NCJ Number
235753
Date Published
October 2010
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This report examines the work of Models for Change, an initiative established by the MacArthur Foundation to help States become models for juvenile justice reform.
Abstract
This report presents an overview of the Models for Change initiative. Models for Change was established by the MacArthur Foundation and is based on eight basic principles related to juvenile justice: 1) fundamental fairness - all system participants deserve bias-free treatment; 2) recognition of juvenile-adult differences; 3) recognize that juvenile justice decisionmakers must acknowledge and respond to individual differences in terms of adolescents' development, culture, gender, needs, and strengths; 4) recognition of the potential inherent in all young offenders; 5) safety - communities and individuals deserve to be and feel safe; 6) young people must be encouraged to accept responsibility for their actions and the consequences of those actions; 7) communities have a responsibility to safeguard the welfare of children and young people and to help them grow into adults; and 8) the juvenile justice system has a responsibility to do its job effectively when working with young people. This report describes the grant making strategy used by the organization in its work with the States and presents an overview of the work being done in the core States of Pennsylvania, Illinois, Louisiana, and Washington. The report also describes the three Action Networks developed by Models for Change which focus on accelerating reform in particular issue areas: the Disproportionate Minority Contact Action Network, the Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network, and the Juvenile Indigent Defense Action Network.