OJJDP Family Listening Sessions: Executive Summary - Office of ...

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This report was compiled by Management Solutions Consulting Group, Inc., under contract number 2010C 10031 from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view or opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Foreword From March through July 2011, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), in collaboration with the Campaign for Youth Justice and the Education Development Center, convened four listening sessions with families and youth who had direct experiences with the juvenile justice system at the local and state levels. The discussions focused on four broad topic areas: the expectations and the reality of families' first encounters with the juvenile justice system, whether the youth’s needs were met during the period of confinement, how the family was treated and served while their child was confined, and the availability of aftercare services. This report presents a summary of the participants’ experiences and the many insightful recommendations for reform that they shared during the listening sessions. Many parents and guardians shared that their children exhibited early warning signs, such as truancy, a drop in grades, and evidence of mental health problems before their first detention and recommended that these warning signs serve as critical prevention and/or intervention points for youth. Other common themes raised by participants included the need for access to information regarding legal rights and representation, visitation, allowable medical supplies or treatments, and opportunities for continued education; and the importance of effective aftercare services, which help youth transition successfully back into the community and decrease the likelihood of recidivism. Senior leadership from OJJDP attended the sessions to hear the poignant and powerful testimonies directly from the families about the best and worst practices of the juvenile justice system. OJJDP will use the information from these sessions to strengthen policies and activities, such as grantmaking and technical assistance, and to inform guidance to jurisdictions interested in partnering with youth and families to improve their experiences with the juvenile justice system. In addition to these listening sessions, OJJDP is undertaking further efforts to enhance youth’s and families’ experiences with the juvenile justice system. These efforts include staff development and training, presentations before key stakeholder groups (such as the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention), and inclusion of family members on specific working groups and committees to ensure that all system reform efforts include the genuine voices of youth and families. OJJDP hopes that the information the listening session participants provided will serve as a springboard for federal leaders and policymakers to influence positive changes in the juvenile justice system nationwide. Robert L. Listenbee Administrator Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
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“When you get into trouble, your
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• Youth were either discriminated
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Mental Health 9. Did your child hav
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202-307-9963 robin.delany-shabazz@u
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NCJ 241379
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