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Juvenile Justice in the District of Columbia

On Wednesday, October 21, 2009, community members and organizations representing all Wards of the District of Columbia, including currently and formerly incarcerated youth and parents who have been directly affected by the juvenile justice system, participated in a strategy meeting to identify & prioritize key “next steps” for juvenile justice reform in the District of Columbia, building off the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Juvenile Justice issued in 2001 Over two dozen community-based organizations participated along with several national organizations and a number of juvenile and criminal justice system stakeholders provided support and guidance.

The discussions focused on current and pressing issues facing the community such as children in custody at New Beginnings and other facilities, the need for community-based alternatives to detention and incarceration, the disparate treatment of youth of color in the justice system, and prosecuting youth in the adult criminal justice system and placement in adult jails and prisons. Participants shared their knowledge about the justice system and current initiatives underway, identified key issues and challenges, and strategized on a collective set of recommendations to put forward to DC officials.

On November 4, 2009, community members presented the following recommendations to DC officials for discussion at a Juvenile Justice Roundtable at New Beginnings.

Juvenile Justice Roundtable Recommendations


Juvenile Justice Improvement Amendment Act of 2008

Juvenile Justice Improvement Amendment Act of 2008

CFJY Testimony - Liz Ryan (6.11.08 - DC Jail Oversight Hearing)

CFJY Testimony - Liz Ryan (7 14 08 - DC Jail Oversight Hearing)
Talking Points for Community Groups on Transfer Law


Juvenile Confidentiality Legislation

Letter to Councilman Wells
Talking Points – Wells Juvenile Crime Task Force Recommendations


Appropriations

Letter to Congress


Resources & Links

Talking Points on DC Juvenile Justice Reform

Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission Report (BRC)
https://digitalcommons.georgetown.edu/blogs/oakhill/documents-and-resources/blue-ribbon-commission/    
The Blue Ribbon Commission, started by Mayor Anthony Williams on August 18, 2000, was created to offer policy recommendations to address youth safety and the juvenile justice system. The Commission’s goals and strategies are to: map juvenile crime and the structure of the juvenile justice system in D.C.; identify Best Practices and Model Programs; identify strengths and unmet needs in service delivery; and develop policy recommendations and final report.

A Capital Offense: 
Youth in DC's Adult Criminal Justice System and Strategies for Reform
The Campaign for Youth Justice (CFYJ) published “A Capitol Offense” about DC youth in the criminal justice system.  Here is a link to the report: http://www.campaignforyouthjustice.org/Downloads/NEWS/C4YJ004-DC_Chapter.pdf

Council for Court Excellence’s Guide to DC’s Juvenile Justice system
http://www.courtexcellence.org/NewsandEventsNew/Final%20NewsandEvents%20Index.htm
The Council for Court Excellence released a guide to DC’s juvenile justice system, the first written roadmap for the general public about how the DC juvenile justice system operates, how a case moves from arrest to discharge, what roles various government and non-governmental agencies and individuals play, and what rights victims of juvenile crime have.

Oak Hill Archive Project
https://digitalcommons.georgetown.edu/blogs/oakhill/      
The Oak Hill Archive Project is a site that follows the history of D.C.’s Oak Hill Youth Center located in Laurel, MD. Oak Hill, once known as “the pound,” facilitated troubled youths who often left more troubled than when they came in. The blog began in Spring 2009 where anybody can comment on posts or share their own stories about Oak Hill. Here is The Washington Post’s article on the May 28, 2009 closing of the facility: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/28/AR2009052803747.html?hpid=moreheadlines 

Justice for DC Youth (JDCY)
http://www.jdcy.org
JDCY advocates for a fair and more effective juvenile justice system in the District. JDCY works towards shifting the city’s focus of incarceration to education. The organization believes in enhancing the lives of youths and their families by providing access to a fair and equitable juvenile justice system, as well as quality services. JDCY provides two programs, “Prison to College Pipeline” and “F.I.R.E.,” where volunteers from around the area provide support and education to D.C. youth who have been affected by the juvenile justice system.

DC Lawyers for Youth (DCLY)
http://www.dcly.org
DC Lawyers for Youth’s mission is to improve the D.C. juvenile justice system by offering “advocacy, direct service, and the dissemination of information.” The organization’s approach includes three phases: prevention, representation, and rehabilitation. Through these phases, DCLY works towards empowering and engaging D.C. legal community and youth to effect a positive change. A description of DCLY’s work and achievements can be found here: http://www.dcly.org/ourwork.

Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS)
http://dyrs.dc.gov/dyrs
DYRS is D.C.’s cabinet level juvenile justice agency organized to improve public safety and provide court-involved youths the opportunity to become more productive citizens by offering a more homelike and less restrictive environment. DYRS provides two secure facilities for more than 400 youths at a time: Youth Services Center and New Beginnings Youth Developmental Center. Through these programs, youths receive protection, supervision, education, and best of all, transformation.

Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC)
http://cjcc.dc.gov/cjcc
CJCC’s mission is to serve as the forum for identifying solutions, proposing actions and facilitating cooperation that will improve public safety and the related criminal and juvenile justice services for D.C. residents, visitors, victims and offenders. The Council collaborates with the community to develop strategies and recommendations in achieving their mission.

Juvenile Justice Advisory Group (JJAG)
http://jga.oca.dc.gov/jga/cwp/view,a,3,q,568935,jgaNav,|32953|,.asp The Juvenile Justice Advisory Group collaborates with many youth-related local systems by advising the state juvenile agency, providing consultation to the government and private agencies, and ensuring the provision of comprehensive delinquency prevention programs. The JJAG obtains input from youth currently involved in the juvenile justice, reviews and comments on all grant proposals funded by federal formula grants, and assist in monitoring all juvenile detention and correction facilities and the community-based programs to ensure compliance with the Justice and delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act.