Models for Change
In 2007, The MacArthur Foundation awarded the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform (CJJR) funding to support Models for Change (MfC), a multi-state initiative working to guide and accelerate advances to make juvenile justice systems more fair, effective, rational and developmentally appropriate. Part of this funding was used to develop the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Leadership Network.
As a member of the National Resource Bank, a network of MfC’s partners and allies in their initiatives, CJJR was focused on supporting the active participation of prosecutors associated with the MfC.
This support included providing training and technical assistance to prosecutors, providing outreach on MfC reform efforts, lending a prosecutorial voice when necessary, and serving as a convener.
CJJR held two annual events that were focused on providing both on-site and web-based trainings along with technical assistance on key policy and program areas to the prosecutors involved in the MfC. The prosecutors considered to attend the events were selected by CJJR and the MfC.
Annual Events
Annual Events
The Juvenile Prosecutors Leadership Network (JPLN) was a peer-learning and support group for juvenile justice prosecutors dedicated to system reform. The group met annually for two days to discuss issues such as alternatives to formal processing, deinstitutionalization and community based alternatives, transition and aftercare practices, and strategies to undertake significant reform nationwide. At the event, each member was expected to strengthen peer support through networking opportunities and share lessons learned from ongoing reform efforts within their respective jurisdictions. Membership in the network was invite-only.
The Juvenile Prosecutors Learning Collaborative
The Juvenile Prosecutors Learning Collaborative
The Juvenile Prosecutors Learning Collaborative (JPLC) was an intensive two-day training and education program for juvenile court prosecutors. CJJR nominated up to 14 prosecutors from across the nation to participate in the learning collaborative. The JPLC utilized guidance provided by the JPLN, as well as the MfC’s expansive network of experts within the National Resource Bank to develop a curriculum with cutting-edge information that was useful to the daily work of prosecutors.