Center for Juvenile Justice Reform

The Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University advances a balanced, multi-systems approach to reducing juvenile delinquency that promotes positive child and youth development, while also holding youth accountable.

Housed at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, the Center is in a unique position to provide strong and sustained national leadership in identifying and highlighting the research on policies and practices that work best to reduce delinquency and achieve better outcomes for this nation's children. A particular focus of the Center's work is on youth known to both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, also known as "crossover youth." Shay Bilchik, one of the country's most influential voices in the juvenile justice arena, works closely with Georgetown's other policy centers and departments in leading the Center's efforts.

The Center works to focus the nation's juvenile justice and related systems of care on the key principles embodied in an evidence-based juvenile justice reform agenda, utilizing a multi-systems approach. These include:

an effective balance of prevention and intervention services;
an individualized system of justice for youth;
implementation of proven and effective practices;
strong linkages to the community; and
significant public engagement and building of public and political will.

Beyond providing information on these key principles the Center also provides guidance and instruction on how to implement this reform agenda through the adoption of sound policy and practice. In this regard, the Center supports the development of stronger leaders in the juvenile justice and related systems of care and helps them to achieve better outcomes for the young people in their care.

About the Center