Mission

To convene national, state, and local partners to educate on and advocate for youth-serving systems to be fair, effective, and rooted in community.

Vision

All children, youth, and families have opportunities to live safe, fulfilling lives in their communities.

Commitment Statement

As a national membership organization, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) is committed to creating more just and positive outcomes for all youth and children who are involved with or at risk of becoming involved with the juvenile justice system. The Coalition for Juvenile Justice is a powerful network of members and change agents who embrace the opportunity before us to advance systemic change.

For these reasons, CJJ is committed to operationalizing our mission, vision, and values. We know that intention alone will not change the experience of system-impacted populations. The mission and vision we hold for enriching the lives of all young people demands we directly challenge our working assumptions as we move forward together and create more opportunities for deeper learning, lasting change, and transparent accountability.

We acknowledge that:

  • This work is urgent.
  • We will always be learning.
  • We will make mistakes.
  • We will own our responsibility for corrective action.
  • Our efforts will be tireless.
  • We will not stop.

CJJ is committed to doing this work alongside our members, allies, and the broader youth justice field as change agents.  

History

Since its inception in 1984, CJJ has supported a broad and active coalition across all 56 U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia, as the nonprofit association of Governor-appointed SAG members operating under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), along with allied staff, individuals, and organizations. CJJ members include concerned individuals, practitioners, advocates, and youth who voluntarily serve at the state and national levels. CJJ serves and supports SAGs that are principally responsible for monitoring and supporting their state’s progress in addressing the four core requirements of the JJDPA:

  1. Deinstitutionalizing status offenders.
  2. Ensuring that youth are not detained or confined in any institution where they may have contact with adult inmates. This is known as sight and sound separation.
  3. Removing youth from adult jails and lockups.
  4. Reducing racial and ethnic disparities within the juvenile justice system.