Maine JJAG

Last month, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), a vital federal policy that has transformed juvenile justice in the U.S. By reducing youth detention rates and promoting rehabilitation, JJDPA has made significant strides in protecting at-risk youth.

As Senators Whitehouse and Grassley seek to reauthorize this crucial legislation, it’s essential to advocate for sustained funding and support for community-based programs. Recent cuts to Title II and Title V grants highlight the urgent need to prioritize rehabilitation over punishment.

Discover more about JJDPA's impact and the need for continued advocacy in our latest blog post https://ow.ly/kWvf50TNUx2

Thank you Augusta Teen Center for hosting us this morning and filling us in on all your great work!

The Sentencing Project has an upcoming webinar on July 27 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Register at the following link: https://ow.ly/AqKg50PfvRc

Our Youth and the Juvenile Justice System: 2022 National Report presents the most-requested information on youth and the U.S. justice system.

Learn more: https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/library/publications/youth-and-juvenile-justice-system-2022-national-report?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=publications

Have parenting questions? Need parenting support? Our Parenting Workshops and Groups start up again this month!

Pre-registration is required. If you would like to sign up for a course or have questions, please contact us today by calling 207-402-1621 or emailing [email protected].

Thanks Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) and Annie E. Casey Foundation for a great day strategizing about probation reform with colleagues from Iowa, Washington, Oregon and Minnesota.

The U.S. is facing a social worker shortage as demand for youth mental health services grows A 2020 study funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found a majority of public child welfare social workers were subjected to verbal abuse on the job and nearly half showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. The study also found high rates of turnover and unfilled vacancies...

Access various resources, toolkits, and guides, and sign up for learning opportunities on the OJP Bureau of Justice Assistance–supported National Reentry Resource Center website. Check it out today: https://nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/

News out of The United States Department of Justice regarding guidance for our courts on the use of fines and fees covers the impact on system-involved youth. Check it out 👇

Justice Department Issues Dear Colleague Letter to Courts Regarding Fines and Fees for Youth and Adults

The Justice Department today issued a Dear Colleague Letter for state and local courts and juvenile justice agencies regarding the imposition and enforcement of fines and fees for adults and youth. The letter addresses common court-imposed fines and fees practices, and cautions against those practices that may be unlawful, unfairly penalize individuals who are unable to pay or otherwise have a discriminatory effect. The department provides this letter as part of its ongoing commitment to fairness, economic justice and combating the policies that disproportionately contribute to justice system involvement for low-income communities.

Read more: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-issues-dear-colleague-letter-courts-regarding-fines-and-fees-youth-and