This bulletin uses the experience of Washtenaw County Trial Court Family Division - Juvenile Center to illustrate using strategic planning to achieve system reform. The agency embarked upon this process, which the author and another consultant facili ...more

This bulletin uses the experience of Washtenaw County Trial Court Family Division - Juvenile Center to illustrate using strategic planning to achieve system reform. The agency embarked upon this process, which the author and another consultant facilitated, after being confronted with several challenges, including projected budget over-runs, lengthy case processing times, and case backlogs. After being guided in a 6-step strategic planning process, the agency succeeded in creating a new mission, establishing an enhanced continuum of services, clarifying its goals, objectives and practices, and identifying mission-driven performance indicators. ...less

Pennsylvania is engaged in an ambitious effort to build a "comprehensive model system" for identifying, appropriately diverting, and effectively serving and treating court-involved youth with behavioral health disorders. This issue of Pennsylvania Pr ...more

Pennsylvania is engaged in an ambitious effort to build a "comprehensive model system" for identifying, appropriately diverting, and effectively serving and treating court-involved youth with behavioral health disorders. This issue of Pennsylvania Progress will describe all of these identified building blocks and the ongoing state and county efforts to cement them into day-to-day practice.  ...less

One of the goals of Pennsylvania's juvenile justice system is the "imposition of accountability" for offenses committed. This White Paper takes the position that true accountability requires juvenile offenders to repair the harm caused by their offen ...more

One of the goals of Pennsylvania's juvenile justice system is the "imposition of accountability" for offenses committed. This White Paper takes the position that true accountability requires juvenile offenders to repair the harm caused by their offending behavior and to understand and acknowledge the wrongfulness of their actions, their responsibility for causing harm, and the impact of the crime on the crime victim and community. It identifies system responsibilities, restorative practices and outcomes relative to accountability. This White Paper was the result of debate among focus group participants under the auspices of the State Advisory Group. ...less

This white paper is based on the belief that Pennsylvania citizens have a right to be and feel safe from crime. It recognizes that, for the most part, young people who commit crimes are not serious, violent or chronic offenders. It furthers a long-st ...more

This white paper is based on the belief that Pennsylvania citizens have a right to be and feel safe from crime. It recognizes that, for the most part, young people who commit crimes are not serious, violent or chronic offenders. It furthers a long-standing policy of making every effort to keep young offenders in their communities-or apply the least restrictive alternative to incarceration-so long as the risk they pose to the public's safety can be managed. Although this White Paper focuses on discrete aspects of the community protection goal, it is the sum total of activities directed toward achieving Pennsylvania's three goals that leads to law abiding, productive and connected citizens who have made amends. ...less

Advancing Competency Development: A Resource Guide for Pennsylvania is designed to assist juvenile courts, probation departments and service providers in identifying research-based curricula, community resources and Blueprints programs that can be im ...more

Advancing Competency Development: A Resource Guide for Pennsylvania is designed to assist juvenile courts, probation departments and service providers in identifying research-based curricula, community resources and Blueprints programs that can be implemented or tapped to provide competency development skill-training services to court-involved youth. ...less

One of the fundamental purposes of Pennsylvania's juvenile justice system is to develop "competencies" in delinquent youth. What does that mean? How is it done? The White Paper attempts to answer those questions, articulating basic principles and ide ...more

One of the fundamental purposes of Pennsylvania's juvenile justice system is to develop "competencies" in delinquent youth. What does that mean? How is it done? The White Paper attempts to answer those questions, articulating basic principles and identifying research-support practices, outcomes and measures for competency development that conform to the Juvenile Act's language and purpose. The White Paper was the result of much debate among focus group participants under the auspices of the State Advisory Group. ...less