Juvenile Justice System Work and Resources
The study, conducted and written by Marlene Matarese, et al., (2023), helps understand the influence that knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about youth with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions (SOGIE) may have on juvenile justice staff members’ provision of protection and support for these youth. When youth with diverse SOGIE are not protected by the workforce in charge of their care, they are at greater risk for poorer future outcomes as they transition into adulthood. Survey responses from 237 juvenile justice staff members in a Mid-Atlantic state were examined using both univariate and multivariate analyses. Findings indicate that respondents who exhibited greater knowledge about these populations and those who had ever had an LGBT youth on their caseload were significantly more likely to report that they would demonstrate protective and supportive behaviors toward youth with diverse SOGIE. At the same time, those who exhibited more negative attitudes about LGBT populations were significantly less likely to report that they would demonstrate protective and supportive behaviors toward youth with diverse SOGIE. Read the press release.
This practice guide is a response to that demand and: provides an overview of key concepts and terminology related to SOGIE; summarizes the research on the effect of stigma and bias on the health and well-being of LGBT youth, the drivers contributing to their disproportionate involvement in the justice system and the harmful and unfair practices to which they are subjected in the system; identifies policies and procedures to prohibit discrimination, prevent harm and promote fair and equitable treatment of LGBT youth who are arrested and referred to juvenile justice agencies; and provides guidance on policies and practices required to ensure the safety and well-being of LGBT youth in detention facilities.
The National Juvenile Defender Center (NJDC) produced a publication entitled “Juvenile Facilities Checklist for Defenders” to assist defenders in monitoring conditions and practices in detention and correctional facilities and other types of secure and non-secure facilities. The checklist provides defenders with the necessary tools to advocate for their clients in these facilities to prevent unnecessary or inappropriate placement, reduce the period of confinement, or intervene to challenge harmful conditions or practices on the young person’s behalf.
This report is a collection of working papers focused on understanding what we know and what we need to better understand about the lives and outcomes of system-involved youth who are both LGBTQ+ and racial/ethnic minorities.
This model anti-harassment and non-discrimination policy is for child welfare and juvenile justice agencies who wish to adopt a policy that would prohibit all forms of harassment, create a safe environment for all youth and service providers, and ensure that all youth have equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits provided by the agency.
The purpose of this model policy is to address operational practices that promote the safety, dignity, and well-being of TGNCI youth in confinement facilities. Although many of the provisions apply to all youth, the policy was created specifically to address the unique needs and vulnerabilities of TGNCI youth. The model policy is designed for broad application in a wide range of confinement facilities (e.g., detention facilities, residential treatment centers, shelter homes).
To promote the safe, inclusive treatment of youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) in juvenile justice systems, this fact sheet serves as a resource to enhance the capacity of State and local administrators and practitioners to improve policies and practices. This document explores the experiences of youth who are LGBT generally, their entry into juvenile justice systems and their experiences in these systems, and recommendations for policy and practice. Additional resources to improve juvenile justice services are presented at the end of the document.
This training curriculum was made to help build understanding of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, and to develop professionals’ competency to serve LGBTQ+ young people in the Juvenile Justice (JJ) System. It includes a trainer’s guide, example case studies, and important content that should be considered for all JJ trainings that are focused on LGBTQ+ populations.
