News
We are excited to begin another fiscal year of program evaluation in the Evidence-based Nebraska (EB-NE) program. We continue to grow and evolve the strategies for evaluation in collaboration with the Nebraska Crime Commission.
The information in this document will provide a comprehensive overview of the evaluation strategy for this year and important dates and activities that will help your program and the collective Community Based Aid program achieve meaningful evaluation results.
The Juvenile Justice Institute is happy to announce that our latest report on our Juvenile Case Management System Definitions and Data Fidelity Project (JDDF Project) was released in June 2021.
This fiscal year, we conducted the JDDF Project which we discuss in more detail in this report. In addition to reporting on what we learned through the JDDF Project, we provide some insight into why programs may have received the results they did, and suggestions for improving data entry. We also looked at the missing data reports that programs received in FY 2018/2019 to see if data entry rates of required variables have improved.
You can read the report here. If you would like to see all of our previous publications, check out our Reports page.
The Juvenile Justice Institute is happy to announce that our latest report on school interventionist programs, was released in May 2021.
Interventionists identify and coordinate behavioral or academic intervention for a student to address attendance issues, poor grades, lack of engagement, and/or behavior issues. For this report, the JJI interviewed the currently funded interventionists, examined what youth are being referred to interventionists for, and the outcomes for these youth in both school and the juvenile justice system.
You can read the report here. If you would like to see all of our previous publications, check out our Reports page.
Geneva – Four student mentors from the University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL) and Kearney (UNK), and other vital volunteers were recognized at the Geneva Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center’s (YRTC Geneva) annual recognition banquet Friday, April 13, for their dedicated service to the young women at the facility.
The theme for this year’s program was “Hear Me Roar.” YRTC Geneva staff and youth decorated the gymnasium with a jungle motif, and many attendees dressed for the occasion – in safari attire. Special guest speaker DeMoine Adams “appropriately challenged the YRTC youth to R.O.A.R. – use Resiliency, Optimistic, Attitude and Respect and never be defeated,” shared 36-year advisory board member Sharon Kennel, adding, “This may have been one of the best banquets ever.”
DeMoine Adams is an inspirational speaker and former UNL football player, currently serving as program director for the TeamMates Mentoring Program in Lincoln. TeamMates offers one-to-one mentoring programs to youth in 70 public and parochial schools, and was founded by Tom Osborne, former head football coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Also recognized at the banquet were Jackie and Jim Wilkins, who oversee the YRTC’s Equine Program, Compassion in Action volunteers from Omaha who visit the YRTC Geneva twice a month to officiate religious services, and members of the Community Advisory Board.
In addition, Della Crutcher and Jeannette Balcom, both of Geneva, were recognized as new volunteers. Crutcher shared that her previous experience as a team member at YRTC Geneva drew her back as a volunteer. “I just can’t stay away from these girls,” she said. “I look forward to working with them again.”
Facility Administrator Dan Scarborough also took a moment to give special recognition to long-term volunteer Marilyn Christiancy. Christiancy, who recently passed away, emulated everything a volunteer should be and contributed countless hours as an advisory board member, Scarborough said.
He went on to thank all volunteers for their various contributions. “We are grateful for our volunteers’ selflessness, compassion and commitment. Time is a precious thing, and our volunteers willingly donate theirs to help us accomplish our mission. The difference they make, sometimes simply in showing up for the youth at the YRTC, is immeasurable, as is the positive support received from the citizens of Geneva and the surrounding area.”
More than 100 YRTC Geneva youth, team members and their families, and volunteers attended this year’s banquet.
The YRTC Geneva provides a place where young women can learn, develop a sense of self, and return to their homes as good, law-abiding citizens. It uses a variety of programs to meet the youth’s needs, and team members provide teaching and emotional support.
Volunteer opportunities at the YRTC Geneva abound. Those interested in volunteering at the YRTC Geneva may contact Recreation Specialist Shirley Kamler at Shirley.Kamler@nebraska.gov or at (402)759-3164.
On March 14th, LB158, introduced by Sen. Pansing-Brooks, failed to pass first-round debate. This bill would have ensured that youth are provided legal counsel anytime they appear in court. LB158 also stated that juveniles and their guardians would be informed of their right to retain such counsel as needed.
LB158 expanded on legislation passed in 2016 which ensured that juveniles in counties of populations 150,000 or more would be guaranteed access to counsel.
Those in opposition to the bill stated that requiring every juvenile to have counsel would break county budgets.
The cloture vote failed with a vote of 31-8, with 33 votes needed to invoke cloture.
Hot off the press! The Juvenile Justice Institute just released the annual report of community-based aid programs in Nebraska. The report describes programs funded with state dollars in Nebraska and analyzed 6-12 month recidivism data for all program types.
This report is available on our Reports page.
Dr. Anne Hobbs just got back from her trip to Malaysia for the 17th Annual International Youth Dialogue, where she was a plenary speaker on “International Views and Approaches to Alternatives to Detention.” This year, young people from 43 countries attended the dialogue themed “Our Roles in Solving Juvenile Delinquency,” and then drafted a declaration that will be brought back to their respective home countries and shared with the United Nations.
The Juvenile Justice Institute will be attending the 2017 Nebraska Juvenile Justice Association’s annual conference in Kearney, Nebraska. On Wednesday at 4:30 pm, Dr. Hobbs and Dr. Wylie will present to Juvenile Diversion programs on current data trends in Nebraska, followed by a panel discussion with diversion program staff.
The Juvenile Justice Institute will host an open house on April 11th with lawmakers, researchers, juvenile justice program staff, and youth. Following the event, there will be a free screening of the documentary “They Call Us Monsters” at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center and a discussion on the film.
We've got a team of people at this week's Annual Meeting of The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Kansas City. Join us Saturday morning when we hold a panel on the Statewide Data Collection of Evidence-Based Programs in Nebraska.