CEA Forums - Juvenile Justice

Webinar: Introduction to Developing a Mental Health Court: An Interdisciplinary Curriculum (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:25:24 -0500

Webinar: Introduction to Developing a Mental Health Court: An Interdisciplinary Curriculum
Hosted by the Council of State Governments Justice Center
This webinar will provide an introduction to Developing a Mental Health Court: An Interdisciplinary Curriculum, a free online multimedia curriculum for individuals and teams seeking to start, maintain, or simply learn more about mental health courts. Featuring a combination of online and group activities, the curriculum is the first single resource with the information teams need to translate current research and best practices into program design and operation. It can easily be customized for users’ specific needs and time considerations.

Date: Thursday, January 10, 2013
Time: 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET

Developing a Mental Health Court was created by the Council of State Governments Justice Center (CSG Justice Center) with the support of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), and in partnership with the National Center for State Courts, SAMHSA’s GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation, the National Judicial College, and the Center for Court Innovation, and with the guidance of a steering committee of national experts.

The webinar will introduce participants to the curriculum’s many and varied features, including presentations, quizzes, activity guides, a video case study, and other learning content, as well as its materials for training facilitators. A state-level coordinator who piloted the curriculum in multiple jurisdictions will discuss her experience using this resource.

To register for this webinar:

[justicecenter.webex.com]

Presenters:

• Danica Binkley, Policy Advisor, Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice
Ms. Binkley is a Policy Advisor for Substance Abuse and Mental Health at the Bureau of Justice Assistance where she works with national, state, and federal partners in developing court initiatives, and implementing demonstration projects involving innovative court and criminal justice system strategies. She develops and shapes national policy focused on enhancing and improving the criminal court system, including continued development of problem-solving courts and problem-solving strategies.
• Alex Blandford, Policy Analyst, Courts and Mental Health Programs, CSG Justice Center
Ms. Blandford works on projects that address the intersection of mental health and criminal justice, including developing training programs/modules/seminars and providing support to grantees focused on planning and implementing court-based programs to improve responses to individuals with mental illnesses involved in the criminal justice system. Before joining the Justice Center, Ms. Blandford was a project coordinator for the Institute for Evaluation Health Science in Community Health, housed in the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh. There, she was involved with a variety of research projects, including one examining the Pittsburgh area’s emergency response to mental health crises, and another on the evaluation of the area’s Crisis Intervention Team training program for police officers.
• Hallie Fader-Towe, Director, Courts Program, CSG Justice Center
Ms. Fader-Towe directs the Justice Center’s projects involving court-based programs and practitioners, including providing technical assistance through the Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project and the National Reentry Resource Center. In this capacity, she has worked with jurisdictions around the country planning, implementing, or expanding court-based strategies to address the needs of individuals with mental illnesses and/or individuals returning from secure correctional facilities. She also currently manages the development of training materials on the planning and implementation of mental health courts and on judicial responses to the prevalence of individuals with mental illnesses involved with the criminal justice system. She has written on dispute systems design for state trial courts and has worked on a variety of projects for courts in New York and Massachusetts, including problem-solving programs, strategic planning efforts, and a task force on pro se litigants.
• Brenidy Rice, Court Program Analyst, Colorado Judicial Branch, Division of Planning and Analysis
Ms. Rice is the Problem Solving Court Coordinator for the Colorado Judicial Branch, Division of Planning and Analysis. She has worked with problem solving courts for over eight years, assisted in planning and implementing several different courts with an emphasis on data management for the purposes of ongoing program evaluation, and is a founding member of a nonprofit organization supporting drug courts. In her current role, she is responsible for problem-solving court development, evaluation, training, and technical assistance statewide. She is currently employed by the Colorado Judicial Branch, Division of Planning and Analysis.

Webinar Today: Working With Victims of Gang Violence (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:00:49 -0500

December 5, 2012—Join an Online Discussion
Working With Victims of Gang Violence

Today, at 2 p.m. (eastern time), the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) will present a Web Forum discussion with Christopher Grant and Regina Sobieski on best practices for working with victims of gang violence. Mr. Grant is a nationally recognized gang specialist, with specific emphasis on Native American street gang and prison gang trends. He is the former Chief of Detectives for the Rapid City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division and former commander of the Rapid City Area Gang Task Force, both located in South Dakota. Over the past 20 years, Mr. Grant has provided hundreds of gang awareness training seminars, worked with individuals who have been affected by gang violence, and assisted communities in developing strategies to reduce the impact of gang victimization.
Ms. Sobieski is a licensed social worker and certified trauma specialist. Since 2006, she has served as a contractual project director for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Texas, Project Safe Neighborhoods and Anti-Gang Initiatives, where she has developed a strong anti-gang/anti-violence strategy for the district and provided evidence-based anti-gang/anti-violence programming to more than 3,000 youth. She also has collaborated with the National Youth Gang Center and the American Probation and Parole Association in developing standardized manuals to assist communities in implementing their own strategies to combat gang and violent crime.

Visit the OVC Web Forum now at [ovc.ncjrs.gov] to submit questions for Mr. Grant and Ms. Sobieski and return at 2 p.m. (eastern time) for the live discussion. Go to [ovc.ncjrs.gov] for instructions on how to participate.

National and State Fast Facts (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:50:01 -0500

The National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent or At Risk (NDTAC)

National and State Fast Facts
[data.neglected-delinquent.org]

NDTAC is pleased to announce its annual release of the National and State Fast Facts resource. NDTAC’s Fast Facts Web pages present National and State data tables and graphics reflecting demographics and key academic outcomes for students enrolled in Title I, Part D, Subpart 1, programs. These pages include longitudinal data from school year 2008–09 through 2010–11, as reported by States in the U.S. Department of Education's Consolidated State Performance Report.

Exploring Mentoring Referral in Juvenile Justice Settings Webinar (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:48:35 -0500

Webinar Registration
MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership and project partner the National Partnership for Juvenile Services will facilitate a technical assistance webinar for juvenile justice and mentoring professionals. Participants will learn how youth in juvenile probation, juvenile detention and juvenile corrections are referred to mentoring services. Presenters will share effective strategies, practices, resources and key findings from the research conducted as a part of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention-funded study, “Researching the Referral Stage of Youth Mentoring in Six Juvenile Justice Settings: An Exploratory Analysis.” Panelists include: Barbara Tatem Kelley, Juvenile Justice Program Specialist, OJJDP; Dr. J. Mitch Miller, Professor, University of Texas at San Antonio; Pamela Clark, Program Associate National Center for Youth in Custody; and David Shapiro, CEO, MENTOR.

[www1.gotomeeting.com]

forwarded from
juvjust@ncjrs.gov

Drumming, as a way to teach reading to jailed youth, may lower recidivism (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 18:36:21 -0400

Shakespeare Behind Bars
Very interesting article and particularly timely for us, as we prepare to welcome professional percussionist David Jolley to our SBB juvenile program at Audubon Youth Development Center next week for a drum workshop with the boys!
"Drumming, as a way to teach reading to jailed youth, may lower recidivism"
[www.psmag.com]

Forwarded from FB

NAREN-National At-Risk Education Network (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 19:52:59 -0400

In addition to the NARENnews, our free email newsletter, the National At-Risk Education Network also publishes it’s official e?journal, Silhouettes. For only $20 per year for 4 issues, delivered directly to your email box every quarter, it featurers your colleagues’ experiences, at-risk education experts sound advice, and insights and empowering information that will support you in the work you love so much: championing at-risk youth. (Note: NAREN Associates will receive Silhouettes as part of their subscription price!) You are invited to submit articles for consideration in the next issue of Silhouettes: write to the managing editor, Cheryl Giantsios, at Silhouettes@AtRiskEducation.net Each quarter a copy of Silhouettes will be emailed to you.

Check out a sample of Silhouettes!
[www.atriskeducation.net]
[www.atriskeducation.net]

[www.atriskeducation.net]

The IRIS Center's Revised Information Briefs (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:19:56 -0400

Dear IRIS Family,

The IRIS Center is happy to announce that our collection of online Information Briefs (informative resources gathered from other sources) has been completely updated and revised. Older briefs have been replaced with newer versions or deleted, and many new Information Briefs have been added in categories as diverse as assistive technology, differentiated instruction, reading strategies, and much, much more. (Please note that deleted resources are still available on their host Web sites.) To see all that the IRIS Center has to offer, please visit [iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu] and select “Information Briefs” from the IRIS Resource Locator.

As always, we encourage you to share all of our materials (http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/) with your colleagues and students. If you have any questions concerning IRIS materials, please contact Kim Skow at 800-831-6134, kimberly.a.skow@vanderbilt.edu, or iris@vanderbilt.edu.

Sincerely,

The IRIS Center
Vanderbilt University
Peabody College,
230 Appleton Place, Box 275
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN 37203
iris@vanderbilt.edu
615-343-5610
615-343-5611 (fax)
[iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu]

Free Webinar: Designing Lessons for Common Core Mathematics (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:00:22 -0400

When:
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM MDT

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) represent a unique opportunity to increase the rigor in schools and classrooms—if teachers are able to design effective lesson plans aligned with the new standards. This webinar focuses on meeting the instructional demands of Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM).

[www3.gotomeeting.com]

Executive Summary of GED Survey for Correctional Education (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:25:24 -0400

Thanks again to Tim Phillians for fowrwarding this message from Steve Steurer:

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Below please find a two page summary of the GED 2014 correctional education national survey that was conducted by CEA and GED Testing Service in late 2011 and early 2012. The results were summarized and presented in a workshop at the CEA Leadership Forum in Columbia, Maryland on April 1, 2012. In the next month or so John Dowdell of Ashland University, Daphne Atkinson of GED Testing Service and I will complete and publish the full report and email to each of you sometime in June.

In the meantime, a CEA GED Super Committee, composed of several members of the Council of Directors of Correctional Education led by Chairperson Susan Lockwood as well as certain large jail education program directors, the federal Bureau of Prisons and Corrections Corporation of America have been working diligently to bring important issues to the GED Testing Service for resolution. Nicole Chestang, Executive Vice President of GED Testing Service, and I met today over the telephone and laid out a design for future GED webinars and training. Within a week or two Susan Lockwood and I will talk again with Nicole and her staff to design correctional education specific webinars for mid-June. We will address the major issues brought up by the survey and the GED Super Committee. Watch for an email announcing the webinar. In addition, CEA and the GED Testing Service will pull together key correctional and adult education trainers in Washington, DC to design a complete GED 2014 training package for teachers and administrators of adult education programs in the free community as well as incarcerated adults and juveniles. We hope to announce more about the training opportunities at the webinar and in subsequent emails.

Given all that is going on with computer-based GED testing CEA plans to be there for you from today and into 2014 as the new GED test is implemented. Please feel free to contact me or Susan Lockwood as we move forward.

Steve

Stephen J. Steurer, Ph.D.,
Executive Director
Correctional Education Association
8182 Lark Brown Road Suite 202
Elkridge, MD 21075
tel 443-459-3081
fax 443-459-3088

GED Pricing (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:06:51 -0400

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Steve Steurer
To: "state-directors@googlegroups.com"
Cc: "cea-executive-board@googlegroups.com" ; "cea-standards-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org"
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2012 6:10 PM
Subject: GED pricing

Friends,

Please see the email sent out by Nicole Chestang on GEDTS pricing. It is good to know what the basic cost will be for GED- TS. CEA has a Super GED Committee and we have been working together and sending our questions and issues to GEDTS for the last couple of weeks. There are a lot more issues to solve so we will continue to communicate with GEDTS and pass on information to you.
Good Morning Steve ,
GED Testing Service is pleased to announce the cost of the new 2014 GED® test. The cost of the 2014 GED® test will remain at the same price as the 2002 Series GED® Test delivered on computer--US$120. We are holding the cost to jurisdictions constant, while still providing a seven-hour test, enhanced score reporting and a host of services and benefits for test-takers.
Read the full announcement and FAQs on pricing. [www.gedtestingservice.com]

Thank you,

Nicole M. Chestang
Executive Vice President
GED Testing Service

Steve

Stephen J. Steurer, Ph.D.,
Executive Director
Correctional Education Association
8182 Lark Brown Road Suite 202
Elkridge, MD 21075
tel 443-459-3081
fax 443-459-3088
www.ceanational.org [www.ceanational.org]
"Transforming Lives"

Journal of Juvenile Justice Released (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:54:52 -0400

Journal of Juvenile Justice Released

OJJDP has published the second issue of its online "Journal of Juvenile Justice." This issue features articles that address truancy intervention, polygraph testing for juveniles, homeless youth and arrest history, education in juvenile detention facilities, and juvenile reentry. Manuscripts for the third and fourth issues are currently being accepted. (OJJDP)

[www.journalofjuvjustice.org]

Funding Available To Reintegrate Juvenile Offenders (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:48:12 -0400

Funding Available To Reintegrate Juvenile Offenders

Application deadline: May 14, 2012
Applications are requested for the Second Chance Act Juvenile Offender Reentry Program for Demonstration Projects solicitation. Funding is available to provide services and programs to successfully reintegrate juvenile offenders as they return to their communities, families, schools, and the workforce. (OJJDP)

[www.ojjdp.gov]

NDTAC Title I, Part D, Annual Program Performance Report for SY 2009–10 (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:41:51 -0500

The National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent or At Risk (NDTAC)

Title I, Part D, Annual Program Performance Report for SY 2009–10
NDTAC is pleased to announce the release of the newest Title I, Part D, annual report. These reports examine the types of programs receiving Title I, Part D, funding and the academic, vocational, and transition outcomes that students enrolled in these programs have achieved. The latest annual report summarizes the achievements of students enrolled in programs for youth who are neglected, delinquent, or at-risk during SY 2009–10, and also presents outcomes longitudinally across the last 3 years of data collection (SY 2007/08–2009/10). Data are provided for State agency programs (Subpart 1), and local educational agency programs (Subpart 2) separately.

[www.neglected-delinquent.org]

Counselor Helps Inmates Learn About Finances new (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:23:59 -0500

Counselor Helps Inmates Learn About Finances new
Posted by: Jerry Bednarowski (CPE-72-133-34-218.new.res.rr.com)
Date: January 19, 2012 10:20AM

Counselor Helps Inmates Learn about Finances

Teacher cited for commitment to aiding others

Ronnie VannBeets is a 17-year-old in jail and Lisa Anne Arneson is helping him get ready for adulthood. VannBeets is one of more than a dozen other inmates at the Sheboygan County Detention Center (Wisconsin) who attend Arneson's financial literacy classes, which last week included instruction on how to rent an apartment, especially how to delicately address their criminal history.

"Give the 'who,' 'what,' 'where' and 'when,'" Arneson told them. "Be brief, but don't hide anything. Knowing your (criminal) history — let's be real about it — you don't have much on your side."

"Just be honest," one inmate said.

"But not too honest," said VannBeets. "If you were my landlord," he said, turning to Arneson, "we'd be good."

"What gives you that impression?" Arneson fired back with a wink.

Arneson, a credit and housing counselor at Consumer Credit Counseling Services in Sheboygan, has been teaching inmates at the Detention Center and the Kettle Moraine Correction Institution for the last four years. She volunteers some of her time and some of it is paid for through a grant from the United Way of Sheboygan and Plymouth.

This summer Arneson was recognized for her work by the Correctional Education Association with its Advocate Award for 2011 during the group's International Conference in Charleston, West Virginia.

"She is known for her unwavering commitment to help others accomplish practical financial literacy skills and her advocacy of all populations to achieve financial stability," said Sharon Abel in nominating Arneson. Abel is an adult education instructor at Lakeshore Technical College who helps oversee Arneson's work with inmates.

Arneson's students are all men and range in age from 17 to 57, with most being in their 20s and 30s. "We talk a lot about credit and learning about credit reports, correcting inaccurate information on there and putting together a plan for post release so they have a guideline once they get to that point," she said.

Other topics include how to budget, how to apply for an apartment and how to choose roommates or whether they should even have a roommate.
"I've learned a lot, mainly how to build my credit, because I don't have any credit," VannBeets said. "And how to get a house, and prioritizing what you want in a home. And how to organize my money, how to budget. She's helped me a lot. I'm into it."

He hopes to apply what he's learning as soon as he gets out of jail, which could be some time since he's scheduled to be sentenced on Monday on a felony drug-related charge, for which he was charged as an adult.

"My lawyer made a deal with (the district attorney) for two in (prison) and four out (on probation). I'm hoping I get nine months with credit for time served," said VannBeets, who's been in jail for the last six months.

Arneson said a big issue for inmates was identity theft, of which they often are victims. "They become prime targets," she said. "Sometimes people who don't know them or significant others, like a girlfriend who is ticked off, all of a sudden use their bank account or name and address.” Last year, 13 inmates in the county Detention Center were victims of identity theft, she said.

A regular feature of her class is to pull a credit report for each inmate, which most of them have never seen before, she said. In one instance, an inmate found out that his bank account had been drained of nearly $16,000. An investigation later showed that his parents had withdrawn the money. "He didn't know any of it until we pulled his credit report," she said.

Arneson doesn't pry into the inmates' criminal records, she said. "I never look them up. I don't know want to know. I don't want to judge," she said. "Debt is debt. People on the outside have debt and child support. The problems are exactly the same. It's just that these people have lived a lot more of life than the people on the outside."

What the inmates learn from Arneson is a key to helping them not come back to jail, she said.

"A lot comes down to finances. When people don't have the money, that's when they branch out — whether it's crime or other activity," she said. "Reaching out to them and helping them have a more stable life post release reduces the temptation to come back. As a taxpayer, I'd rather help them than complain about what they're not doing."

Sheriff's Cpl. Roy Kluss, director of the Detention Center's Director of the Huber and electronic monitoring program who helps oversee Arneson's programs, agreed. "I've come to realize once they get in the classroom, they're more open to how to treat their problems," Kluss said. "If these guys don't get this training, they won't be able to adjust or move on once they're released."

Arneson said she often hears from inmates after they are released. "I never follow up. But when they need help or have questions or they know someone who does, they call me," she said. "That's the best part for me."

by: Dan Benson, Sheboygan Press
reprinted with permission

Restorative Justice Works! (no replies)

Jerry Bednarowski — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:32:01 -0500

Restorative Justice Works!

Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin is a non-profit organization formed on July 1, 2003 through the merger of the Briarpatch and Community Adolescent Programs. The agency provides services for more than 3,000 runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth annually. Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin also advocates for policies and programs which benefit these youth.

In a November 16, 2011 press release, Program Director Jay Kiefer argued for expanding the Restorative Justice alternative to more punitive criminal justice approaches. Here is the press release:

Restorative justice is an approach to justice that focuses on the needs of victims, offenders, as well as the involved community, instead of satisfying abstract legal principles or punishing the offender. Victims take an active role in the process, while offenders are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions, to repair the harm they've done—by apologizing, returning stolen money, or community service.

Youth Peer Courts use the restorative justice approach. Youth Services operates two Youth Peer Courts in Madison and one each in the communities of Cottage Grove, Oregon, and Sun Prairie. Youth Peer Court is an alternative program to the traditional juvenile justice system that offers eligible youth an opportunity to receive a meaningful sanction from a jury of their peers. The program is for first-time youthful offenders who have pled guilty to ordinance violations such as theft, damage to property, and disorderly conduct. High school students serve as volunteer jurors, and community members along with selected youth sit on an advisory board for the court.

The essence of restorative justice lies in the principle that crime harms people, communities, and relationships. Consequently, if crime is about harm, then the justice process should emphasize repairing the harm (Bazemore, Seymour, and Rubin, 2000). Restorative justice focuses on three (3) key questions:
• What is the nature of the harm resulting from the crime?
• What needs to be done to repair the harm?
• Who is responsible for the repair?

As such, restorative justice places more emphasis on the victim and holds the wrong-doer responsible for repairing the harm they have caused. The restorative justice approach is viewed as more holistic than some of the juvenile justice practices used in the past which tended to be more punitive, less effective, less educational, and less likely to be honored.

For more information, contact Jay Kiefer at (608) 245-2550 x 307 or jay.kiefer@youthsos.org.

Important Resource for Teachers and Students (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:21:15 -0500

Important Resource for Teachers and Students
Posted by: Jerry Bednarowski (cpe-107-10-124-149.new.res.rr.com)
Date: November 08, 2011 08:32PM

There is an excellent resource available to correctional teachers when working with visually-impaired students, which I uncovered recently. A new student was assigned to my classroom, which happens all the time. This time, however, there was a little note attached to my assignment sheet with two words, “He’s blind.”

I asked myself, “Okay, now what?” My first step was a trip to the American Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator. From my visit with our Racine Correctional Institution ADA coordinator, a lead emerged. I discovered an excellent resource available to the correctional teacher of a visually-impaired student, the Hadley School for the Blind. Hadley offers Braille (and other) classes at no cost to students who are visually impaired and is very helpful in the enrollment process. Class materials are shipped free of charge, and assignments that the students complete can either be emailed or sent to the school — free of charge. Materials for the blind are postage-free. The Hadley School for the Blind even offers classes to professionals who work with the blind, some of which are also free of charge.

Contact information for Hadley is:
The Hadley School for the Blind
700 Elm Street
Winnetka, IL 60093-2554
800-323-4238 (for receptionist or instructors)
800-526-9909 (for Student Services representative)
Email: info@hadley.edu
Website: www.hadley.edu

As a footnote, my student just completed his first course. His Hadley instructor provided excellent feedback on his work, and my student even received a very nice certificate!

Pulic Strongly Supports Treatment and Rehabilitation of Youth (no replies)

Jerry Bednarowski — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:26:27 -0500

A new national poll highlights released on October 12, 2011 showed overwhelming public support for treatment and rehabilitation of youth over incarceration and automatic prosecution in adult criminal court. This survey, a sample of 1,000 American adults, was commissioned by the Campaign for Youth Justice (CFYJ) and conducted by GBA Strategies.

"This survey shows the vast majority of Americans believe youth in the justice system can take responsibility for their actions and, through rehabilitation and treatment, make better decisions and positive contributions to society," said Mike Bocian, Founding Partner at GBA Strategies.

Highlights of Poll:
• Public strongly favors rehabilitation and treatment approaches, such as counseling, education, treatment, restitution, and community service (89%)
• Americans strongly favor involving the youth's families in treatment (86%), keeping youth close to home (77%), and ensuring youth are connected with their families (86%)
• Public strongly favors individualized determinations on a case-by-case basis by juvenile court judges in the juvenile justice system than automatic prosecution in adult criminal court (76%)
• Public supports requiring the juvenile justice system to reduce racial and ethnic disparities (66%)
• Public supports increasing funds to provide more public defenders for youth in court (71%)
• Public supports independent oversight to ensure youth are protected from abuse while in state or local custody (84%)
• Public rejects placement of youth in adult jails and prisons (69%)

"In light of this research, it is urgent that state officials accelerate youth justice reforms to reduce the incarceration of youth and prosecution in adult criminal court, and that Congress and the Administration reject deep cuts to juvenile justice funding," stated CFYJ's President & CEO Liz Ryan.

A few states have started to move away from the punitive approach that relies on incarceration as well as prosecution in adult criminal court. On October 4, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released a new report, No Place for Kids, on the roughly 60,500 U.S. youth — disproportionately young people of color — who are confined in juvenile correctional facilities or other residential programs on any given night. The report documents that youth prisons do not reduce future reoffending, waste taxpayer dollars and frequently expose youth to dangerous and abusive conditions. The Casey report highlights an emerging trend in which states have substantially reduced their juvenile correctional facility populations in recent years, and that at least 18 states have closed more than 50 juvenile corrections facilities over the past four years.

Earlier this year, CFYJ released State Trends: Legislative Changes from 2005-2010 Removing Youth from the Adult Criminal Justice System on the estimated 250,000 youth who are tried, sentenced, or incarcerated as adults every year across the United States. Over 10,000 youth are at risk in adult jails and prisons on a daily basis, and youth in adult facilities are at the greatest risk of prison rape. The report documents more than 20 states in the United States that have changed or are considering changes to their state policies on the prosecution of youth in adult criminal court.

Counter to this public opinion research and state trends, Congress is considering deep cuts to juvenile justice programs. Congress is in the process of making important decisions about funding critical programs that prevent delinquency, protect children from the dangers of adult jails and prisons, and keep communities safe. They are considering cuts of 60-90% that will result in increases in the inappropriate use of detention and incarceration of children, including placement of children in adult jails and prisons.

For more information or to view this poll, please visit www.campaignforyouthjustice.org.

The State of Juvenile Justice in Wisconsin (no replies)

Jerry Bednarowski — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:22:30 -0500

The State of Juvenile Justice in Wisconsin: What Do We Really Know? report released by the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families on October 17, 2011 examines recent trends in juvenile arrests and incarceration in the state, as well as the success of recent community-based alternatives to secure confinement of youth offenders. It includes these highlights:
• The number of juvenile arrests in Wisconsin has declined by 42% over the last decade, and the juvenile arrest rate has gone down by 37% over that span.
• The number of arrests of juveniles in the state for violent offenses has declined by 17.5% over the past five years.
• The average daily population in the juvenile correctional facilities has declined by 70% over the decade.
• Racial disparities remain significant at all stages of the juvenile justice system.
• The number and effectiveness of community-based alternatives to incarceration and the use of research-based practice throughout the juvenile justice system have increased.

Based on the trends identified in the report, as well as the large volume of research findings on juvenile corrections in recent years, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families recommends:
• Returning 17-year-olds to the juvenile system, since the juvenile system is proving to be effective, has the capacity to handle it, and would avoid the unnecessary harm youth experience from being in the adult system
• Reaffirming what is working with youthful offenders, such as local approaches that keep youth in their own communities
• Reinvesting savings from reduced use of incarceration to support the continued expansion of evidence-based, cost-effective community alternatives to confinement

The complete The State of Juvenile Justice in Wisconsin: What Do We Really Know? report may be found on the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families website, www.wccf.org.

New Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire Released (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:34:13 -0500

New Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire Released

As a supplemental tool to the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV), the Crimes against Children Research Center has released the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire-2nd Edition (JVQ-R2). The questionnaire, which is the core of NatSCEV, attempts to document the full range of victimization that youth experience, including conventional crime, maltreatment, peer and sibling victimization, sexual victimization, witnessing, and other exposure to violence. Moreover, it can help practitioners determine youth’s needs, @#$%& whether victimization programs are effective, raise awareness on youth victimization, and improve victimization research.

The JVQ-R2 is free and available online.

Resources:

For more information about the JVQ-R2, go to www.unh.edu/ccrc/jvq/index_new.html.

To download the JVQ-R2, visit www.unh.edu/ccrc/jvq/available_versions.html.

To view and download publications from the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence series, visit www.ojjdp.gov/publications/PubResults.asp?sei=94

Region 1 Conference 2012 (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:11:24 -0400

Hi, everyone! I spent last Sunday and Monday in Cape May, NJ at the site of the next CEA Region 1 2012 conference...it's gorgeous, amazing, beautiful, fun, and lots of other words! The hotel is right across the street from the beach. (it was a little chilly in October, but should be warmer in May ;-)) Cape May is a lovely location...shopping, antiques, victorian buildings and nature centers...and the beach! Start saving your nickels and mark your calendar to attend this conference on May 30, 31, June 1. Watch the Region 1 website for updates. [cearegion1.org]

BJ Berquist
CEA Region 1 PA Rep

Webinar To Discuss Improving State Juvenile Justice Systems (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:18:07 -0400

Webinar To Discuss Improving State Juvenile Justice Systems

On October 18, 2011, at 3 p.m. E.T., the National Criminal Justice Association will sponsor “Using Evidence Informed Principles in Juvenile Justice: Lowering Recidivism, Reducing Secure Detention and Promoting Positive Youth Development.”

This Webinar will discuss how state programs are helping to improve outcomes within state juvenile justice systems and the populations they serve. The presentation will highlight how policy changes have affected secure detention and how evidence-based approaches to juvenile justice can make communities safer, save taxpayers money, and help better allocate resources.

Registration is available online.

Resources:

For more information about the Webinar, visit ncjp.org/content/using-evidence-informed-principles-juvenile-justice-lowering-recidivism-reducing-secure-dete.

To register, go to: [ncja.webex.com].

Resources on Juvenile Offenders and Troubled Teens (1 reply)

Jerry Bednarowski — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:48:06 -0400

Resources on Juvenile Offenders and Troubled Teens

Earlier this year while doing a research project on juvenile offenders, Patti Moore came across our www.ceawisconsin.org website. As a result of her research, Patti ended up publishing an article that lists many valuable resources relating to areas impacting troubled teens. Patti Moore’s article can be found at: [www.forensicscience.net].

Patti suggested that the information she compiled be passed on to readers of our CEA-Wisconsin and Parenting Connection newsletters. Here is Patti’s article.

Juvenile Offenders & Troubled Teens

With crime in certain areas of America reaching new highs, we thought it important to address the bounty of resources dedicated to protecting young offenders and bringing about effective change in their circumstances. It is always a difficult situation to handle when a young person commits a crime. Fortunately, many individuals and organizations are passionate about promoting a change of heart in juvenile delinquents and getting them back on track to a successful future. Here are several links to the best online resources for minor offenders and teenagers in trouble.

Child Protective Services & Legal Assistance

1.History of Child Protection in America. This site details America's longstanding determination to provide for the safety and well-being of its young people. It's a great place to begin to enlarge your perspective on it all.
2.Child Welfare: Laws and Policies. Come to this page to keep yourself abreast of the latest in child protection legislation and procedures. It can also help you gauge the best time to call Child Protection Services.
3.Definitions of Child Abuse. It can occasionally be difficult to determine whether a child is indeed suffering. Look here first for insight into the specifics of it all, with laws updated through 2009.
4.Child Welfare League of America. This official national organization promotes the of well-being for children throughout the country. This is a smart resource for learning more on children's protection.
5.A family's account of CPS action. This is a firsthand account of one's family's experience with Child Protective Services. The story is a great way to understand how CPS has real and long-lasting effects on communities.

Mentor & Support Groups

1.Big Brothers Big Sisters. One of the most effective ways to remedy or preempt a child's problems with the law is to have a strong mentor present. This organization has been heralded for its excellence.
2.YMCA. The Young Men's Christian Association has sidestepped any religious prejudice to provide nationally acclaimed mentorship and support for young people. It's smart to involve yourself with the Y in any possible way.
3.Mentoring in the Juvenile Justice System. This page will provide you a ton of information on the history of mentorship's positive effects on juvenile delinquents. It will also link you to the most beneficial programs in your area.
4.About Juvenile Delinquents. This page will let you know more specifics on what exactly is entailed by the label "juvenile delinquent." It will also put you in touch with support and assistance resources.
5.The Effect of Mentoring. This site spells it out to you loud and clear: Mentoring can prevent delinquency. The arguments laid out here will sway naysayers.

Parent Resources

1.Working with Children with Parents in Prison. Oftentimes, the parents of juvenile delinquents are overlooked in the situation. This site returns the focus of care and concern back toward them.
2.Prison Families of New York. This state-specific site contains a wealth of information that will pertain to families all around the country. There's a real sense of compassion here.
3.What Parents Should Know. This is a great site for parents to learn more about the ins and outs of the juvenile justice system. The language here is clear, simple, and precise.
4.Juvenile Delinquency and Family Structure. This is an excellent essay depicting the details of families that fall through the cracks of juvenile dilemmas. It's quite long, and well worth the read.
5.How to Prevent Juvenile Delinquency. Contrary to popular belief, there's no such thing as a bad seed, and children can be saved from delinquency. This comprehensive article shows you how.

School Programs & Resources

1.Bootcamps for Teens. Sometimes an especially firm hand is needed to bring about new change in troubled teens. Look here for more information.
2.Teen Boarding Schools. Though they've earned an unfairly maligned reputation, boarding schools can often be a great option for getting kids in line. Learn more about the process and great schools on this site.
3.Educating Troubled Youth. The process of rehabilitating a troubled child will definitely involve an educational restructuring. This article provides a wealth on insights on these ideas.
4.Parenting Teens: Education. This site will link you to a trove of resources designed to help young adults prosper in their schooling. Find help with slumping grades, bullying, and more.
5.National Youth Network. This upstanding organization specializes in alternative forms of schooling and education for juvenile delinquents. You can inform yourself about the options available to you.

Source: Young Offenders & Teenagers in Trouble

OJJDP Seeks Audiovisual Materials of Youth Arts and Activities (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 19:29:15 -0400

OJJDP Seeks Audiovisual Materials of Youth Arts and Activities to Display at National Conference

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is accepting applications for audiovisual displays of youth arts and activities for its 2011 National Conference, “Children’s Justice and Safety: Unite, Build, Lead.” The exhibit hall will be open from October 11–13, 2011.

Displays should feature 1–5 minute video or slideshow segments of OJJDP-funded youth activities (such as mentoring, arts demonstrations, or sporting events). Selected audiovisual materials will be presented to juvenile justice practitioners, educators, advocates, policymakers, and tribal leaders who visit the exhibit hall during the conference.

Submissions must be postmarked on or before Friday, August 26, 2011.

Resources:

For more information about the OJJDP National Conference, visit www.ojjdp.gov/2011conference.

To download an application form, go to www.ojjdp.gov/2011conference/ExhibitHall.html.

Submit questions regarding the exhibit hall audiovisual display of youth arts and activities via e-mail to: Jennifer.Tyson@usdoj.gov.

Trends in Juvenile Justice (no replies)

Jerry Bednarowski — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 09:31:31 -0400

As everyone is aware Wisconsin’s three juvenile correctional institutions have been consolidated one location.

The following articles by Jim Moeser in the June 27, 2011 issue of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families’ Youth Initiatives e-newsletter shed light on the population trends that have impacted this change and how Wisconsin is not alone in experiencing these changes.

If you would like to read the entire WCCF Youth Initiatives e-newsletter go to www.wccf.org .

Populations Going Down – Milwaukee County Experiencing New Lows
A research brief put out by Public Policy Forum, illustrated recent downward population trends in adult and juvenile detention centers in Milwaukee County. Milwaukee County spends around 11% ($135 million) of its 2010 budget on adult and juvenile detention centers. With states “facing the worst fiscal crisis in a generation and corrections costs consuming one in every 15 state discretionary dollars, the need to find cost-effective ways to protect public safety is more critical than ever,” (Pew Center for the States).

At the end of 2008 the average daily number of adult and juveniles detainees was 3,448 and by the end of 2010 the number declined 16% to 2,892. The research brief focuses on discussing some of potential causes for the historic decline and @#$%& what this development may mean for county fiscal officials and policymakers.

The brief suggests that the County’s new implementations of community based practices that focus on providing youth the opportunity to become more productive citizens by building on the strengths of youth and their families in the least restrictive environment is one of the reasons for the decline in juvenile detention numbers. The brief does mention they don’t know why the “populations are declining but the fiscal benefits for Milwaukee County are real.”

At the end of the brief, it mentions three actions county policymakers should consider to launch discussions:
1) Step up efforts to collect, analyze and disseminate data regarding the effectiveness of diversion, deferred prosecution, and alternatives programming in reducing recidivism and enhancing public safety
2) Have Milwaukee County Board’s Judiciary, Safety and General Services Committee assume responsibility for deliberating the effectiveness of the county’s alternative programming for both adults and juveniles
3) Convene a series of public meetings

In a recent opinion editorial on jsonline.com, “rely on the facts to fight crime”, the writers mentioned how we should rely on facts instead of being “tough on crime” to keep our community safe. The writers also mentioned how much better it would be for the state to close a prison instead of a school due to fiscal issues.

What Just Happened in the Budget Bill for Juvenile Justice?
In the beginning of the month Joint Finance Committee approved the Governor’s recommendation in closing of Ethan Allen School, transferring boys to Lincoln Hills; and approved closing of Southern Oaks Girl School and transferring girls to a newly created Copper Hills School on the grounds of Lincoln Hills.
The Joint Finance Committee also approved the increase of daily rates for juvenile corrections institutions to $284/day including $17 a day to pay off the deficit incurred in recent years as the result of rapidly declining juvenile corrections institutions placements. That rate will rise to $289/day in July 2012.

The third budget decision they made was to reduce community youth and family aids funding by $9.8 million annually linked with a 10% reduction in supplies and other nonpersonnel costs.

All the boys from Ethan Allen School for Boys have now been moved to Lincoln Hills, and the girls from Southern Oaks have been relocated to Copper Lake School on the Lincoln Hills grounds. The total number of boys/girls at Lincoln Hills/Copper Lake will be under/around 250, and 29 youth will be remaining at the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center. How low can the numbers go?

The Cheese Does Not Stand Alone in Juvenile Corrections Closings
Wisconsin isn’t alone, as the closing and downsizings of juvenile facilities is happening nationwide. For example:

Coos County in Oregon is closed a 12-bed detention in June. This facility was picked to be closed because it was the least expensive of three options for juvenile department. There seems to be good news with this closing because the officers don’t seem to be locking up youth based on the availability of detention, they are going to find the least restrictive alternative that keeps the community safe.

In a recent story on argusleader.com, Minnehaha County in South Dakota has dodged the cost of building a new 100-bed detention center that would cost the county around $14 million. An independent contractor last year gave the county advice to build this facility based off of projections of the then current numbers, but 18 months later through new JDAI initiatives they were able to stop this center from being built.

These initiatives include:
• Probation officers sending fewer probation violators back to the center as a result of new petty crimes
• Beginning of using a risk assessment tool
• Not locking up kids for minor offenses

Counties in Indiana will be evaluating more closely which young people need to be locked up and what to use as an alternative to detention; two more facilities in New York are being closed and four reduced in size.

The trend seems to be that counties/states need to make budget cuts and it seems to be popular to close or reduce the use of youth detention centers country wide. For example, the state of North Carolina just had over a 19 billion dollar budget cut and 15.5 million is aimed toward the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, over a 10% decrease from its current budget.

The number of juveniles being incarcerated in Kentucky had decreased for 3 consecutive years. A big part of this is the effort to reduce the number of incarcerations because studies have shown that incarcerating youth increases the chance of recidivism. Their numbers showed that 50-70% of incarcerated juveniles were arrested again within two years.

The state of Texas is going through a cleanup of its whole juvenile justice system, and there are a dozen more stories just like these that show the closing of juvenile detention centers nationwide.

It seems to be a positive movement in our juvenile justice system – if done well!

CEA Wisconsin Parenting Connection Newsletter (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:05:18 -0400

The July/August issue of the Parenting Connection newsletter has been released. Past issues may be found at www.ceawisconsin.org

If you would like to contribute an article on your program for the September/October issue of this newsletter, please email it to me by September 1.

Jerry Bednarowski
jerrybednarowski@new.rr.com

Child Trauma and Juvenile Justice: Prevalence, Impact and Treatment (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:55:12 -0400

Webinar Announcement: Child Trauma and Juvenile Justice: Prevalence, Impact and Treatment

The majority of youth involved with the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Furthermore, recent research demonstrates that many youth in the juvenile justice system have experienced traumatic victimization and exhibit symptoms of trauma. This webinar will summarize the current state of knowledge regarding this population. It will review:
•Current definitions of trauma, including traumatic events, experiences and effects;
•The prevalence of traumatic experiences among youth involved with the juvenile justice system;
•The impact of childhood trauma on youth development, behavior and delinquency; and
•Emerging responses to trauma among youth in the juvenile justice system including trauma screening, assessment, treatments and recovery.

This webinar will be presented by Dr. Gene Griffin, a clinical psychologist and attorney who presently serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. For the last three years, Dr. Griffin has worked with the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice and the Models for Change Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network, which is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Dr. Griffin is the lead developer and trainer of the Mental Health Training Curriculum for Juvenile Justice (MHTC-JJ)?which will soon include a new module focused exclusively on trauma and its impact on youth in the juvenile justice system. Dr. Griffin will preview the new trauma module for the MHTC-JJ in this webinar.

The webinar, supported by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, will be held from 2:00-3:00pm (ET) on Thursday, August 25, 2011. To register for the webinar: [bit.ly]

Learning From Lyrics (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:31:20 -0400

If you use pop music to teach values, you may want to visit the Learning From Lyrics Facebook site. Johnathan Chase is doing some remarkable things with his students. The following is a recent post he made on FB:

The 2006 song "How to Save A Life" by The Fray, was inspired by actual events involving a troubled teenager at a halfway house. Lead singer Isaac Slade who counseled this youth explained in a 2006 interview, "This kid had a thousand opportunities to get into trouble and he got into all of them, It was heartbreaking to see all the sacrifice that went into trying to save this kid. A lot of it came out of love..."

The pain, heartache and frustration of this life and death struggle is revealed in the lyrics of the song... "Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend Somewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life..."

Fortunately, this situation had a happy ending as Slade reveals in the interview that the teenager did begin to take steps to improve his life.

[www.facebook.com]

The Fray - How To Save A Life www.youtube.com
Music video by The Fray performing How To Save A Life. (C) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

Cultural and Linguistic Competency: Strategies for Establishing a Learning Environment (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:56:21 -0400

The National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent or At Risk (NDTAC)

NDTAC is pleased to announce the next event in our series of Webinars: "Cultural and Linguistic Competency: Strategies for Establishing a Learning Environment Based on Students’ Needs," taking place on Thursday, August 4, 2011 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET.
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Event Name: Cultural and Linguistic Competency: Strategies for Establishing a Learning Environment Based on Students’ Needs
Date: Thursday, August 4, 2011
Time: 2:00-3:00 p.m.
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Event Description

Culture and linguistic competency (CLC) among teachers and staff who work with students who are English language learners (ELL), or from other diverse backgrounds, is an especially important concern within neglect, delinquent, or at-risk education programs.

During this Webinar, Dr. Carlos Rodriguez, Principal Research Scientist at the American Institutes for Research, will discuss effective approaches for increasing engagement among youth from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds and the related barriers. He will share ideas on how to prepare and steer students toward an achievement pathway. Dr. Rodriguez also will advise how learning environments can be created that are attuned and sensitive to students’ needs.

Ms. Ana Diaz-Booz, Principal, School of International Business, Kearny High School Complex in San Diego, California, will then discuss the implementation of approaches used to remedy issues related to both ELL and CLC. She will describe the demographics within her school and the mechanisms that are in place, and outline the strategies that her school used to remove the obstacles hindering students’ educational growth and opportunity. To conclude, Ms. Diaz-Booz will identify the types of approaches for which certain strategies would be best suited.

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Event Registration
To register for this event, please visit [events1.neglected-delinquent.org]. You will need to register in order to receive information on how to attend the event.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Installing the Live Meeting Software (Prior to the Event)
To fully participate in the Webinar on August 4, you must use Microsoft Office Live Meeting 2007, NDTAC's web-based seminar application.

NDTAC recommends that ALL PARTICIPANTS (even previous Webinar participants) check to see if you have the right software installed 20 minutes in advance of the Webinar to address any technical difficulties should they arise. To do so, please follow the steps described below:

Disable your pop-up blocker if it is not already.*
To check if you need to install the software go to: [go.microsoft.com] (Click on or copy and paste the link into your internet browser address bar)
Note: This link will take you to a test page for the Live Meeting Software, NOT to the Webinar Event itself.

*To disable your pop-up blocker in Internet Explorer, do the following:

Open Internet Explorer
Click Tools
Click Pop-up Blocker
Click Turn Off Pop-Up Blocker
Close Internet Explorer
Re-open Internet Explorer

If you already have Live Meeting 2007 Client Installed:

If you have the most recent software already installed on your computer, you will enter the Live Meeting 2007 Client and see a connection confirmation slide. If you are able to see the slide, your test has been successful and you are ready to participate in the Webinar.

If you have not installed Live Meeting previously OR do not have the most recent version:

If you do not have the most recent version of the Live Meeting Client software, you will be prompted to install and run it. You may need to contact your IT administrator for assistance or permission to install the software.

If you opt NOT to install the software:

If you choose not to install the Live Meeting Client software, you will be given a link to attend the event using the Web-based Meeting console. This console connects you to the Webinar using your internet browser.

If you choose to view the Webinar using the Web-based Meeting console, be aware that aspects of its functionality and layout are different from using the Live Meeting Client software. Specifically, tools referred to in a presentation usually refer to the Live Meeting Client version and may either reside in a different location or be unavailable entirely when using the console version. To fully participate in this and future events, NDTAC recommends that you opt to install the full Live Meeting Console instead of using the Web-based console version.

If you experience difficulties with the Live Meeting Site:

Please contact Live Meeting Customer Support at 1-866-493-2825.

Questions?
If you have any questions about the Live Meeting technology or the Webinar, please contact NDTAC at ndtac@air.org.

Thank you,
NDTAC

Justice Resource Update Addresses Re-entry (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:11:12 -0400

Reentry Council: Fighting Myths and Creating Opportunities
[www.ojp.gov]

OVC WebForum Alert: Addressing Sexual Violence in Detention (no replies)

BJ Berquist — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:31:42 -0400

June 29, 2011—Join an Online Discussion
Addressing Sexual Violence in Detention

On June 29, 2011, at 2 p.m. (eastern time), the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) will present a Web Forum discussion with Robert Dumond, LCMHC, CCMHC, Diplomate CFC, and Shannon May on best practices for addressing sexual violence in detention. Mr. Dumond is a board-certified clinical mental health counselor who has served adult and juvenile crime victims and offenders in numerous criminal justice venues for more than 40 years. He has been involved in examining the issue of prisoner sexual violence since the 1980s and has testified in numerous cases as a qualified expert witness. As a member of the Prison Rape Task Force, Mr. Dumond contributed to and testified on behalf of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. He also testified on the impact of prisoner sexual violence at the first public hearing of the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission in 2005. Ms. May is a Program Director at Just Detention International, a health and human rights organization that seeks to end sexual abuse in all forms of detention. She oversees Prison Rape Elimination Act implementation projects in Oregon and Texas, assists with inmate outreach efforts, and provides training to corrections officers, victim service providers, and allied professionals. Ms. May also has provided direct services to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence as a rape crisis advocate for CONTACT Delaware and as the special projects coordinator for the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Visit the OVC Web Forum now ( [ovc.ncjrs.gov] ) to submit questions for Mr. Dumond and Ms. May and return on June 29 at 2 p.m. (eastern time) for the live discussion. Learn how to participate beforehand ( [ovc.ncjrs.gov] ) so you are ready for the discussion.