2019 James E. Anderson Pennsylvania Conference on Juvenile Justice
The 2019 James E. Anderson Pennsylvania Conference on Juvenile Justice was presented on November 6-8 at the Harrisburg Hilton & Towers.
This annual conference is attended by juvenile justice professionals (Judges, Probation Officers, District Attorneys, Defenders, Victim Services representatives, providers of residential and community-based services and other vendors serving the juvenile justice system) from throughout Pennsylvania and nationally.
The training workshops focused on various topics and issues facing juvenile justice professionals, while also highlighting practices, programs and initiatives that exemplify best-practices related to Pennsylvania's Balanced & Restorative Justice mission and Juvenile Justice System Enhancement Strategy (JJSES). Offerings were repeated in both the morning and afternoon sessions for conference participants.
Wednesday, November 6:
Juvenile Defender Training (Juvenile Defenders Only)
Judges and Juvenile Court Hearing Officers Training
How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Judicial Decision Making
(Judges and Juvenile Court Hearing Officers Only)
Professional Caucuses
Chief Juvenile Probation Officer/Service Provider Forum
Youth Awards Program & Dinner
Amanda Carter is a recording artist, songwriter, educator, and the executive director of City Art Space, a nonprofit organization with fiscal sponsorship through Fractured Atlas. Carter is a proud Harrisburg native and Howard University graduate who earned her Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School in 2010. She grew up immersed in the arts and developed a fascination with language, especially as it pertains to songwriting. She began her music career after law school and has performed as far away as Paris, released a top ten album on college radio charts, aired music videos on national networks, and served as a voting member of the Recording Academy. Carter is commissioner of the newly reinstated Harrisburg Human Rights Commission and after having worked as an educator in the Harrisburg and Steelton-Highspire school districts, now serves as the Director of Youth Programs at the LGBT Center of Central PA.
Thursday, November 7:
Conference Welcome & Morning Plenary
Why What We Do Matters
A fierce advocate committed to reform,
Judge Victoria Pratt spent years gaining a deep understanding of how justice could be delivered to court participants in a manner that increased their trust in the legal system and changed their behavior.
Called a pioneer in procedural justice, her respectful approach has had a positive effect on court participants’ court experience, how the community viewed the court and how court players viewed their roles.
She continues to champion criminal justice reform by sharing her skills and approach with others. In her plenary talk titled “Why What We Do Matters” Judge Pratt will share how to heighten and restore respect in our day-to-day operations so that our mission can be better achieved.
Morning Session Workshops
Buffet Lunch & Afternoon Plenary Session
Remembering “Kids for Cash:” Never Again? Let’s Be Sure
Remembering Kids for Cash - Plenary Remarks - Judge John M. Cleland
In August 2009, the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice (ICJJ) was created through the cooperative efforts of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the Legislature, and the Governor to investigate what came to be known as the “kids for cash” scandal and to make recommendations for improvements in Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system.
The eleven member Commission held eleven days of public hearings and heard from more than sixty witnesses before issuing its report. They made forty-three recommendations addressed to all three branches of government. As a result, new statutes, rules of court and administrative procedures were adopted with the intention of preventing what occurred in Luzerne County from occurring again in the juvenile justice system in Pennsylvania.
During this session, Commission Chair Judge John M. Cleland will look back on the events that took place a decade ago, and look forward to remind us of lessons learned and lessons not to be forgotten. Commission members and others directly involved in its work will participate in a discussion regarding their experiences and the subsequent impact these events have had on Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system.
Afternoon Session Workshops
Identifying Effective Trauma-Informed Services for Delinquent Youth
Creating a Space for Mindfulness and Self-Care for Juvenile Justice Professionals
A Conversation on the Sexual Health Concerns of Justice-Involved Youth
Building Cooperative Partnerships between Juvenile Prosecutors and Defenders
Effective Media Relations for Juvenile Courts and Juvenile Probation Departments
Advancing System Collaboration for Dually-Involved Youth
Reception
Annual Awards Program and Dinner
Friday, November 8:
Resource Day with Continental Breakfast
*Note that conference participants are responsible for making their own arrangements for hotel accommodations.