“Please be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention. If something doesn’t look right, ask questions. . . . The three of us were locked in that house . . . for nearly a decade. We were hidden in plain sight,” said Georgina DeJesus, emphasizing the importance of vigilance on the part of ordinary citizens. “Don’t assume anything. You could help another child, another family, [to] have a happy ending.”

Ms. DeJesus, one of three young women who were rescued in 2013 in Cleveland, OH, after being abducted and held captive for 9 years, shared her story of survival at the Department of Justice’s (DOJ's) 2017 commemoration of National Missing Children's Day.

The annual ceremony, organized by OJJDP, honors missing children and recognizes extraordinary efforts made by law enforcement personnel and private citizens to protect children from harm. This year's ceremony took place on May 24, 2017, in Washington, DC. Guests included federal and law enforcement officials, families and friends of missing children, child advocates, and others who support programs to recover missing and exploited children.

 

“The people we recognize today remind us of our responsibility to protect all children from harm,” said Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein. “Their actions epitomize the values of courage, selflessness, and determination. The Department of Justice is proud to honor their inspirational achievements, and I am proud to stand with them.”

The awards and recipients are as follows:

Attorney General’s Special Commendation Award: The Alabama and Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children task forces launched a coordinated investigation into individuals suspected of possessing and distributing child pornography. The investigation spanned more than 70 law enforcement agencies across two states and resulted in 54 search warrants, 29 arrests, and the seizure of 731 digital devices as evidence.

Missing Children’s Law Enforcement Award: Special Agent Kathryn Gamble of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Nogales, AZ, initiated a global investigation targeting those who use the online chat service Kik to sexually exploit minors. Her efforts led to the execution of nearly 60 search and arrest warrants, the identification of 30 child victims, the rescue of 22 child victims from ongoing sexual abuse, and the prosecution of 5 individuals to date.

Missing Children’s Child Protection Award: Forensic Detective Eric Kjorness of the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children task force, Moscow, ID, assisted in the investigation of 15 cases of possession or distribution of child pornography in 2016. Those cases resulted in the examination of 40 electronic devices and the recovery of more than 1 million child pornography images and videos. Detective Kjorness also provides presentations to educate the public about child enticement via the Internet and online chat rooms.

Missing Children’s Citizen Award: Springfield, MO, bus driver T.J. Davis’ actions led to the recovery of a 13-year-old girl with autism who was reported missing in December 2016. While driving his route, Davis noticed a girl fitting the police description sitting in the lap of a man in a wheelchair. The man approached Davis’ bus, told him the girl needed help, and left her with Davis. He then proceeded down the sidewalk. Recognizing him as a regular bus rider, Davis contacted his dispatcher and later described the man to authorities. Police arrested and charged the man with first-degree child kidnapping and enticement of a child.

 

OJJDP conducts a National Missing Children's Day poster contest as part of the annual commemoration. The winning poster inspires the design theme for the following year. Audrey Link, a fifth grader from Lakeland, FL, accepted the 2017 National Missing Children's Day Art Contest Award.

 

Other speakers at the event were Maureen A. Henneberg, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Operations and Management; Eileen M. Garry, OJJDP Acting Administrator; and John F. Clark, President and CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).

 

The OJJDP-supported NCMEC serves as an information clearinghouse and resource for families—and the professionals who serve them—to help find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation, and prevent child victimization.

OJJDP’s longstanding commitment to finding abducted and missing children includes the Office’s administration of the AMBER Alert program. To date, more than 870 children have been rescued specifically because of the program and 40 children have been rescued because of Wireless Emergency Alerts. OJJDP’s commitment to combating the sexual exploitation of children includes funding the Internet Crimes Against Children task forces and the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking.

Resources:

A video recording of the 2017 National Missing Children's Day ceremony is available online.

To access resources for parents of missing and abducted children, visit the OJJDP and NCMEC websites.

For more information about National Missing Children’s Day, the annual awards, and poster contest, visit the OJJDP website.

Far too many children are exposed to violence in their homes, schools, and communities. When these children are not identified and supported in their recovery, the exposure may result in academic failure, development of mental health and substance use disorders, and/or involvement with the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

Police officers are often the first responders to incidents that pose threats to children’s safety and well-being. As noted by Alan R. Hanson, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs, “An officer’s response to children who have been exposed to violence can be critical to their recovery and a key factor in ensuring their resilience.”

To help law enforcement agencies build or enhance effective responses to this vulnerable population, OJJDP funded the development of Enhancing Police Responses to Children Exposed to Violence: A Toolkit for Law Enforcement.

 

Resources contained in the toolkit include an organizational self-assessment and action planning tool, a protocol for responding to the needs of children at domestic violence scenes, commonly asked questions from children and example police responses, and principles and practices of death notification to children.

 

“This toolkit will help officers identify and minimize threats to child safety and foster closer engagement between law enforcement and youth,” said Mr. Hanson, announcing the toolkit’s availability during a May 17 Congressional briefing. The briefing was organized as part of National Police Week.

“Officers trained in responses to trauma will be better prepared to recognize and identify these symptoms in victimized children and family members,” said OJJDP Acting Administrator Eileen M. Garry. “Now, we have a framework that enables law enforcement to plan, train, and respond to help children reestablish a sense of security and stability that is essential to recovery.”

Resources:

Enhancing Police Responses to Children Exposed to Violence: A Toolkit for Law Enforcement was funded by OJJDP and developed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Yale Child Study Center. The toolkit is available online.

On June 6–8, 2017, OJJDP held its National Training for Law Enforcement on Child Exploitation in Atlanta, GA. In his keynote address, U.S. Attorney General Jefferson B. Sessions III heralded the efforts of law enforcement agencies committed to combating child exploitation.

 

“One of the privileges of being Attorney General is the chance to lead and support those of you who fight to stop child exploitation,” said Mr. Sessions. “Few others can say that their work matters so much. You are rescuing and protecting innocent children, and bringing to justice truly evil people who commit horrific crimes.”

 

The Attorney General also applauded the work of the OJJDP-supported Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force program and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

 

Mr. Sessions was joined at the training by OJJDP Acting Administrator Eileen M. Garry, who pledged OJJDP's continued support of the ICAC program and acknowledged the constantly evolving nature of the work. “Internet predators continue to explore new ways to reach our children in our homes and communities,” said Ms. Garry. “As long as this danger exists, we cannot declare victory. This is what this week’s training is all about—providing each of you the opportunity to learn new techniques to protect our nation’s most vulnerable population—our children.”

 

The event brought together more than 1,500 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and computer forensic examiners for specialized training on investigating and prosecuting technology-facilitated crimes against children. The training offered participants more than 20 sessions to learn about the latest legal issues and technological developments from some of their most experienced and knowledgeable peers.

 

“Our greatest strength in this ever-changing battlefield is the partnerships we have developed that span the federal, state, and local levels,” said Ms. Garry. “It is our ability to work together across jurisdictional, state, and even national boundaries that makes the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force program so effective.”

Over the past 19 years, OJJDP has built the ICAC network from its original 10 task forces into today’s nationwide network of 61 task forces consisting of more than 4,500 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. Since the program’s inception, task force investigations have led to the arrests of more than 73,000 people suspected of sexually exploiting children—including 8,800 within the last year.

Resources:

Visit OJJDP’s website for more information on the Office’s law enforcement programs and services.

More information on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is available online.

On May 22, 2017, OJJDP Acting Administrator Eileen M. Garry met with state leaders during Utah’s first Smart on Juvenile Justice implementation meeting. She congratulated the state on passing legislation to end unnecessary youth incarceration and reduce recidivism, and pledged agency support for legislation implementation. “We at OJJDP understand the challenge of building consensus around comprehensive reform legislation and we admire your hard work and commitment to the process,” Ms. Garry said.

OJJDP launched the Smart on Juvenile Justice Initiative in 2014 to support programs that promote juvenile justice system improvements, address racial and ethnic disparities within the system, and provide training and technical assistance (TTA) to juvenile prosecutors and defenders.

 

In March 2017, Utah successfully enacted House Bill 239, a comprehensive package of policies designed to improve the state’s juvenile justice system by expanding and strengthening effective early intervention and diversion; standardizing responses to reduce disparities based on race, ethnicity, and geography; and reserving system resources for youth who pose the highest risk to public safety. Ms. Garry met with Utah State House Representative V. Lowry Snow, who sponsored the bill; Ron Gordon, Executive Director of the state's Juvenile Justice Reform Oversight Committee; and other committee members as part of the implementation kickoff proceedings.

 

Utah began its system improvement effort with an indepth, statewide examination of its juvenile justice system. Upon request, The Pew Charitable Trusts' Public Safety Performance Project and the Crime and Justice Institute provided technical assistance to Utah's Juvenile Justice Working Group. The group reviewed national research, state data, and evidence-based practices and issued a report that became the basis for House Bill 239.

 

OJJDP’s TTA provider, the Crime and Justice Institute, will help Utah implement its new policies as part of the Office's Smart on Juvenile Justice: A Comprehensive Strategy to Juvenile Justice Reform program. Utah’s technical assistance will be based on collaboratively developed priorities, with input from stakeholders across the state’s juvenile justice system.

 

Utah joins Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, South Dakota, and West Virginia as states that have passed comprehensive juvenile justice legislative reforms and that have received assistance from OJJDP to support implementation.

Resources:

To learn more about the Smart on Juvenile Justice Initiative, visit the OJJDP website.

The OJJDP-supported Coalition for Juvenile Justice annual conference took place on June 14–17, 2017, in Washington, DC. The event brought together juvenile justice leaders and stakeholders from state agencies across the country.

OJJDP Acting Administrator Eileen M. Garry provided a federal policy update. She informed attendees that bipartisan bills to reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act have been introduced in both Houses of Congress and that OJJDP has provided comments on the both bills. She also told the conference attendees that OJJDP is supporting state compliance efforts by issuing clarifying guidance, such as the recently approved partial final rule, which amends OJJDP's Formula Grant program regulations. OJJDP has updated the policy document, Monitoring of State Compliance With the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, to align with the new rule.

Ms. Garry also emphasized OJJDP’s commitment to partnering with states to ensure compliance with the JJDP Act's core requirements and to ensure successful implementation of juvenile justice system improvements. She highlighted OJJDP's partnerships with The Pew Charitable Trusts to help states implement legislative policies and with the Crime and Justice Institute to provide technical assistance to states in support of their system improvement efforts. Ms. Garry held up Utah’s recent passage of House Bill 239 as an example. (Read the article, "OJJDP Welcomes Utah As a Smart on Juvenile Justice Initiative State," in this issue for more information.)

Ms. Garry applauded the attendees for developing partnerships with other state agencies as part of their 3-year plans and encouraged them to seek out additional avenues for collaboration. “We hope you will continue to partner with the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, in addition to building cross-agency relationships in your states, and fostering relationships with philanthropic organizations,” said Ms. Garry. “OJJDP has learned, firsthand, that cultivating relationships and alliances helps leverage and supplement state funds for juvenile justice system improvements and direct services for youth.”

In a session titled, “An Evidence-Based, Treatment-Oriented, and Developmental Approach for Youth With Substance Use Disorders in the Justice System,” OJJDP Research Coordinator Jennifer Tyson shared key findings from OJJDP's initiative to develop and test juvenile drug treatment court guidelines. The goal of the initiative is to promote effective practice and high-quality service delivery for youth with substance use disorders. OJJDP Program Manager Leanetta Jessie moderated the session.

Resources:

Visit the Coalition for Juvenile Justice’s Resource Library.

On May 15, 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in the In re Gault case that established the right to counsel for youth in delinquency cases. Despite progress made over the five decades since that decision, the promise of In re Gault has yet to become a reality for many of America’s youth. 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.

Children who are not represented by qualified counsel often enter into poor plea agreements without a full understanding of the consequences. They may be transferred to adult criminal courts, with poor outcomes for both the youth and for public safety, and are vulnerable to violations of their rights to due process and equal protection. These negative outcomes disproportionately impact socioeconomically disadvantaged children and children of color.

Juvenile defenders play a critical role in ensuring fairness and equity for children, youth, and families, and in preserving public confidence in the juvenile justice system. OJJDP’s ongoing work to improve legal service delivery systems and build the capacity of the juvenile defense bar includes:

The Smart on Juvenile Justice: Enhancing Youth Access to Justice Initiative. This project provides funding to—

• Improve access to high-quality juvenile defense.
• Deliver national specialized training and technical assistance (TTA) to defenders, defender offices, states, tribes, and local governments. TTA is provided by the National Juvenile Defender Center.
• Establish regional juvenile defender resource centers that leverage resources and collect and analyze data to measure the effectiveness of juvenile defense initiatives.
• Help states to develop and implement model, juvenile-defense delivery systems.
• Provide juvenile reentry services to youth who are reintegrating into their communities following secure confinement or out-of-home placement.

In fiscal year 2017, under this initiative, OJJDP anticipates funding a new national juvenile defense TTA provider, up to two additional resource centers, and up to five awards for direct reentry services to youth returning to their communities following confinement.

 

The Juvenile Reentry Assistance Program. As a member of the Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, OJJDP is partnering with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to support collaborations between civil legal aid programs and public housing authorities. These initiatives support young peoples’ successful transition back to their families and communities following secure confinement or out-of-home placement by helping youth expunge or seal their juvenile records and assisting their efforts to overcome the collateral consequences that impede their access to adequate housing, educational advancement, and gainful employment.

 

 

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The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act that established OJJDP authorizes the Administrator to conduct research and evaluations and undertake statistical analyses on issues related to juvenile offending and victimization. Because OJJDP is the only Office of Justice Programs agency with dual mandates for research and programs, we are uniquely positioned to integrate research in our programmatic functions, and are committed to translating research into practice.

Look to this recurring column authored by members of our Research Unit to distill topically relevant and timely OJJDP-supported research for the OJJDP News @ a Glance readership.

Our first Research Central article presents OJJDP-commissioned data on disparities for Latino youth.

OJJDP research has shown that racial and ethnic disparities exist throughout the juvenile justice system; however, there was a need to further examine the nature of the ethnic disparities at arrest, in disposition decision points, in the use of secure detention, and postdisposition and reentry, as well as in relationships with other child-serving systems (such as child welfare and education).

In 2014, OJJDP awarded grants to three research organizations—the University of California Davis, American Institutes for Research (AIR), and Westat—to further investigate how ethnic disparities affect Latino youth’s contact with the juvenile justice system.

Findings from those studies suggest that disparities for Latino youth vary by contact point, severity of offense, gender, and across counties and states. For example, AIR explored data from a 2-year period (2013–2014) for all juvenile justice referrals in Arizona, and examined the state’s Relative Rate Index across eight decision points. The researchers observed that, although Latino youth were not overrepresented in referrals to juvenile court, once referred, they appeared to experience more severe and restrictive treatment than white youth. That treatment included transfers to adult court, preadjudication detention placement, and postdisposition confinement.

AIR’s findings highlight both the complexity and nature of the problem. The researchers identify areas within state and local juvenile justice systems where disproportionality can be addressed, and emphasize the importance of data collection and how applied research can improve the effectiveness and equity of juvenile justice across the country.

Resources:

The final technical reports on these studies are available on the National Criminal Justice Reference Service website. Download Understanding Ethnic Disparities in Juvenile Probation: What Affects Decisions?, An Examination of Ethnic Disparities in Arizona’s Juvenile Justice System, and Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Police Handling of Juvenile Arrests for more on the researchers' findings.

By Tara Perry

“When a child’s life hangs in the balance, we are there. We are the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) movement. We are trained volunteers who step up to assist judges and serve the nation’s most vulnerable children.”

These are the first few sentences of a new National CASA Storyteller’s Handbook, created by the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (National CASA) with support from OJJDP. This unique resource is empowering ambassadors of the CASA movement—volunteers, staff members, board members, judges, supporters, and others—to tell the story of 77,000 volunteers who are speaking up for the best interests of children who have been abused or neglected.

We are proud to have served more than 250,000 children last year alone. However, there are still hundreds of thousands more children who need a caring, consistent, and highly trained CASA or guardian ad litem (GAL) volunteer to help them navigate the most chaotic time in their lives. To ensure that every child who has experienced abuse or neglect has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and loving home, CASA programs need more volunteers.

We believe storytelling is the most powerful volunteer recruitment tool available to us. When a volunteer recruiter leads with statistics or jumps straight to our mission statement, potential volunteers may see the problem as too big, or may not see themselves playing a role. But sharing a personal story about the rewards of volunteering, or a true story about changing a child’s life for the better can be a game-changer.

National CASA worked nearly a year to collect themes and words from our programs to describe what our volunteers do every day and how they change lives. Through our discovery process, we identified the common denominators of nearly 1,000 unique programs that recruit, train, and support volunteer advocates in 49 states. From there, we created tools to deliver this high-impact message in communities across the country, including a message development card game called “Storyweaver” and the Storyteller’s Handbook.

When the handbook was introduced at the 2017 National CASA/GAL Annual Conference, one program director said, “Thank you for putting it into a format that’s real to all of us.” Another remarked on the power of its simplicity—a feat considering the handbook talks about complicated bureaucratic systems and manages to avoid the usual alphabet soup of acronyms.

We are pleased to report that these tools are already helping the men and women of the CASA/GAL network practice the art of storytelling—and recruiting more volunteers.

For the past 30 years, OJJDP has helped to not only expand National CASA’s volunteer corps, but also elevate it by ensuring that CASA volunteers are rigorously trained via a state-of-the-art training curriculum. Thanks to OJJDP funding, our programs adhere to the highest standards of excellence in service to America’s most vulnerable children.

With OJJDP’s continued support, we are adding new storytellers to the CASA movement who will keep making sure no child faces the foster care and court systems alone. Together, National CASA and OJJDP are a powerful voice for children.

Tara Perry is Chief Executive Officer of the National CASA Association. Points of view or opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The National Association of Drug Court Professionals will host its annual training conference in Washington, DC. The conference will feature more than 30 tracks on topics that include Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Guidelines; Equity and Inclusion; Families First: Taking Family Dependency Treatment Courts to the Next Level; Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts; Trauma Competency; and Research, Evaluation, and Outcomes. Registration information is available online.  

The Darknet and Emerging Technologies: Where Are Teens Going and Offenders Following? July 13, 2017

As the Internet continues to evolve, new layers populate where offenders commit criminal offenses. One such area is known as the “Darknet.” During this webinar hosted by the Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, participants will learn how the Darknet works and how potential criminal activity is facilitated on the Darknet, which is crucial to investigating and prosecuting child exploitation cases. In addition, new software applications are being added to mobile phones and tablets daily. This presentation will demonstrate several of the newer applications for mobile devices that are popular for teenagers. Participants will learn about vault applications and the ability to secretly store information. Registration information is available online.

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Annual Conference: July 16–19, 2017

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges will host its annual conference in Washington, DC. The conference will feature OJJDP-sponsored research and tracks on Juvenile Justice, Family Law, Child Welfare, and Family Violence. Registration information is available online.

Institute for Police-Youth Engagement: July 18–20, 2017

Sponsored by OJJDP, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, this 3-day training institute is designed to immerse law enforcement leaders in best practices and innovative approaches on how to improve interactions between youth and law enforcement. Topics include Adolescent Development and the Effects on Policing; Children Exposed to Violence; The Police Leader’s Role in Advocating for Youth; Needs Assessment, Collaboration, and Action Planning; 21st Century Policing Recommendations; Creating Police-Youth Dialogues; and a model Police-Youth Engagement Roundtable. The institute will take place in Charlotte, NC. Registration information is available online.

Interrogation Techniques for Child Sex Trafficking and Exploitation Investigations: July 31–August 2, 2017

In this training hosted by the OJJDP-sponsored National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College, attendees will learn advanced interview and interrogation techniques, discuss interview and interrogation strategies, identify the cultural and legal issues investigators must consider during interview and interrogation, and learn about the dynamics of the interview process and how to detect deception. The training will take place in Long Beach, MS. Registration information is available online.

Conducting Unexplained Child Death Investigations: July 31–August 3, 2017

This training, hosted by the OJJDP-sponsored National Criminal Justice Training Center, will provide law enforcement personnel, child protective services staff, prosecutors, and other child-serving professionals with up-to-date practices and tips for the investigation of unexplained child deaths. Topics include possible causes of death and the investigative steps involved in evidence identification, collection, and documentation. The training will take place in New Orleans, LA. Registration information is available online.

20th Annual International Gang Specialist Training Conference: August 7–9, 2017

This event, hosted by the National Gang Crime Research Center, is intended for police, prosecutors, probation/parole officers, corrections staff, gang prevention program service personnel, school resource officers, and others who want to gain more skills in preventing gang violence and reducing gang problems. Topics include female gang involvement, street gang investigation, and the mental health needs of gang-involved youth. The conference will take place in Chicago, IL. Registration information is available online.

29th Annual International Crimes Against Children Conference: August 7–10, 2017

This conference will provide training to individuals who are employed by government and nonprofit agencies in the fields of law enforcement, prosecution, child protective services, social work, children’s advocacy, therapy, probation, parole, and medicine. The event will be held in Dallas, TX, and is hosted by the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. Registration information is available online.

National Child Welfare, Juvenile, and Family Law Conference: August 10–12, 2017

This conference, hosted by the National Association of Counsel for Children, will bring together leaders in child welfare, juvenile justice, and family law. Participants will learn about child law and receive practical tools to help them protect the rights of the children, youth, and families they serve. The conference will be held in New Orleans, LA. Registration information is available online.

Multidisciplinary Team Response to Child Sex Trafficking: August 28–31, 2017

This team-based training, offered in Charleston, SC, by the OJJDP-sponsored National Criminal Justice Training Center, will improve multidisciplinary team (MDT) responses to child sex trafficking cases and assist those wanting to establish a formal MDT in their community to effectively respond to child sex trafficking. Subject matter experts will work with teams to identify gaps and develop short- and long-term response plans. The training will help attendees differentiate between child abuse and child sexual abuse cases and help them recognize and locate youth at risk. Registration information is available online.

This training will also take place in Honolulu, HI, on September 11–14, 2017.

The Neurochemistry of Trauma and Evidence-Based Models of Recovery: September 14, 2017

Hosted by the Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, this webinar will provide insight related to the maladaptive effects of trauma on the central nervous system, explore evidence-based therapeutic modalities to facilitate the recovery of the at-risk child, and explore data-driven interventions used to restore healthy functioning and regulation of the at-risk child’s neurochemistry. Registration information is available online.

Child Abuse and Exploitation Investigations: September 11–15, 2017

This training, to be conducted in Indianapolis, IN, is sponsored by the National Criminal Justice Training Center. Presenters will provide participants with up-to-date information on investigating and prosecuting various types of child abuse cases and the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach when investigating and prosecuting child abuse, sexual abuse, and exploitation cases. Topics include interviewing children and suspects, evidence collection, case management, technologies that facilitate child abuse and exploitation, and current legal issues. Registration information is available online.

This training will also be held in Virginia Beach, VA, October 23–27, 2017.

National Missing and Unidentified Persons Conference: September 19–21, 2017

This conference, hosted by the OJJDP-sponsored National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College, will focus on the circumstances behind many missing persons reports, whether due to mass incidents or criminal events. Participants will learn effective strategies for responding to mass incidents, search and rescue, death and forensic investigations, recovery of unidentified remains, and missing persons’ cases. The conference will take place in Atlanta, GA. Registration information is available online.

Forensic Interviewing of Children Training: September 25–29, 2017

The National Children's Advocacy Center will host this 5-day training in Huntsville, AL. The training includes audience discussion, a child interview practicum, a review of recorded forensic interviews, experiential skill-building exercises, and participation in a mock court simulation. To facilitate continued skill development, each participant will receive a training manual, a recorded copy of his or her interview practicum, and access to additional online training materials. Registration information is available online.

Additional trainings are scheduled for October 23–27 and December 4–8, 2017.

23rd National Symposium on Juvenile Services October 8–12, 2017

Hosted by the National Partnership for Juvenile Services, the symposium 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. Topics include Current and Emerging Issues for the Juvenile Justice Practitioner, Training and Performance Improvement for Staff, Implementing and Evaluating Effective Educational Strategies for Youth, Strategies for Understanding and Effectively Addressing Disproportionate Minority Contact, Providing Services for Youth in Adult Facilities, and Community-Based Services. Registration information is available online.

In Solidarity We Rise: Healing, Opportunity and Justice for Girls: October 11–13, 2017

The National Crittenton Foundation will host this conference in Washington, DC. The event will focus on understanding the root causes of trauma and discovering new pathways to well-being; exploring diverse and innovative ways to support health, economic security, and civic engagement for girls; and catalyzing and strengthening the justice system improvements for girls. Registration information is available online.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly—Assessing CAC Partnerships: October 12, 2017

The Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center will host this webinar. Presenters will consider the essential element of collaboration in the Child Advocacy Center movement and discuss how leaders develop, assess, and monitor multidisciplinary partnerships. Learning objectives include recognizing the differences between mandated, essential, and voluntary partnerships; using a partnership analysis tool; and considering the impact of conflict on partner relationships. Registration information is available online.

International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference and Exposition: October 21–24, 2017

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 Philadelphia, PA, is hosted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Registration information is available online.

Justice Department Convenes National Summit on Violent Crime Reduction

On June 20–21, 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) held its National Summit on Crime Reduction and Public Safety in Bethesda, MD. Representatives from federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement; victim and community advocacy groups; and academia gathered to discuss how to best support and replicate successful local violent crime reduction efforts across the country.

In February 2017, U.S. Attorney General Jefferson B. Sessions III announced the formation of the Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety. DOJ convened the national summit to hear from its key crime-fighting partners, via facilitated discussions, on a variety of topics related to reducing violent crime. Participants also heard from other justice community leaders during plenary sessions.

Office of Justice Programs Blog Cites OJJDP Initiatives Supporting Law Enforcement

In a blog post commemorating National Police Week, May 14–20, 2017, Acting Assistant Attorney General Alan R. Hanson discusses how the Office of Justice Programs' agencies support law enforcement through tools, technology, and programs.

Mr. Hanson highlights OJJDP's Police-Youth Engagement initiative, a partnership with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Coalition for Juvenile Justice to support interactions between police and youth. Mr. Hanson also points to the OJJDP-funded toolkit, Enhancing Police Responses to Children Exposed to Violence, developed to support law enforcement officers who work with children in the wake of violent incidents. Additional resources highlighted in the blog post include the Office for Victims of Crime’s Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Victims model and its Vicarious Trauma Toolkit, as well as the Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant program, which helps law enforcement agencies fulfill the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The program is administered by the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking.

“It takes all of us, working together and supporting our law enforcement officers, to achieve the safe, healthy communities our citizens deserve,” writes Acting Assistant Attorney General Hanson. “During Police Week, and throughout the year, we stand with them.”

Read the blog post, “Supporting Law Enforcement Through Tools, Technology, Relationships.”

OJJDP Hosts Training for New Juvenile Justice Specialists

OJJDP's formula grants support state, local, and tribal efforts to reduce and prevent delinquency, improve the juvenile justice system, and protect children from violence and abuse. Juvenile Justice Specialists in each state administer the funding in accordance with legislative requirements.

On June 12, 2017, OJJDP hosted a training for new state Juvenile Justice Specialists with 4 or fewer years of experience. Topics included how to develop comprehensive, 3-year, juvenile justice and delinquency prevention plans; prepare for financial management and program monitoring site visits; and access additional federal funding. Participants also received training on reporting requirements and updates on compliance and regulatory matters.

More than 35 specialists from 30 states and territories attended the training. In her remarks, Acting OJJDP Administrator Eileen M. Garry discussed the Office’s commitment to partnering with the states to address funding challenges and to implement juvenile justice improvements. Ms. Garry told the attendees that she is “personally committed to reaching out to all State Advisory Groups over the course of the next 3 years,” and informed them of three upcoming trainings that OJJDP will host. Two of the trainings will be open to Juvenile Justice Specialists who serve dual roles as Compliance Monitors or Disproportionate Minority Contact Coordinators. “We promised to maintain contact with the states and we are keeping that promise,” she said.

OJJDP Supports Eligibility of Indian Tribes for AMBER Alert Grants

On May 10, 2017, OJJDP Acting Administrator Eileen M. Garry made a presentation on Capitol Hill in response to bill S. 772 to amend the PROTECT Act to make American Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages eligible for AMBER Alert grants. Her remarks were part of a listening session sponsored by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Senator John McCain (R–AZ) introduced the bill on March 29, 2017.

Although AMBER Alert efforts are comprehensive—they cover all 50 states and handle child abductions that cross U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico—American Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages face unique challenges that remain, in many cases, unaddressed. These challenges include the navigation of tribal, federal, and state jurisdictions; limited 911 systems; and shortages of data management tools, dispatch systems, and software needed for disseminating critical information in the aftermath of an abduction. “In its two decades of existence, AMBER Alert has been instrumental in safely recovering hundreds of abducted children,” said Acting Administrator Garry. “It is important to continue our collective work to strengthen this vital public safety tool, especially in remote and often under-resourced areas of Indian country.”

National Center for Juvenile Justice Updates Juvenile Justice GPS

The National Center for Juvenile Justice’s Juvenile Justice GPS (Geography, Policy, Practice, and Statistics) website has added a menu area on juvenile court. The new offering includes a map classifying the current types of “purpose clauses” for delinquency in every state. Purpose clauses are usually written in a statute to clarify the intention of the legislature for a particular state’s juvenile justice system, and they tend to evolve along with larger juvenile justice paradigm shifts as priorities and national trends emerge. The new menu area also includes a map classifying intake and diversion policies in statutes across the country.

The Juvenile Justice GPS combines the most relevant national- and state-level statistics with information on state laws and practice. The project’s goal is to provide state policymakers and system stakeholders with a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the evolving juvenile justice landscape in the states.

On April 27–28, 2017, the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice (FACJJ) held an in-person meeting in Chicago, IL. In her remarks, OJJDP Acting Administrator Eileen M. Garry discussed, among other topics, the introduction of  bills HR–1809 and S–860 into both Houses of Congress to reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended. In addition, Acting Administrator Garry emphasized that OJJDP is committed to continuing its focused effort to establish and strengthen direct relationships between OJJDP and the nation’s 56 State Advisory Groups.

The 2-day meeting also featured discussions about the further development of FACJJ’s website and reports by the FACJJ subcommittees on confidentiality of records, research and publications, transitioning youth, and legislation. In addition, the event included a presentation on current juvenile justice statistical trends by Melissa Sickmund, Director of the National Center for Juvenile Justice, and another presentation by Lisa Jacobs and David Olson, Loyola University Chicago, on the challenges and opportunities that arise when young adults are involved in the justice system.

FACJJ meetings are open to the public; anyone may register to attend and observe. Additional information is available on the committee’s website.