In early 2020, a public health crisis has unfolded across our country which requires unprecedented actions to contain. As federal, state, and local governments plan their responses to COVID-19 and attempt to slow the spread of the virus, it is essential that we keep in mind the impact that this emergency may have on young people, including those who are at risk of becoming involved with the justice system, or who are already involved with the justice system, particularly those who are locked behind bars.
Action Steps You Can Take Today
- Urge Lawmakers to Help Protect Justice-Involved Youth
- Join CEEAS in writing letters of support to youth in facilities. Volunteer today!
Act4JJ Statement and Related Resources
- Letter in Response to OJJDP Guidance (Act4JJ, June 2020)
- HEROES Act Bill Summary of Youth Justice Provisions (Act4JJ Fact Sheet, May 2020).
- National Youth Justice Advocates and Stakeholders Applaud House Lawmakers for Including Youth Justice Provisions in the HEROES Act (Act4JJ Press Release, May 2020).
- National Advocates Call On Congress and the Administration to Pass an Additional Stimulus Bill that Addresses Needs of Children and Young People Who are Currently Trapped in Overcrowded Jails and Detention Centers (Act4JJ Press Release, March 2020).
- Statement Regarding Youth Justice Providers: For Use During COVID-19 Social Distancing Measures (Act4JJ Statement, Updated April 1, 2020)
- FAQ (based on Act4JJ Twitter Chat on March 26, 2020)
- COVID-19: Minimizing Impacts on Youth in the Justice System (Webinar Q&A with CJJ & NJJN)
- Spreadsheet tracking what actions states are taking regarding justice-involved youth during COVID-19 (Created by CJJ Staff)
National Letters and Statements
- Memorandum COVID-19 Responses in the Juvenile Justice System (National Governors Association)
- COVID-19 Response for Students Who are Homeless or With Experience in Foster Care (The Hope Center)
- Statement from Community Supervision Executives on the Importance of Using Best Practices During the COVID-19 Crisis (Executives Transforming Probation and Parole)
- Letter: Prioritize the well-being of children as you respond to the Coronavirus outbreak (First Focus Campaign for Children)
- Urgent Action Needed for Youth Justice Professionals in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. (Center for Children’s Law and Policy)
- Supporting Continuity of Operations in Secure Settings during COVID-19 (National Partnership for Juvenile Services)
- Recommendations for Youth Justice Systems During the COVID-19 Emergency (Youth Correctional Leaders for Justice)
- Covid-19 Risks for Detained an Incarcerated Children (Physicians for Criminal Justice Reform)
- COVID-19 Pandemic & Urgent Need for Juvenile Legal System to Act (National Juvenile Defender Center)
State Letters and Statements
- Youth Justice Advocates in 30 States Demand Governors and System Leaders Release Incarcerated Youth Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
- Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Executive Order 2020-29
- California Governor Gavin Newson, Executive Order N-36-20
- Amended Order on Court Operations During Declaration of Judicial Emergency, Juvenile Court of Clayton County, Georgia
Guidance
- Emergency Planning for Juvenile Justice Residential Facilities (OJJDP)
- Jails, Prisons, Immigration Detention and Youth Facilities (Vera Institute of Justice)
- Parole, Probation, and Clemency (Vera Institute of Justice)
- Police and Law Enforcement (Vera Institute of Justice)
- Prosecutors, Defenders, and Courts (Vera Institute of Justice)
- Rural Justice Systems (Vera Institute of Justice)
- Youth Agencies (Vera Institute of Justice)
- Interim Guidance on Management of COVID-19 in Correctional & Detention Facilities (Centers for Disease Control).
- Reducing Stress & Anxiety in Children/Teens (Center for Disease Control)
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How to Sustain Youth & Family Wellbeing in the Juvenile Justice System During the Covid-19 Crisis (The Full Frame Initiative)
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Guidance to Juvenile Courts on Conducting Remote Hearings During the Covid-19 Pandemic (National Juvenile Defender Center)
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Responding to the Needs of Youth Involved With the Justice System During the COVID-19 Pandemic (American Academy of Pediatrics)
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COVID-19 and the Criminal Justice System: Youth Justice Issues, Challenges, and Recommended Reforms (Fair and Just Prosecution)
In the News
- Letter to OJJDP from Senators Ernst, Grassley, and Whitehouse Requesting Guidence
- Lessons From Juvenile Justice Reforms Could Help Reduce Pandemic's Impact on Confined Youth (Pew Charitable Trusts)
- Covid-19 in Juvenile Facilities (The Sentencing Project)
- Tracking COVID-19 Cases in Youth Justice Systems (Youth Correctional Leaders for Justice).
- Coronavirus Tracker: How Justice Systems Are Responding in Each State (The Marshall Project)
Education
- JJ Education Resources (COVID-19)
- Instructional Resources During COVID-19 Shutdown (Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings)
- Khan Academy
Additional Resource Hubs
- Opportunity Youth United Resources for Young Leaders
- National Association of Counsel for Children
- National Council on Crime and Delinquency
- National Juvenile Defender Center
- National Center for State Courts
- National Partnership for Juvenile Services
- National Juvenile Justice Network
- National Network for Youth