WASHINGTON, DC – Results for America issued the following statement praising the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives for giving final approval this week to the Juvenile Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018 (H.R. 6964), which includes strong new evidence-based policy provisions to help improve outcomes in the juvenile justice system.
“Results for America commends the U.S. Senate and U.S. House for taking bipartisan action to use data and evidence to improve the juvenile justice system in our country,” said Michele Jolin, CEO and Co-Founder of Results for America. “We applaud the inclusion of a rigorous definition of evidence-based and promising programs, while directing state and local governments to invest in evidence-based solutions. We are also encouraged that the bill requires an independent evaluation of juvenile justice grants. These evidence provisions will help state and local leaders better use data and evidence to improve outcomes for our nation’s youth.”
The Juvenile Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018 – sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in the Senate, and U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Jason Lewis (R-MN) in the House – contains several evidence-based policy provisions. The legislation defines what constitutes “evidence-based” and “promising” programs that are funded through the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA). Under the delinquency prevention program, states must describe how they will use JJDPA funds to promote evidence-based and trauma-informed programs and practices and they receive a priority if they spend their funds on evidence-based or promising programs. Under the competitive incentive grants for prison reduction program, must spend their funds on evidence-based or promising programs, and they receive a priority for developing data-driven prevention plans, employing evidence-based prevention strategies, and conducting program evaluations. Finally, the legislation requires the Comptroller General to conduct an evaluation of selected JJDPA grantees.
