National Juvenile Justice Network

Programs: Youth justice reform - njjn improves outcomes for youth across the country by enhancing and supporting the work of state-based reformers. Njjn provides direct technical assistance and training in the areas of communications, coalition building, campaign strategy, policy analysis and organizational development. During 2017, we provided in-depth technical assistance (ta) to two states and short-term ta to 38 of our affiliated states, completing more than 200 ta requests. In addition, njjn provided ta support to non-affiliates in north dakota, oregon, new hampshire, and pennsylvania. We also knit together our affiliated organizations so that they can share ideas, resources, and successes and strategize about the best approach to system change. During 2017, we convened 23 separate group calls with our affiliates across a variety of issues. These calls were divided between state networking calls on standing issues and state strategy calls on emerging or pressing issues. Our annual gathering, or forum, provides a space for our reformers to gather together to learn best practices and generate new ideas for the year ahead. During 2017, this invite-only event for members of our community had a notable 118 registrants, including a cohort of youth leaders.

movement building - all of njjn's work is integrated with a race equity lens and is guided by committees of its affiliated organizations, in particular the racial justice steering committee and the board of directors, both of which seek to assure that njjn's work and the work of its affiliates incorporates a race equity agenda. This work is manifest by deep attention to racial justice and equity across njjn's policy work, internal operations, affiliate requirements, and base building. Njjn's base-building work is largely centered in its youth justice leadership institute, which clears a broad path for people of color to lead the movement toward justice system reform. The institute elevates the leadership of people of color who understand best both how our systems harm communities of color as well as how to transform these systems. The institute works with ten fellows over the course of a year, through two in-person gatherings, numerous distance learning opportunities, attachment to a mentor from the field, and support in the completion of a self-designed advocacy project. Njjn's policy work includes an intentional focus on race equity. In 2017 njjn produced the following toolkits and trainings around race equity: a toolkit on pushing back on the harmful narratives of youth of color; a policy platform on police - youth interactions; a research summary on implicit bias; a seminar for the membership on crafting anti-racist policies; a webinar on anti-racist organizational self-assessment; and a teleconference on racial impact statements.

informing the field - njjn provided information to the broad field of individuals and institutions interested in justice reform by elevating new research and policy advances and identifying areas for action and attention. Through policy briefs, webinars, teleconferences, newsletters, website and social media channels, njjn ensured that all who are interested in improving outcomes for youth in trouble with the law would have access to the latest news and information. In 2017, we published 10 documents and reports for members and the larger field, held five webinars, and gave four national presentations. We also utilized our social media platforms to make the case for change. In 2017, our website had more than 98,500 page views, with over 37,000 unique visitors. Our monthly newsletters reached more than 3,400 people. Our facebook channel had 9,522 followers at the end of the year, our tweets were seen more than 547,400 times during the year and our youtube channel was viewed almost 2,800 times.