To build on the progress achieved so far, the JJPOC, in partnership with the Tow Youth Justice Institute at the University of New Haven, worked over the course of the last six months on developing a new strategic plan for the next three years (2021 to 2024) that continues the four goals outlined in the 2019 – 2021 plan.
The strategic plan serves as a roadmap created to guide future work. First and foremost, this strategic plan is a statement for a shared vision: to achieve positive youth outcomes for safer and healthier communities. This requires a fair, effective and equitable youth justice system.
The following are the four goals the JJPOC has identified through 2024:
Goal #1
Limit youth entry into the justice system
Preventing youth from entering the formal justice system by appropriately serving them by alternative means or systems (e.g., community-based diversion, restorative justice approaches, mental/behavioral health services, etc.) in order to achieve better outcomes for youth.
Goal #2
Reduce incarceration
Ensuring that youth who are committed to confinement are held accountable through individualized rehabilitative services, treated with fairness and dignity, and offered the support needed to mature into healthy and productive members of our communities.
Goal #3
Reduce racial and ethnic disparities in youth
Eliminating racial and ethnic disparities of justice-involved youth to ensure fairness and equity for all youth.
Goal #4
“Right-size” the juvenile justice system
Focusing the juvenile justice system to the appropriate age range of youth to provide developmentally appropriate and effective services for both the youngest youth (lower age of jurisdiction) and the older youth (including emerging adults) in order to improve individual outcomes and increase public safety.
For each stated goal, the JJPOC and its workgroup members have described a set of concrete objectives, strategies, and measures, which will be presented to the larger committee for approval.