing Communication and Building Trust With LGBT Youth; Reducing Risk and Promoting Protection; Ensuring Safety and Equity in Secure Settings; and Respecting and Supporting Transgender Youth.

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New Publications

All OJJDP publications may be viewed and downloaded on the publications section of the OJJDP website. Print publications may be ordered online at the National Criminal Justice Reference Service website.

Coming Soon—

These bulletins from the Office's Beyond Detention Bulletin Series present findings from the OJJDP-sponsored Northwestern Juvenile Project—a longitudinal study of youth detained at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Chicago, IL.

Violent Death in Delinquent Youth After Detention

The authors looked at mortality rates among the youth enrolled in the project. Among their findings: The standardized mortality rate for delinquent youth is more than four times the rate for youth in the general population. More specifically, the mortality rate for delinquent female youth is nearly eight times the rate in the general population, African American youth experience the highest mortality rate, and the vast majority of deaths among delinquent youth were homicides from gunshot wounds.

Perceived Barriers to Mental Health Services Among Detained Youth

The authors examined youth’s perceptions of barriers to mental health services, focusing on youth with alcohol, drug, and mental health disorders. Among their findings: Most frequently, youth did not receive services because they believed their problems would go away without outside help (56.5 percent); nearly one-third of youth (31.7 percent) were not sure whom to contact or where to get help; and nearly one-fifth of the sample (19.1 percent) reported difficulty in obtaining help.

Psychiatric Disorders in Youth After Detention

The authors discuss findings related to the prevalence and persistence of psychiatric disorders in youth after detention. Five years after the first interview, more than 45 percent of male juveniles and nearly 30 percent of female juveniles had one or more psychiatric disorders. Substance use disorders were the most common and most likely to persist. As compared to African Americans, non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics had higher rates of substance use disorders. Females had higher rates of depression over time.



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News From the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Seal of Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency PreventionThe Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention met on June 22, 2015, in Washington, DC, to explore ways that states can reduce their reliance on youth correctional confinement while using community supervision to improve youth outcomes. Council members and invited experts addressed the national ramifications of the Council of State Governments’ report Closer to Home: An Analysis of the State and Local Impact of the Texas Juvenile Justice Reforms. More information about the meeting will be available in the next issue of OJJDP News @ a Glance.

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

The Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is an independent body within the executive branch of the federal government operated under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The council’s primary functions are to coordinate federal juvenile delinquency prevention programs, federal programs and activities that detain or care for unaccompanied juveniles, and federal programs relating to missing and exploited children. The council is made up of 22 members–13 ex officio and affiliate members and 9 practitioners. The ex officio members are the Attorney General; the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development, and Labor; the Assistant Secretary of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy; and the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Affiliate members are the Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Defense, and the Interior, and the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of HHS. The nine juvenile justice practitioner members are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate Majority Leader, and the President of the United States.

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