Welcome from the Director

On behalf of the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, I welcome you to our website.

This site is a reflection of our commitment to research and leadership development as we continue to fulfill our mission to advance a balanced, multi-system approach in reducing juvenile delinquency that promotes positive child and youth development, while also holding youth accountable.

Within the website, we have chosen a stylistic element that embodies our purpose as an organization. The frayed borders of each banner reflect the need for a collaborative approach to juvenile justice reform, transcending barriers as we work across systems of care. Each border symbolizes our passion for change, our pursuit of a mode of reform that is both cutting-edge and without clear-cut approaches: a reconfiguring of the traditional path. Boundaries undefined, our design also represents our belief in an individualized approach to juvenile justice.

As we continue to learn more about what works for better serving youth at risk, we are committed to identifying and promoting policies and practices that are data driven, evidence based and outcome focused. More specifically we seek to strengthen family engagement, the appropriate assessment of youth, and the use across systems of high quality practices and services that help to reduce recidivism and racial and ethnic disparities.

In short, we are committed to supporting and developing stronger leaders in juvenile justice and related systems of care and helping them to achieve better outcomes for the young people and families they serve.

I hope you visit us again soon. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Shay Bilchik,
Founder and Director
Center for Juvenile Justice Reform
McCourt School of Public Policy
Georgetown University