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OJJDP News @ a Glance

This issue highlights a webinar where youth spoke candidly about their needs during reentry, an OJJDP grantee in Hawaii that offers youth healthy alternatives to gang membership, and how partnerships between Tribes and states benefit Native youth.
Message From the Administrator: Listening to Young People
OJJDP Administrator Liz Ryan - OJJDP News @ a Glance, May 2022

New Publications

All OJJDP publications may be viewed and downloaded on the publications section of the OJJDP website. 

Updated Fact Sheets

OJJDP has updated two fact sheets in its In Focus Series. 

  • In Focus Fact Sheet: Support for Prosecutors Who Work With Youth
    Support for Prosecutors Who Work With Youth (NCJ 255168) outlines OJJDP funding, training, and technical assistance available to increase the competency of prosecutors who work on cases involving child welfare and crimes by youth. Decisions by prosecutors can change the trajectory of a young person’s life. They need ongoing training to help develop best practices in juvenile court and remain current on evolving topics, such as adolescent brain development, risk and needs assessments, expanded juvenile court jurisdiction, and jurisprudence in child sexual abuse cases. 

    View and download this publication.
     
  • In Focus Fact Sheet: Improving Youth Defense
    Improving Youth Defense (NCJ 255341) describes OJJDP programs, training, and technical assistance available for public defenders of youth. Public defenders play a critical role in preserving public confidence in the juvenile justice system, and in ensuring fairness and equity for systems-involved young people and their families. Barriers to a youth’s receipt of proper counsel may include public defenders' excessive caseloads, inadequate compensation, and lack of youth-specific training.

    View and download this publication.
Date Created: August 2, 2022