New Policy Statement from the National Partnership for Juvenile Services on Youth in Jails
By Roger Ghatt
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The Board of Directors of the National Partnership for Juvenile Services (NPJS) recently approved a new policy statement supporting the removal of youth from adult jails stating that, “adult jails lack the physical structure, programming and trained personnel to effectively serve juveniles.” Further, the NPJS statement says that NPJS “opposes any action that places juveniles at risk of being victimized by adult offenders.”
Retired facility director and current NPJS Board member Anne M. Nelsen commented on the significance of the statement stating, "As a Board Member of the National Partnership for Juvenile Services, I am proud that my organization has taken a stand in favor of holding youth charged as adults in juvenile detention. Juvenile detention centers are better equipped with programs and staff to address the unique development needs of adolescents." The full policy statement is available online at here.
This issue will be a workshop topic at the upcoming NPJS sponsored Annual National Symposium on Juvenile Services on October 20-24, 2013 in Louisville, KY. The National Symposium on Juvenile Services is a unique forum that brings together the leadership and direct care professionals from juvenile services and other human services professionals for training and the opportunity to network and share innovative program service approaches being implemented within the juvenile justice system.