About Us

CJJA’s Early Years: 1994 – 1999

The Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators was originally incorporated as the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators on July 1, 1994 after Edward Loughran’s proposal to create a formal national organization to unify and support the nation’s juvenile correctional chief executive officers was accepted and the foundation awarded a startup grant of $50,000 for two years.

CJJA was founded in the midst of sweeping juvenile justice policy changes across the country. According to the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention’s 2006 National Report, from 1992 through 1997 all but five states in the country changed laws relating to transfer provisions, making it easier to waive juvenile offenders into the adult criminal justice system. Additionally, 31 states gave criminal and juvenile courts expanded sentencing options and 47 states changed or eliminated confidentiality provisions.[i]

The numerous changes to state statutes, along with passage of federal policies such as the Violent Crime Control and Enforcement Act of 1994, exemplify the nation’s sense of urgency during the mid-1990s to curtail rising crime rates by getting tough on violent juvenile offenders. By the late 1990s, there was growing commitment among various stakeholders to building and managing juvenile systems that balance the demands of public safety and offender accountability with the rehabilitation services youths need to prevent future offending.

CJJA’s early years were spent helping its members adjust to and implement new policies, establishing the structure of the organization, learning about members’ needs and launching numerous projects aimed at improving youth correctional services and practices. During the first five years of operations, CJJA launched two major national research and technical assistance projects—Performance-based Standards and the New Directors Seminar—in addition to developing and participating in various education activities aimed at improving youth correctional services and practices such as launching its quarterly newsletter, surveying members on various juvenile justice topics and convening national meetings.

The New Millennium: 2000 – 2004

Despite steadily dropping crime rates, state statutes and the general public attitude toward juvenile offenders remained punitive in nature throughout the 1990s and into the early 21st century. However, after the 9/11 attacks, issues like terrorism and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq naturally took precedence over adult and juvenile justice issues that had dominated the public’s attention during the previous decade. Because of shifting national priorities, federal juvenile justice funding dropped from $545 million in fiscal year 2000 to less than $360 million in fiscal year 2004.[ii]

During this period, juvenile correctional administrators faced challenges such as vanishing budgets, evidence of high prevalence rates of mental illness among youths in their care, uncertainty about how to deal with increasing numbers of females entering their systems and a large amount of negative media attention related to conditions of confinement. Members turned to CJJA for encouragement and support during these trying times, and CJJA continued to serve its members by expanding existing programs and by developing new activities and projects such as the Mental Health Services Model, the Performance-based Standards Learning Institute (PbS Li) and the annual CJJA Yearbook to advance the vision outlined in its mission.

1988-1994

CJJA’s predecessor, the Juvenile Correctional Leadership Forum, met under a grant from the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation to discuss juvenile justice issues and the needs of juvenile correctional administrators.

1989-1994

The juvenile Violent Crime Index arrest rate increased substantially. In 1988 the arrest rate was 326.5 per 100,000 juveniles. By 1994, the rate reached 525.4—61 percent higher than its 1988 level.

1992-1997

All but five states in the country changed laws relating to transfer provisions, making it easier to waive juvenile offenders into the adult criminal justice system. Additionally, 31 states gave criminal and juvenile courts expanded sentencing options and 47 states changed or eliminated confidentiality provisions.

1994

CJJA incorporated on July 1, 1994 after the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation awarded a startup grant of $50,000 for two years.

CJJA established its newsletter, a quarterly publication that provides legislative updates, recent juvenile justice research, upcoming events and information on new projects and best practices in juvenile corrections to its members. Since the first issue, published in the fall of 1994, CJJA has published over 50 issues of the newsletter.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) released the Conditions of Confinement study, a report that eventually led to the development of CJJA’s Performance-based Standards (PbS) for Youth Correction and Detention Facilities project.

Geno Natalucci-Persichetti was elected to be CJJA’s first president.

Passage of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act.

CJJA President’s Award

The CJJA President’s Award was created in 2013 to recognize a member who has made a significant contribution through participation in the activities of CJJA including mentoring new directors, participation in semi-annual meetings and active participation on regional and standing committees.

CJJA President’s Award Recipients

2024 – Presented to Larome Myrick at the CJJA Summer Business Meeting in Nashville, TN.
2023 – Presented to Anders Jacobson at the CJJA Summer Business Meeting in Philadelphia, PA.
2022 – Presented to Joe O’Leary at the CJJA Summer Business Meeting in New Orleans, LA.
2021 – Presented to Tyrone Oliver at the CJJA Summer Business Meeting in Nashville, TN.
2019 – Presented to Simon Gonsoulin at the CJJA and PbS Awards Dinner in Boston, MA.
2018 – Presented to Chris Blessinger at the CJJA and PbS Awards Dinner in Minneapolis, MN
2017 – Presented to Harvey Reed at the Leadership Institute in Chicago, IL.
2016 – Presented to Kevin M. Brown at the Leadership Institute in Chicago, IL.
2015 – Presented to Kathy Halvorson at the Leadership Institute in Chicago, IL.
2014 – Presented to Cindy McKenzie and Fariborz Pakseresht at the Leadership Institute in Chicago, IL.
2013 – Presented to Susan Burke and Charles Flanagan at the Leadership Institute Meeting in Chicago, IL.

Outstanding Leadership Award

CJJA presents the Outstanding Leadership Award each year to an individual or individuals for their extraordinary leadership to CJJA and the field and their commitment to improving the lives of youth. There is no better recognition for an administrator than to be given this award in recognition of their work by their peers.

Outstanding Leadership Award Recipients

2024 – Presented to Jessica Moncada at the CJJA Summer Business Meeting in Nashville, TN.
2023 – Presented to Dana Shoenberg at the CJJA Summer Business Meeting in Philadelphia, PA.
2022 – Presented to Lou Serrano at the CJJA Summer Business Meeting in New Orleans, LA.
2021 – Presented to Ellyn Toney at the CJJA Summer Business Meeting in Nashville, TN.
2019 – Presented to John Larivee at the CJJA and PbS Awards Dinner in Boston, MA.
2018 – Presented to Lisa Bjergaard at the CJJA and PbS Awards Dinner in Minneapolis, MN
2017 – Presented to Peter Forbes at the Leadership Institute in Chicago, IL.
2016 – Presented to Sharon Harrigfeld at the Leadership Institute in Chicago, IL.
2015 – Presented to Susan Burke at the Leadership Institute in Chicago, IL.
2014 – Presented to Michael Dempsey at the Leadership Institute in Chicago, IL.
2013 – Presented to Fariborz Pakseresht the Leadership Institute Meeting in Chicago, IL.
2012– Presented to Tim Decker and Kevin Aucoin at the CJJA Summer Business Meeting in Denver, CO.
2011 – Presented to Jane Tewksbury at the CJJA Summer Business Meeting in Kissimmee, FL.
2010 – Presented to Cherie Townsend at the 3rd Annual All Directors Meeting held in Chicago, IL.
2009 – Presented to Bernie Warner and Russell Jennings.
2008 – Presented to Steve Bates.
2007 – Presented to George Sweat.
2006 – Presented to Barry Stoodley at the CJCA Summer Business Meeting in Charlotte, NC.
2005 – Presented to Anne Marie Ambrose and Doug Herrmann at the CJCA Summer Business Meeting in Baltimore, MD.
2004 – Presented to Howard Deyer the CJCA 10th Anniversary Meeting in Chicago, IL.
2003 – Presented to Mark Steward at the CJCA Summer Business Meeting in Nashville, TN.
2002 – Presented to Joyce Burrell at the CJCA 8th Annual Meeting in Charlotte, NC.
2001 – Presented to Alton Lick at the CJCA 7th Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.
1999 – Presented to the late Donald Wydra.

Inspiration Innovation Award

The Inspirational Innovation Award is a prestigious recognition designed to celebrate and honor outstanding achievements in the realm of juvenile justice innovation. This accolade is bestowed upon individuals, teams, or organizations whose groundbreaking contributions have not only pushed the boundaries of what is possible but have also left an indelible mark in the juvenile justice field.

Inspiration Innovation Award Recipients

2024 – Presented to Thrive Academy at the CJJA Summer Business Meeting in Nashville, TN.