NCJ Number
249231
Date Published
November 2015
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The "Top Story" of this online issue is President Obama's proclamation of October as National Youth Justice Awareness Month, followed by five "Special Features" on recent and upcoming events related to the work of The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), as well as "News in Brief," "New Publications," and "News From the Federal Advisory Committee."
Abstract
As part of his proclamation of October as National Youth Awareness Month, President Obama made the following challenge, "Let's recommit to ensuring our justice system acts, not as a means for perpetuating a cycle of hopelessness, but as a framework for uplifting our young people with a sense of purpose, so they can contribute to America's success." One of the special features of this issue addresses the White House's recognition of youth and law enforcement leaders as "champions of change." This was done at an event that honored seven pairs of law enforcement officers and youth who are leading efforts to improve interactions between law enforcement and youth in their communities. A second special feature is the U.S. Justice Department's addition of five new sites to the Violence Reduction Network, which is a comprehensive program to deliver strategic, intensive training and technical assistance in an "all-hands" approach to reduce violent crime in communities nationwide. The new sites are Little Rock, AR; West Memphis AR; Compton, CA; Flint, MI; and Newark, NJ. A third special feature reports on OJJDP's hosting of a Family Drug Court Listening Session, which involved just over 40 State leaders, practitioners, family drug court experts, and child welfare and substance abuse treatment agency representatives. They discussed ways to improve family drug court services nationwide. A fourth special feature presents highlights of OJJDP's fiscal year 2015 awards.