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Working to improve outcomes for youth, communities, and youth-serving systems

CJI’S APPROACH TO YOUTH JUSTICE
• We create tailored plans based on the political, cultural, and organizational landscape.
• We understand what drives state and local partners.
• We help problem-solve and develop plans and solutions.

CJI’s youth justice team offers a nonpartisan, outcome-oriented approach and deep commitment to evidence-driven change. We equip policymakers, leaders, system stakeholders, and the community with skills and knowledge to improve youth justice systems.

With experience in over a dozen states, CJI understands what works ­for improving youth outcomes and for implementing better practices for justice system personnel.

Recent Publications

7/30/2025

Oakland County, Michigan Community Resources for Youth Gap Analysis

Oakland County partnered with the Crime and Justice Institute (CJI) to create a comprehensive inventory of local programs and services for youth ages 10–18 and their families. This initiative aims to boost awareness, improve coordination, and identify gaps in support. This report evaluates the availability and accessibility of these resources, highlights strengths and gaps, and…

9/18/2024

Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County System Assessment Report

The Crime and Justice Institute (CJI) has completed a detailed system assessment of the Juvenile Court of Memphis & Shelby County (JCMSC), providing key insights and recommendations to enhance the Court Services Division’s effectiveness. The assessment, requested by JCMSC in October 2023, aimed to understand factors and current practices that are driving the youth justice…

1/26/2021

Youth Diversion

What is youth diversion? Diversion directs young people away from formal processing in the juvenile justice system, while still holding them accountable for their actions. Learn more about youth diversion in CJI’s new one-pager.

4/3/2019

Reshaping Juvenile Justice in Utah

  Since overhauling its juvenile justice system in 2017, Utah has significantly reduced its reliance on locked detention by diverting more young people into community-based programs that hold them accountable at a lower cost and with better outcomes for youth, families, and communities. When Governor Gary Herbert signed House Bill 239 in March 2017, it…

3/20/2019

Implementing Juvenile Justice System Change in West Virginia

In 2015, West Virginia lawmakers recognized the need for significant change in the state’s juvenile justice system. The cost, both in dollars and poor outcomes for youth, demanded change. Passage of S.B. 393 prompted development and implementation of new policies and procedures designed to divert juveniles who had committed low-level, nonviolent crimes from locked detention…

3/19/2019

Implementing Comprehensive Juvenile Justice Improvement in South Dakota

  In four years, South Dakota has transformed its juvenile justice system resulting in a dramatic reduction of youth commitments to custody. The state also expanded community-based services and diversion programs to improve outcomes for young people. In 2014, South Dakota’s juvenile justice system was facing a crisis. The state had the second-highest juvenile commitment…

3/15/2019

Implementing Comprehensive Juvenile Justice System Improvement in Kansas

  In two years after Kansas began an overhaul of its juvenile justice system, the state increased its use of community-based programs as an alternative to placing young people in locked detention, improving outcomes and saving more than $30 million. The state Legislature passed Senate Bill 367 (S.B. 367) in 2016. The comprehensive juvenile justice…

12/21/2018

Infographic: Performance Measures Shape Juvenile Justice

  Click here for a downloadable version.     As juvenile justice systems move toward data-driven policies and practices, state and local agencies have become increasingly focused on using performance measures to ensure they are promoting positive outcomes for youth. By analyzing targeted performance measures, agencies can use data to continually improve policies and practices.  …