County Innovation in Youth Justice
Counties are leading the way in transforming youth justice through innovative, community-centered approaches. The "County Innovation in Youth Justice" series provides insights into practices counties are adopting to strengthen youth justice systems.
The Primer outlines how counties are using our authority and highlights practices such as investing in alternatives to detention strengthening early interventions, engaging youth voice, and improving cross-system collaboration and data sharing to support better outcomes for young people and their communities.
The Probation resource explores how counties are transforming youth probation by shifting from compliance-based models to community-centered approaches that support positive youth development. It highlights promising practices across service areas such as supervision, diversion and resource allocation.
Primer: County Innovation in Youth Justice Probation: County Innovation in Youth Justice
County News
Counties support youth with a second chance opportunity
A Riverside County, Calif. supervisor took experiences from his former life as a teacher to help create a program that serves students who had gone the juvenile justice system and were looking for a second chance.
Related News
County Leaders Advocate for FEMA Act in Visit to Washington, D.C.
Nearly two dozen county leaders from 15 states are in attendance this week at a National Association of Counties (NACo) fly-in focused on disaster reform.
Senate passes Second Chance Act reauthorization
On May 22, the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 3552/S.1843) was introduced in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives with robust bipartisan support. NACo supports this legislation, which would reauthorize funding for Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) programs through 2030.
FEMA delays $11 billion in state disaster reimbursements
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently withheld roughly $11 billion in planned disaster reimbursements to 45 states, shifting the payments to fiscal year 2026 and marking a major change in how the federal government is managing disaster relief funding.