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National Center for Juvenile Justice

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NCJJ

National Research & Analysis

The National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ), located in Pittsburgh, PA is the dedicated research division of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. NCJJ is the oldest juvenile justice research group in the United States, having conducted national and subnational studies on crime and delinquency since 1973.

For five decades, NCJJ has conducted research and provided objective, factual information that professionals and decision makers in the juvenile and family justice system use to increase effectiveness.

NCJJ Quick Links

Statistical Briefing Book

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Desktop Guide to Good Juvenile Probation Practice

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Fundamental Measure for Juvenile Justice

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National Juvenile Court Data Archive

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Models for Change

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National Juvenile Court Data Archive 

Since 1975, the NCJFCJ’s research arm, the National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ), has been responsible for the Archive funded through grants from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), now managed by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The Archive collects data from juvenile court and juvenile justice agency information systems and produces national estimates of juvenile court case processing of youth charged with law-violating behavior. 

Repository of Automated Case Records
35M
Juvenile Courts Included in the Dataset
2,400
Juvenile Population Represented
83%
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Juvenile Court Statistics

Each year the Archive publishes Juvenile Court Statistics, which profiles delinquency cases processed by courts with juvenile jurisdiction. The report also tracks trends in delinquency and petitioned status offense cases over several decades. Data include the volume of cases, demographics of juveniles involved, and offenses charged. This data is also made publicly available through OJJDP’s Statistical Briefing Book. 

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Our Work

Current Projects

Comprehensive Review and Assessment of Vermont’s High-End System of Care

NCJJ, in partnership with Vermont’s State Advisory Group on Juvenile Justice, is leading strategic planning to balance public safety with the needs of youth at high risk of reoffending, producing recommendations for a graduated continuum of responses and care.

Improving Juvenile Reentry Programs’ Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting

In partnership with the PbS Learning Institute, NCJJ is supporting juvenile reentry programs by helping collect, analyze, and report data to improve outcomes. Phase 1 offers training, technical assistance, and tools for reentry teams; Phase 2 adds new sites and an app to support youth during reentry.

Juvenile Justice Geography, Policy, Practice and Statistics Website

Funded by the MacArthur Foundation, NCJJ created the Juvenile Justice Geography, Practice, and Statistics online repository to track state-level reform and share solutions. Launched in 2014, it provides policymakers and stakeholders with data on over 40 juvenile justice topics to guide and inspire change.

Juvenile Justice Responses to COVID-19

In conjunction with CNA, NCJJ aids in forming a coalition to synthesize existing knowledge about juvenile justice responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. NCJJ is helping to identify jurisdictions for in-depth case studies and is contributing to the development of recommendations based on study findings.

National Youth Justice Review Initiatives

Funded by the State Justice Institute, NCJJ will be assisting Child Welfare and Juvenile Law staff with data planning for three state/territories youth justice technical assistance and training projects. Recipients will include the state judicial branches of Minnesota, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Judicial Branch of Guam.

Nevada Center and Juvenile Justice Innovation Phase 2.3

Nevada’s revised statute 62B.615 created juvenile justice reforms, including the Juvenile Justice Evidence-Based Program Resource Center. NCJJ, contracted by DCFS, designed and implements the Center to support evidence-based programs statewide and provide training and technical assistance to staff, regional departments, and treatment providers.

Rapid Research Response (R3) to Judicial Confinement Decisions

With support from the WT Grant Foundation and Drexel’s JJR&R Lab, NCJJ helps guide post-pandemic juvenile justice decisions to reduce youth confinement and prepare for future emergencies. The project has hosted roundtables, created a COVID-19 confinement checklist, produced podcasts, and published a blog post for Annie E. Casey’s JDAIconnect.

Research to Assess Dual System Youth Data Capacity and Service Delivery across Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems

In partnership with California State University, Los Angeles, and Georgetown’s Center for Juvenile Justice Reform, NCJJ is participating in a five-year National Institute of Justice study on how data and case management are used for youth involved in both child welfare and juvenile justice. The project builds on a prior federally funded national study of dual-system youth.

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