State teams attend national convening to explore responses to juveniles, emerging adults
April 9, 2025 -- NCSC convened teams from 43 states and four territories in Omaha, Neb. late last month to learn the best available
information on effective policy and practice approaches to serve young people in the justice system. The National Convening on the State Courts’ Role in Effective Justice for Young People brought together more than 200 stakeholders for team learning and collaboration to better serve young people in the juvenile justice system and young adults in the criminal justice system.
“Often when we are talking about justice system improvements, we focus on silos - either the juvenile justice system or the criminal justice system. Of course there are reasons to do that, but we were intentional in the naming of this convening because we wanted to focus on the individuals who enter the justice system,” said NCSC Deputy Managing Director Teri Deal. “This event is an opportunity to think beyond silos and focus on how we can best respond to young people, regardless which system they encounter.”
“This approach recognizes that young people's developmental needs don't suddenly stop when they turn 18, and that many emerging adults share similar challenges as those in the juvenile system. By bringing experts from both systems together, our goal was to create opportunities for sharing knowledge and innovative problem-solving,” Deal said.
She added that the convening was especially timely due to the never-before-seen societal shifts young people are facing due social isolation and learning loss during the pandemic; unprecedented levels of depression, anxiety, and mental health needs; technological advancements in communication and social media that have drastically changed the way individuals interact; and increases in gun violence. At the same time, she said states are navigating through ever-changing and sometimes tense discourse on how to effectively address young people who come to the attention of the justice system.
“Over the past few years, we’ve seen national increases in younger juveniles with more severe and violent offenses entering the court system. While new approaches and innovations are helping us reverse the trend, we must remain vigilant to ensure our progress doesn’t result in unintended consequences,” said Corey Steel, Nebraska state court administrator and co-chair of the Conference of Chief Justices/Conference of State Court Administrators courts, children, and families committee.
“Events like the convening help keep this balance top of mind and provide a roadmap and action steps we can all use to provide more effective justice for the young people we serve,” Steel said.
Funded by the State Justice Institute and the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the convening provided insights on cognitive, psychological, and emotional development of adolescents and emerging adults; youth crime trends; policy implications; and community and interagency collaborations. Convening partners included the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, National Conference of State Legislatures, and American Academy of Adolescent Psychiatry’s Opioid Response Network.
Pictured above: Joe Kelroy, division director of juvenile justice services with the Arizona Administrative Office of the Courts, discusses implementing statewide juvenile justice innovations.
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