Exclusively for Probation and Parole Professionals
August 30-31, 2017 | New York, New York

The American Probation and Parole Association, Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice, and Council of State Governments Justice Center appreciate your interest in the Juvenile Probation Reform Academy (JPRA). As we enter the third year of the JPRA, we’d like to thank the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) for their support towards conducting and funding this event in 2017.

When is the Academy Held?
The program will be held as a special training at the APPA’s 42nd Annual Training Institute in New York, New York. The APPA Training Institute is from August 27-30, 2017; the JPRA special training program will occur on August 30-31, 2017 following the Institute.

Who is its Target Audience?
The program seeks juvenile probation department directors, managers, and supervisors with a minimum of 5 years of experience leading juvenile justice probation and parole system programs and services in their state and/or local jurisdictions. Specifically, applicants should possess the following:

  • Decision-making authority over management practices and policies
  • An awareness of best practices in programming and supervision
  • Knowledge about developing and measuring system and youth outcomes
  • An understanding of how youth outcomes are affected by probation officer supervision practices
  • A belief in the importance of positive opportunities to enhance inter- and intra-agency relationships and work processes among other youth-serving and court partners
  • Demonstrated commitment to learning how to conduct a systematic examination and review of their probation department
  • Readiness to implement change based on the results of systematic examination

To maximize what is gained by attending the JPRA, applicants must apply to participate as part of a team from your state, region or local jurisdiction. A primary goal of the JPRA is to educate and equip a team of leaders to return to their jurisdiction and collectively move reforms forward. This happens best when more than one person from a jurisdiction attends the event. While you must attend as a group, you will only submit one application for your team. Applications that include 3-4 members will be preferred. Team size is limited to a maximum of 4 members. Please note that someone on the team will need to be designated as the lead team member and will be the primary person responsible for completing the application.

What Will Participants Learn?
As confinement rates have declined by almost half over the last 15 years, probation departments are increasingly challenged to use their resources efficiently to supervise high-risk youth in the community. Research shows that supervision agencies can have a significant impact on recidivism by matching youth with the appropriate level, type, and quality of supervision and services. However, few comprehensive, high-quality professional development opportunities exist specifically to help juvenile probation and parole leaders learn about the research on “what works” to improve youth outcomes, and how to reform their policies and practices accordingly.

The Juvenile Probation Reform Academy is designed to instruct probation and parole directors and managers on the core principles demonstrated by research to reduce recidivism and improve other outcomes for youth in the juvenile justice system. Participants will develop strategies for applying this research to their own agencies and will learn how to conduct a systematic review of agency policies, practices, and performance, and implement agency-wide reforms.

Specifically, by the conclusion of the Academy, participants should be able to:

  • Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of the policies and practices demonstrated by research to reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for youth in the juvenile justice system
  • Apply this research to their own agencies through a process that examines policy, practice, and service provision to inform opportunities for system enhancement, improvement, and reform

Is the Academy Accredited?
This program will be accredited by APPA. Participants will earn a certificate of completion for 10.5 hours at the conclusion of the program.

How Much Does the Academy Cost?
No fee for the Academy will be imposed on those accepted into this special training. Participants will be required to cover their own travel, lodging, and personal expenses associated with attendance.

Questions?
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact:

Kelsey D. Cheek
Project Manager
American Probation and Parole Association
Phone: 859-244-8236
Email: kcheek@csg.org

Related Core Curriculum Publications

Probation Review Guidebook, 2nd Edition
By John A. Tuell and Kari L. Harp (Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps, 2016)
Retrievable at: rfknrcjj.org/resources/probation-system-reform/

Core Principles for Reducing Recidivism and Improving Other Outcomes for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System
By Josh Weber, Nastassia Walsh, and Elizabeth Seigle (Council of State Governments Justice Center, 2014)
Retrievable at: csgjusticecenter.org/youth/publications/juvenile-justice-white-paper/

The APPA is an international membership association that provides training and technical assistance to individuals who are actively involved with pretrial, probation, parole, and community-based corrections, in both criminal and juvenile justice arenas.

The CSG Justice Center is a national organization that provides technical assistance and a broad range of nonpartisan, evidence-based strategies and services to policymakers across the country to improve outcomes for youth and adults in the justice system.

The RFK National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice, led by Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps, provides consultation, technical assistance, and training to serve local, state, and national leaders, practitioners and youth-serving agencies to improve system performance and outcomes for youth involved with the juvenile justice system.