Community Violence Intervention at the Roots (CVI–R)

The crime and justice field recently started to label a wide array of violence prevention strategies as Community Violence Interventions (or CVI). Many of these strategies depend on law enforcement and social services, but the most innovative approaches are community-centered and community-sourced. They are grassroots efforts that rely on the resources of neighborhoods and residents themselves, operating separately from law enforcement and traditional human services. These strategies could be called Community Violence Interventions at the Roots (or CVI-R). Continue reading Community Violence Intervention at the Roots (CVI–R)

National Catholic Register — How Restorative Justice Helped Make the Justice System Work Better in Seattle

If done properly, restorative justice can foster “the most natural human response to crime — to try to talk things through and resolve the conflict,” said Jeffrey Butts, director of the Research and Evaluation Center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Continue reading National Catholic Register — How Restorative Justice Helped Make the Justice System Work Better in Seattle

NY ACS: Advising the New York City Administration for Children’s Services on Positive Youth Outcomes

With funding provided by the City of New York through its Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), the Research and Evaluation Center reviewed and compiled recent research and practice innovations focused on adolescent development and the youth justice system. Researchers considered the appropriate role of youth justice in enhancing essential assets for adolescents, including prosocial relationships with peers, families, and communities. Using the most recent insights … Continue reading NY ACS: Advising the New York City Administration for Children’s Services on Positive Youth Outcomes

20 Questions (and Answers) About Juvenile Justice

Butts, Jeffrey A. (2015). 20 Questions (and Answers) About Juvenile Justice. New York, NY: Research and Evaluation Center, John Jay College of Criminal Justice. City University of New York. Jeffrey Butts answers key questions about juvenile justice, including “what exactly is juvenile justice?”… “what does it mean when we read statistics about youth in ‘the system’?” … and “what services should be high priorities for prevention … Continue reading 20 Questions (and Answers) About Juvenile Justice

Strengthening Youth Justice Practices with Developmental Knowledge and Principles

The insights and lessons of developmental science do not translate easily into the day-to-day tasks of youth justice systems, which often focus on control and compliance. Youth justice practitioners require assistance as they apply developmental principles. The Positive Youth Justice (PYJ) Model was developed to meet this challenge. Continue reading Strengthening Youth Justice Practices with Developmental Knowledge and Principles