Juvenile Justice Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Case studies from three jurisdictions

• In Event: Considerations of Illness and Disabilities in Juvenile Court

Abstract

Juvenile justice practitioners responded to this COVID-19 pandemic by implementing emergency policies to mitigate disease spread and maintain programming to the extent possible given public health orders and staff absenteeism. As the upheaval created by the pandemic subsides and the country “returns to normal,” the juvenile justice field will benefit from a comprehensive assessment of the policies implemented and changed during the pandemic, with a specific eye toward what worked well, what did not, and the root causes for successes and challenges. It is clear that juvenile justice practice will not fully return to its pre-pandemic status, and in many cases will integrate changes in policy and practice brought about by the pandemic. Using a systematic literature review, policy scan, survey, listening sessions, and case studies, this project is compiling knowledge related to the best practices implemented by the juvenile justice system during the pandemic, as well as investigating which practices should be maintained long-term and/or can be implemented quickly in the event of a future pandemic or emergency situation. We will present findings from case studies in three distinct jurisdictions describing how they responded to COVID-19 and what policies they adapted or kept in place long-term.

Authors

• Shelby Hickman, Abt Global

• Cait Kanewske, CNA Corporation

• Jennifer Lafferty, CNA Corporation

• Melissa A. Gutierrez, CNA Corporation

• Scott Decker, CNA Corporation