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Justice Officials Address National Summit on Preventing Youth Violence
National  Forum on Youth Violence Prevention

At the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention's Fifth National Summit, Administration officials, mayors, chiefs of police, community advocates, and youth leaders shared strategies to reduce and mitigate the impact of violence on our nation's youth. Other participants included representatives from the White House My Brother’s Keeper Initiative, public health officials, and school officials from across the country.

Picture of a young, scared childThe summit was held in Baltimore, MD, on June 27–29, 2016. On the opening day, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch stressed the Administration's commitment to addressing youth violence and the lifelong consequences of exposure to violence.

“Homicide is the third leading cause of death for youths between the ages of 10 and 24. Every day—every day—13 young people are murdered in our country. Today, in America, this reality is simply unacceptable,” the Attorney General said. “At the Department of Justice, we are determined to use every tool at our disposal to prevent, reduce, and end this violence. We are engaged with our federal partners across the Administration and with diverse stakeholders around the country to learn about and promote what works to prevent youth and gang violence; to support innovative solutions; and to create durable progress.”

According to a study funded by OJJDP, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of American children and adolescents are exposed to violence, crime, or abuse either as a victim or a witness. Nearly 60 percent of the children surveyed had been exposed to violence in the past year, and more than 1 in 10 reported 5 or more exposures.

OJJDP Administrator Robert Listenbee underscored the summit's theme, “A Hopeful Future: Sustaining Our Work To End Youth Violence,” by highlighting ongoing federal initiatives led by OJJDP—such as the Defending Childhood Initiative and the Community-Based Violence Prevention program—that are addressing the violence epidemic that has adversely affected youth, families, and neighborhoods across America. “Childhood should not be marred by violence, crime, or abuse,” said Mr. Listenbee. “The growing body of research on adolescent development and the impact of violence and trauma on healthy development will continue to inform our policy and our programs. Presently, nine federal agencies are involved in youth violence prevention work.

Other federal speakers at this year’s summit included Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President; Broderick Johnson, White House Cabinet Secretary and Chair of the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force; Karol V. Mason, Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs; John B. King, Jr., Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education; Thomas E. Perez, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor; and Michael D. Smith, Executive Director of the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force.

Breakout sessions covered a range of topics, including—

Created in 2010 at the direction of President Obama, the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention is active in Baltimore, Boston, Camden, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Salinas, San Jose, Seattle, Long Beach, and Louisville. The forum models a new kind of federal and local collaboration, encouraging its members to change the way they do business by sharing common challenges and promising strategies through comprehensive planning and coordinated action. The U.S. Departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Labor, as well as the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy are the forum's federal partners.

Resources:

More details about the forum, summaries of the cities' plans, and a strategic planning toolkit are available online.

An archive of the summit livestream is available on the OJJDP website.

 


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Gault at 50: An Unrealized Promise

Image of scale of justiceOn May 15, 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling, In re Gault, which ensured the right to a lawyer for children involved in juvenile court proceedings. Yet, nearly 50 years later, the promise of due process and equal protection for all children facing delinquency proceedings remains unfulfilled in many of our nation’s juvenile courts.

Juvenile defenders play a critical role in ensuring fairness and equity for children. They are the only professionals in juvenile court proceedings who are legally required to represent the expressed interests of the child, and they protect the due process rights of their young clients by filing pretrial motions, challenges to evidence, and appeals. Yet, according to OJJDP’s 2003 Survey of Youth in Residential Placement, less than half of all youth in custody (42 percent) and just half of youth in detention facilities (50 percent) report that they have a lawyer.

“We know that children and youth who are not represented by qualified counsel have poor outcomes. They are often transferred to the adult criminal justice system, enter into poor plea agreements without understanding the consequences, and are subject to violations of their rights to due process and equal protection,” said OJJDP Administrator Robert L. Listenbee in his remarks at a kickoff event in Washington, DC, for the National Juvenile Defender Center’s (NJDC’s) Gault at 50 campaign.

About two-thirds of youth in confinement pose little risk to public safety; they are there for nonviolent offenses like drug violations and petty theft, and status offenses like running away or breaking curfew. When involved early, juvenile defense attorneys can prevent confinement and ensure that youth are placed into more appropriate, more effective pre- and postarrest diversion programs. In addition, defense attorneys can collaborate with social workers to identify and address the specific needs of these youth through community-based services that address trauma, mental and behavioral health, and substance abuse issues.

At the postdisposition stage, defense attorneys guard against abuses within juvenile justice facilities and help reduce the long-term collateral consequences of an adjudication, including barriers to public housing, educational advancement, and gainful employment. These unintended consequences of juvenile and criminal records can follow youth well into adulthood, impeding their successful reintegration into society and increasing the likelihood of recidivism.

Following are a few examples of OJJDP’s ongoing work to improve legal service delivery systems and build the capacity of the juvenile defense bar:

“We do all of this,” Administrator Listenbee said, “because we believe that all young people should have timely access to qualified and well-resourced counsel at every stage of juvenile justice proceedings, including through postdisposition representation.”

Resources:

To learn more about OJJDP’s Enhancing Youth Access to Justice initiative, Juvenile Reentry Assistance program, and Juvenile Indigent Defense National Clearinghouse, visit the Office’s website.

To access information about Gault at 50, a year-long public awareness and advocacy campaign, visit the National Juvenile Defender Center website. NJDC’s National Juvenile Defense Standards, which set forth a framework for representation that is anchored in the law, science, and professional codes of responsibility, is also available on the website.


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Department of Justice Observes National Missing Children’s Day
2016 National Missing Children’s Day logo, based on a design  by poster contest winner, Sydney K. of Grand Blanc, MI.
2016 National Missing Children’s Day logo, based on a design by 2015 poster contest winner, Sydney Kekel of Grand Blanc, MI.
Federal officials, families of missing children, leaders of child advocacy organizations, and federal, state, local, and tribal agency representatives who have supported programs to locate and recover missing children gathered on May 25, 2016, at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to commemorate National Missing Children's Day. The annual ceremony, hosted by OJJDP, recognizes the efforts made by law enforcement personnel and private citizens to recover missing and abducted children.

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch opened the ceremony. Other speakers were Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Beth McGarry; OJJDP Administrator Robert L. Listenbee; John Clark, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC); retired Arlington (TX) Police Department Sergeant Mark Simpson, who was instrumental in developing and implementing the nation’s first AMBER Alert program; and Sayeh Rivazfar, a trooper with the New York State Police, advocate for crime victims, and a survivor of child abduction and sexual assault.

Attorney General Lynch presented the Attorney General’s Special Commendation to the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Phoenix (AZ) Police Department for arresting a woman who was abusing and sexually exploiting two young boys in her care, recording the abuse on her cell phone, and sharing the videos with others. Based on forensic evidence uncovered on the woman’s cell phone, the task force developed and pursued leads to others who received and shared the videotaped abuse. To date, the investigation is still open and has resulted in the arrest of more than 25 suspects across the United States and Europe.

left quote The extraordinary people we honor today remind us that our nation has no more solemn obligation and no greater responsibility than the protection of our children.right quote

—Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch

Administrator Listenbee presented the following awards:

This year marks the 17th year that OJJDP has conducted a National Missing Children's Day poster contest. The winning poster inspires the design theme for the following year. Michael Wu, a fifth grader from Walnut, CA, accepted the 2016 National Missing Children's Day Art Contest Award.

OJJDP remains committed to preventing the victimization of children. The OJJDP-supported National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) offers critical intervention and prevention services for missing and sexually exploited children. In 2015 alone, the center assisted families and law enforcement with more than 13,700 cases of missing children. OJJDP provided NCMEC $31 million in fiscal year 2015.

NCMEC also manages the day-to-day operations of the national AMBER Alert program. An AMBER Alert is issued when a law enforcement agency determines that a child has been abducted and is in imminent danger. The OJJDP-administered program is credited with successfully recovering 822 missing children since 1996.

Resources:

To access resources for parents of missing and abducted children, visit the OJJDP and NCMEC websites. Information about the Office of Justice Programs' AMBER Alert program is also available online.

To read a blog by Administrator Listenbee posted in honor of National Missing Children’s Day, visit the DOJ website.

The National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction: A Report to Congress is also available on the DOJ website. The report details national efforts to combat child exploitation, provides results of a threat assessment, and outlines the goals for ongoing activities—including investigations, prosecutions, outreach, victim services, and policy initiatives—to address the issue.

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OJJDP Joins National Campaign To End Solitary Confinement of Youth
Administrator Listenbee speaks at the Stop Solitary for Kids launch event
Photo credit: Stop Solitary for Kids.

“Ending the practice [of solitary confinement] in juvenile justice facilities is and has been a priority for the Department of Justice and our Office,” Administrator Listenbee said at the Stop Solitary for Kids campaign launch event. “The Department has strongly criticized the excessive use of solitary confinement, especially for youth who suffer from mental illness."

Eliminating the use of solitary confinement and isolation is a critical step toward improving conditions for youth in out-of-home confinement and creating an environment where they can heal and thrive.

“Too often, solitary confinement is used to punish a child or to avoid addressing behavioral or mental health issues,” said Administrator Listenbee, speaking at the April launch of Stop Solitary for Kids, a national campaign to end the solitary confinement and isolation of youth in state and local juvenile justice facilities. “Alternatives to solitary confinement allow youth to receive specialized treatment, education, and have contact with the general population.”

OJJDP is committed to working with states and local jurisdictions to develop policies that limit the use of solitary confinement. Mr. Listenbee reported that the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators (CJCA), with support from OJJDP, has developed the “CJCA Toolkit for Reducing the Use of Isolation.” The comprehensive toolkit guides youth correctional administrators in changing cultures that rely on isolation as a behavior management tool. The recommendations contained in the toolkit are grounded in research, best practices, and lessons learned from jurisdictions that have successfully reduced the use of isolation. The Office also funds technical assistance to states through the Center for Coordinated Assistance to States to support jurisdictions in examining their practice regarding use of solitary confinement for youth.

Other speakers at the event, held in Washington, DC, included ‎Deputy Assistant to the President for Urban Affairs, Justice and Opportunity Roy Austin and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D–New Jersey). The speakers addressed the systemic impact of solitary confinement, its personal impact on the lives of youth and families, and the perspectives of correctional administrators.

Many youth in solitary confinement do not receive appropriate education, mental health services, or drug treatment. To demonstrate effective ways of addressing the problem of solitary confinement, the launch event featured a panel of directors of state juvenile justice agencies that have eliminated or greatly reduced the use of solitary confinement. “What we saw in Ohio was that seclusion was actually making children worse,” said panelist Linda James, Assistant Director of the Ohio Department of Youth Services. “The more time they spent in seclusion, the more violent they became. Each act became more intensified and violent than the last. We’ve seen fantastic results [using alternatives to solitary confinement] in Ohio. We reduced seclusion by 89 percent and, at the same time, violence decreased by 22 percent.”

In January 2016, President Barack Obama banned the use of solitary confinement for youth within the federal prison system. The President’s announcement came in response to Department of Justice (DOJ) recommendations issued after a 6-month study of the use of solitary confinement in U.S. prisons. “We, at the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, applaud the President’s commitment to this issue and are encouraged by his announcement,” said Administrator Listenbee.

On June 24, 2016, OJJDP hosted the meeting, “Eliminating the Use of Solitary Confinement in Juvenile Justice Facilities: A Multisystemic Approach.” The meeting brought together stakeholders to better understand the use of solitary confinement at the state and local levels, address challenges, and highlight best practices in reducing the use of solitary confinement. Attendee feedback will be used to develop next steps for addressing solitary confinement and to identify how OJJDP can support state and local systems in examining their own practices.

Resources:

A video of the Stop Solitary for Kids campaign launch is available online.

Administrator Listenbee’s blog, “OJJDP Supports Ending Solitary Confinement for Youth” and the Report of the Attorney General’s National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence, which calls for the end of solitary confinement for youth, may be accessed on the DOJ website.

OJJDP encourages states, localities, and tribal communities to follow the guiding principles and policy recommendations outlined in DOJ's Report and Recommendations Concerning the Use of Restrictive Housing. Additional resources are available from the OJJDP website.

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OJJDP Hosts Police and Youth Engagement Roundtable

On April 27–28, 2016, OJJDP convened a police and youth engagement roundtable that brought together 15 youth and 14 law enforcement executives to discuss the current climate of police-youth relations. The purpose of the roundtable, titled “Supporting the Role of Law Enforcement in Juvenile Justice Reform,” was to identify ways to support, sustain, and expand youth and law enforcement engagement.

Lessons from the roundtable will be used to develop a Juvenile Justice Leadership Institute planned as part of a cooperative agreement with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and funded under OJJDP’s Police and Youth Engagement: Supporting the Role of Law Enforcement in Juvenile Justice Reform grant.

IACP partnered with the Coalition for Juvenile Justice to make sure that a diverse group of youth advisors were part of the discussion. The roundtable took place on April 28 and was preceded by a full day of police- and youth-focused training to allow for a better understanding of resources and programs related to the audience. Sessions provided an overview of—

 

left quote To the young people in this room, you all have such bright futures ahead of you. Our President, our Attorney General, and this Department of Justice believe in you.right quote

—Karol V. Mason
Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs

The roundtable provided an opportunity for youth to share their personal experiences, offering a unique perspective from those who have been directly impacted by the justice system and highlighting their opinions about how to improve interactions with law enforcement. Listening to youth’s experiences across multiple juvenile justice systems can help law enforcement improve its ability to address juvenile victimization, delinquency, and crime, and build trust between law enforcement agencies and the people they protect and serve.

Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs Karol V. Mason provided opening remarks. “It’s wonderful that we have all of you in this room to talk about ways we can work together to improve the safety of our communities,” she said. “If we can give our young people the services and support they need; intervene early in situations where they are exposed to violence and trauma; and keep them in school and connected to their families, communities, and faith-based and neighborhood organizations, we are far more likely to keep them out of the justice system and on the path to healthy, productive lives—and we’ll be better able to ensure public safety.”

OJJDP has worked diligently to strengthen the voice of America’s youth so it can be heard by the law enforcement community. In February 2015, OJJDP and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) collaborated to ensure that a youth panel was able to testify at the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing’s “Community Policing and Crime Reduction” listening session. OJJDP and COPS organized the “Youth and Law Enforcement” panel as part of the agencies’ commitment to promoting a developmental and trauma-informed approach to juvenile justice and to enhancing the relationship between youth and law enforcement.

OJJDP will continue to work with law enforcement to ensure that the youth perspective is a part of its decisionmaking as well as an integral part of the solutions law enforcement embraces to build trust within communities and effectively realize juvenile justice reform.

Resources:

Additional information about the Final Report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Policing, the task force, and the listening sessions is available on the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services website.

Visit the OJJDP-sponsored IACP Youth-Focused Policing Resource Center.

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Administrator Listenbee Provides Remarks at Coalition for Juvenile Justice Conference

Coalition for Juvenile Justice logoThe Coalition for Juvenile Justice annual conference, cohosted by OJJDP, was held April 20–23, 2016, in Washington, DC. Titled “Redefining Leadership: Engaging Youth, Communities, and Policymakers To Achieve Better Juvenile Justice Outcomes,” the event brought together key leaders in juvenile justice reform and stakeholders from various state agencies across the nation.

“This is an exciting time for juvenile justice,” said OJJDP Administrator Robert Listenbee in his remarks to conference attendees. “States and communities are embracing reform. They are moving away from a juvenile justice model that focuses on punishment … and implementing policies and practices that promote healing and positive outcomes for system-involved youth.”

Thumbnail of Reducing the Use of IsolationMr. Listenbee applauded efforts being taken by legislatures and states to reduce the number of youth in out-of-home placement, to adopt evidence-based approaches to working with system-involved youth, and to address racial and ethnic disparities within the system.

Administrator Listenbee also stressed the Office’s commitment to helping states find alternatives to the use of solitary confinement for youth. “There is a great deal that we do not know about the impact of isolation on healthy adolescent development,” said Mr. Listenbee. “But, what we do know is that youth subject to solitary confinement have reported increased depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.” With support from OJJDP’s Center for Coordinated Assistance to States, the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators has created a toolkit to help states reduce the use of isolation in juvenile justice facilities. Two cohorts of training on the toolkit have already been completed for 13 states, and OJJDP is working with the center to create additional training opportunities.

Conference workshops facilitated by OJJDP staff highlighted the Office’s commitment to safeguarding the well-being of children and reforming the juvenile justice system to better meet the needs of system-involved youth. Presenters offered an overview of the Office’s draft Compliance Guidance Manual and audit process and OJJDP’s policy guidance on girls and the juvenile justice system.

In a session on supporting children of incarcerated parents, Jeff Slowikowski, OJJDP Senior Advisor for Strategic and Community Engagement, discussed a partnership between OJJDP and the Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide services to children with an incarcerated parent and to assist the parents in developing and maintaining healthy family relationships.

Resources:

Visit the Coalition for Juvenile Justice’s Resource Library.

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Upcoming Events

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges 79th Annual Conference: July 17–20, 2016

To be held in Monterey, CA, this conference will feature training tracks on family law, juvenile justice, child welfare, and family violence. Presentations will include practical and innovative solutions to challenges facing the juvenile and family court system. The event is hosted by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. Registration information is available online.

National Symposium on Tribal Child Protection: July 19–21, 2016

This event, to be held in Scottsdale, AZ, will focus on technology-facilitated crimes against children in Indian country; tools for combating trafficking and exploitation; laws, ordinances, and resolutions to protect children; the Internet Crimes Against Children affiliate in Indian country; National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) resources for Indian country; community child protection assessments; gangs in Indian country; and cyberbullying and sexting. Speakers will include representatives of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (Arizona), OJJDP, and NCMEC. Registration information is available online.

11th Annual National School Safety Conference and Exposition: July 25–29, 2016

To be held in Orlando, FL, this conference will focus on national best practices and proven localized programs and efforts. The conference will include presentations by experts from the federal government, law enforcement, and education. The conference is sponsored by the School Safety Advocacy Council. Registration information is available online.

19th International Gang Specialist Training Conference: August 8–10, 2016

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

28th Annual Crimes Against Children Conference: August 8–11, 2016

This event provides practical instruction using current information, new ideas, and successful intervention strategies to those professionals responsible for combating the 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 for this conference, which will take place in Dallas, TX, is available online.

Multidisciplinary Team Response to Child Sex Trafficking: August 29–September 1, September 12–15, 2016

This team-based training will guide existing multidisciplinary teams to improve their response to child sex trafficking. The training will also help individuals seeking to establish a formal multidisciplinary team in their communities effectively respond to child sex trafficking cases. Subject matter experts will work with teams to identify gaps and develop short- and long-term response plans. Prerequisite: Attendance at a course such as System Response to High Risk Victims-Child Sex Trafficking or Investigative Strategies in Child Abduction Cases, or a working knowledge of child sex trafficking. The training takes place in Albany, NY, on August 29–September 1, and in Sarasota, FL, on September 12–15. Registration information is available online.

Protect Our Children Conference: September 12–14, 2016

This conference will focus on addressing child sexual abuse, human trafficking, online enticement, and child pornography; the event will feature national and local experts in these areas. The conference is designed to address the needs of law enforcement, prosecutors, victim service providers, judges, social workers, child advocates, and health care providers. Specific breakouts will be featured for the various disciplines engaged in assisting children victimized by exploitation and sexual abuse. Jaycee Dugard will provide the keynote address. The conference will be held in Kansas City, MO. Registration information is available online.

Investigative Strategies for Child Abduction Cases: September 12–15, 2016

This no-cost training will provide law enforcement investigators and investigative supervisors with the information necessary to properly understand, recognize, and investigate cases involving missing and abducted children. The training includes an overview of the scope and scale of issues related to missing and abducted children; available resources; strategies for managing a missing or abducted child case, including initial response; interviewing and interrogation techniques; crime scene evidence collection and processing; and legal issues related to search warrants and interrogation. The 4-day training, sponsored by OJJDP and the AMBER Alert program, will take place in Franklin, WI. Register by August 1, 2016. Registration information is available online.

See other available trainings, including Advanced Cold Case Long-Term Investigations, Major Case Investigative Teams, Digital Evidence, Child Abduction Response Team, and Advanced Investigative Strategies for Child Abduction Cases on the AMBER Alert program website.

Child Abduction Response Team Training: September 26–29, 2016

This Child Abduction Response Team (CART) training is a multidisciplinary approach to responding to a missing or abducted child incident. Team composition is critical to a CART’s implementation and long-term success. The training will be held in Appleton, WI. The deadline to register is August 15. More information about the requirements to participate in the training and about registration procedures is available online.

Creating Solutions: National Council on Crime and Delinquency Conference on Children, Youth, and Families: October 4–6, 2016

This conference will serve as a platform for professionals in the child welfare, juvenile justice, and education fields to share new and innovative programs and research related to systems that serve children, youth, and families. This year’s conference will include a keynote address by Dr. William C. Bell, President and CEO of Casey Family Programs; a screening of the documentary, “Prison Kids,” followed by a discussion that includes participants in the film; and the presentation of the 2016 Distinguished Achievement Award to Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi for their web television series, “Making a Murderer.” The conference will be held in Garden Grove, CA. Registration information is available online.

Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Juvenile Justice Certificate Program: October 24–28, 2016

This program, sponsored by Georgetown University's Center for Juvenile Justice Reform and Center for Children’s Law and Policy, will examine policy and practice reform as vehicles for reducing the overrepresentation of youth of color in the juvenile justice system, disparate treatment of youth of color as compared to white youth within the juvenile justice system, and unnecessary entry and movement deeper into the juvenile justice system for youth of color. The program will take place in Washington, DC. Applications are due by July 22. Additional information is available online.

National Symposium on Juvenile Services: October 30–November 3, 2016

Organized by the National Partnership for Juvenile Services, this event, to be held in Denver, CO, will bring together leadership and direct-care professionals from juvenile services and other human services professionals for training and the opportunity to network and share innovative program service approaches being implemented in the juvenile justice system across the nation. The goals of the symposium are to provide an open forum for the exchange of ideas and discussion of issues, build partnerships for enhanced service delivery, enhance knowledge on critical issues in juvenile justice, and share best practices. Registration information is available online.

National Conference on School Discipline: November 11–13, 2016

This event, to be held in Toronto, Canada, will offer presentations on evidence-based programs as well as promising new approaches developed by practitioners in the area of school discipline. Topics covered during the conference will include supportive, nonexclusionary disciplinary practices; updated tools and strategies for behavior interventions; insights for school administrators from nationally acclaimed programs; working with minority students; legal issues for educators; and ensuring equity in disciplinary practices. Registration information is available online.

 

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News in Brief

OJJDP Announces Deputy Administrator Job Opening

This Senior Executive Service position serves as the Deputy Administrator in OJJDP’s leadership team. The incumbent will (1) oversee the overall administration of OJJDP’s research, training and technical assistance, budget and operations, and communication portfolios; (2) be involved in the advocacy of the juvenile justice and delinquency prevention policies and objectives that the OJJDP Administrator establishes; and (3) oversee OJJDP’s management plan and associated activities, including budget, human resources, acquisition management, information technology, performance measures, and administrative services. The closing date for applications is July 8, 2016. Learn more and apply.

OJJDP Convenes Listening Session on Children of Incarcerated Parents

More than 5 million U.S. children have had at least one parent in prison at one time or another. Parental incarceration can negatively impact a child’s mental health, social behavior, and educational prospects. The emotional trauma that can occur and the difficulties of a disrupted family life can be compounded by the social stigma that many young people in this situation face. On June 28–29, 2016, OJJDP, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Human Services Policy, hosted a listening session to hear from young people who have or previously had a parent in jail or prison. The purpose of the listening session was for federal officials to learn about the challenges the youth and families face, the supports the youth found useful, and ways the federal government can better assist them and their families. The listening session was moderated by Ann Adalist-Estrin, a White House Champion of Change for children of incarcerated parents.

This listening session continues the Office’s commitment to support youth with incarcerated parents and to ensure that all young people get the best possible start in life. Access OJJDP’s 2013 Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents listening session report.

Implementation Planning Resources Now Available via OJJDP's Model Programs Guide

iGuides logo OJJDP’s Model Programs Guide (MPG) is an online resource of more than 260 evidence-based prevention, intervention, and reentry programs for juvenile justice practitioners, policymakers, and communities. MPG uses expert study reviewers and the CrimeSolutions.gov review process to rate program effectiveness. Programs address a variety of topics, such as child protection, health, and welfare; children’s exposure to violence and victimization; delinquency prevention; and detention, confinement, and supervision.

MPG now includes Implementation Guides (iGuides) that provide practical implementation planning resources for practitioners. The iGuides highlight the steps that should be taken and decisions that should be made prior to identifying or implementing an evidence-based program or practice.

The iGuide on School-Based Bullying Prevention is available now.

OJJDP Staff Participate in OJP on the Hill Event

On June 22, 2016, the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) hosted the third OJP on the Hill Day at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Karol V. Mason, Assistant Attorney General of OJP, and leadership from the bureaus and offices opened the event by briefing Members of Congress and their staff about key OJP programs and priorities.

OJJDP staff participated in the event and shared information and resources on juvenile justice and delinquency prevention topics, including mentoring, youth and law enforcement, indigent defense, the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, data improvement efforts, and the OJJDP-led Defending Childhood, Supportive School Discipline, and Smart on Juvenile Justice initiatives.

The Office of Justice Programs works in partnership with the justice community to identify the most pressing crime-related challenges confronting the justice system and to provide information, training, coordination, and innovative strategies and approaches for addressing these challenges. An open house with exhibits, staffed with subject matter experts and tables devoted to OJP-related resources, was available to congressional staff to learn more about the OJP programs available to their constituents and communities.

OJJDP Resources for the Field

Administrator Listenbee Blogs on OJJDP Support of LGBTQI-GNC Youth

“At the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, we’re committed to ensuring that youth who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning/Queer, Intersexual or Gender Non-Conforming (LGBTQI-GNC) are treated fairly within the juvenile justice system,” writes Administrator Listenbee in his blog post. [Link to come]

From housing policies in residential placement to the training of those entrusted to care for youth, LGBTQI-GNC youth’s unique needs are often overlooked and marginalized. OJJDP is working to address these issues. The Office recently released Creating and Sustaining Fair and Beneficial Environments for LGBTQ Youth, a report from a listening session OJJDP convened to hear directly from LGBTQ youth and advocates. Session presentations covered a range of topics, including current approaches to policy and practice, the criminalization of LGBTQI-GNC youth, and improving data collection. The Office also sponsored an Urban Institute study which explored the dangers faced by LGBTQ youth engaged in survival sex in New York City.

“We recognize that a comprehensive approach is needed to better serve this population,” writes Administrator Listenbee. “We look forward to working with our federal and state partners to further the various initiatives aimed at supporting LGBTQI-GNC youth.” [Quotes will be verified once final draft is posted]

United States, Mexico, and Canada Strengthen Ties at AMBER Alert Forum

AMBER Alert logoThe U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training and Mexico's Office of the Attorney General convened a Trinational Forum on May 25–26, 2016, in Mexico City. The event brought together AMBER Alert Coordinators from the United States, Mexico, and Canada to discuss ways the three countries can better respond to cross-border cases of missing children. In her remarks at the recent National Missing Children’s Day Ceremony in Washington, DC, U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch made mention of the Trinational Forum and stated that, “Our commitment to rescuing missing children does not stop at the border. I am proud to say that our Department of Justice has collaborated with the Attorney General of Mexico on the development of Mexico’s AMBER Alert System, which has already resulted in the rescue of hundreds of Mexican children.”

AMBER Alert has led to the rescue of more than 350 children in Mexico since 2012. The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs manages the AMBER Alert program with the support of OJJDP.

 

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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.

Juveniles in Residential Placement, 2013 Juveniles in Residential Placement, 2013
NCJ 249507

National Report Series

Since 1997, OJJDP has sponsored the U.S. Census Bureau to conduct the Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement. This survey details the characteristics of youth held for delinquency and status offenses in public and private residential facilities in every state. The data provide a detailed picture of these youth, including their age, gender, race, offenses, and adjudication status. The 2013 census shows that the number of youth in placement continues to decline. In 1997, 105,055 youth were held in out-of-home placement. Although the number of youth in confinement increased 4 percent between 1997 and 1999, by 2013, that number had decreased 50 percent to 54,148, its lowest level. Relative declines from 1997 to 2013 were greater for committed youth than for detained youth.

View and download this bulletin and accompanying data snapshot.

Child Victims of  Stereotypical Kidnappings Known to Law Enforcement in 2011 Child Victims of Stereotypical Kidnappings Known to Law Enforcement in 2011
NCJ 249249

This bulletin summarizes findings on the incidence and characteristics of stereotypical kidnappings of children in 2011 and compares them with 1997 findings. An estimated 105 children were victims of stereotypical kidnappings in 2011, virtually the same as the 1997 estimate. Most kidnappings involved the use of force or threats, and about three in five victims were sexually assaulted, abused, or exploited. Victims were, most commonly, ages 12 to 17, girls, white, and living in situations other than with two biological or adoptive parents. Half of all stereotypical kidnappings in 2011 were sexually motivated crimes against adolescent girls. Most perpetrators of 2011 stereotypical kidnappings were male, were ages 18 to 35, and were white or black in equal proportions.

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Creating  and Sustaining Fair and Beneficial Environments for LGBTQ Youth Listening  Session Report Creating and Sustaining Fair and Beneficial Environments for LGBTQ Youth: OJJDP Listening Session Report
NCJ 245321

OJJDP Listening Session Reports

This report summarizes the information, ideas, and perspectives that were shared at an OJJDP-sponsored listening session on improving the care of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth who are involved, or at risk of becoming involved, in the juvenile justice system. Participants in the November 2014 listening session included researchers, practitioners, and youth experts from across the nation. Recommendations offered throughout the session were designed to lay the foundation for a strategic framework composed of actionable items that OJJDP can take to address the unique needs of LGBTQ youth, help state and localities develop appropriate policies and practices, develop interagency agreements with other federal partners, leverage and enhance OJJDP’s current training and technical assistance, and encourage research to identify promising programs for this special population.

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