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

Overview
During the spring and summer of 2011, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention (OJJDP), in collaboration with the Campaign for Youth Justice (CFYJ), convened
four listening sessions to provide OJJDP, state juvenile justice agencies, and other stakeholders
with a greater understanding of the challenges families face when their child becomes involved
in the juvenile or criminal justice system.
Table 1: OJJDP Listening Sessions—Logistical Details
Date of
Session
Session
Facilitator
March 29, 2011 Sue Hoag-Badeau
Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention
April 27, 2011 Jessica Sandoval
Campaign for Youth Justice
June 15, 2011 Jessica Sandoval
Campaign for Youth Justice
July 26, 2011 Dave Brave Heart
Education Development Center
Location of
Session
New Orleans, LA
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
Santa Fe, NM
No. of
Participating
Families
7
9
8
8
Summary of
Session
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Previously incarcerated youth and family members of confined youth shared their firsthand
experiences and recommendations for improving the system. (Note: The word “system” is used
synonymously for the terms “juvenile justice system” and “criminal justice system” throughout
this report.)
Format of the Listening Sessions
The facilitators followed similar formats across the sessions, which included brief introductions
by the family members, OJJDP, and other listeners present. The facilitators assured the families
that their names and other identifying information would remain confidential. They framed the
questions in a manner that objectively directed the family members without impeding the sharing
of information. The facilitators requested succinct responses from the families so all members
would have an opportunity to share within the timeframe for the session.
The following four topic areas were introduced to the families for discussion based on these
general questions:
1. What was your first involvement with the system
i