County Juvenile Justice Innovation Network
NACo's County Juvenile Justice Innovation Network (CJJIN) sought to strengthen counties' practical understanding and capacity to address the needs of youth involved in their local juvenile justice systems. This peer learning network focused on innovative practices and evidence-based resources to inform strategic action planning and investment in the well-being and future of youth within participating communities.
CJJIN concluded in Fall 2024.
County Outcomes:
- Through its CJJIN action plan, Boone County, Mo. received a state grant to complete a Sequential Intercept Mapping (SIM) to identify service gaps and community resources culminating in an Upstream SIM Mapping Report for justice-involved youth in December 2024 and an Adult Sequential Intercept Model Report published in Spring 2025.
- As part of its CJJIN action plan, Lancaster County, Neb. set out to establish a Youth Advisory Council (YAC) of at least 10 justice-involved youth ages 12 to 18 to inform county services and programming. Within one month of CJJIN's conclusion, the county formalized this commitment with the Clyde Malone Community Center to launch the YAC and expand youth-focused programming.
About the Cohort
CJJIN was a nine-month initiative that engaged county teams through virtual and in-person convenings to share challenges and successes, learn from national and local experts and exchange ideas to improve outcomes for youth.
The cohort supported a community of practice among five counties, helping them to identify challenges, develop strategies and create action plans to better support youth by strengthening local juvenile justice systems. Participating counites identified a core team of up to four cross-system champions to participate in the cohort.
The cohort included the following counties:
- Boone County, Mo.
- Charleston County, S.C.
- Lancaster County, Neb.
- Martin County, N.C.