The inaugural Justice for Youth Summit will convene policy makers, advocates, experts, families, youth, and students over the issues facing incarcerated youth in order to create better outcomes for this population. The Justice Programs Office will host the summit in partnership with the Campaign for Youth Justice on Friday, October 12 on the campus of American University.

Every year in the United States, an estimated 250,000 youth are tried, sentenced, or incarcerated in the adult criminal justice system despite overwhelming public disapproval. In 23 states, children as young as 7 can be prosecuted and tried in adult court. The Justice for Youth Summit will provide a personal and expert perspective on youth justice issues with thought-provoking plenaries, panels, and a compelling photo exhibit.

This educational and action-oriented day-long conference aims to get the millennial generation involved in the youth justice movement, obtain support to cut youth incarceration by 2015. 

Registration is free and open to individuals at www1.spa.american.edu/justice/summit.php.

The Justice Programs Office (JPO), a unit within the School of Public Affairs at American University, provides technical assistance, research, evaluation, and training services to domestic and foreign government agencies and organizations in the area of justice system operations. JPO projects address a wide range of policy, program, resource, and operational issues relating to the administration of justice, coordination of public programs, and the delivery of justice system, social and related services. The office, affiliated with the Department of Justice, Law & Society, has conducted over 1,500 technical assistance, research, training, and evaluation projects.

JPO is partnering with organizations to present the Justice for Youth Summit: Free Minds Book Club, DC Lawyers for Youth, Center for Children’s Law and Policy, Just Kids Partnership, Children’s Defense Fund, National Bar Association, Families and Allies of Virginia Youth, Justice Policy Institute, Sasha Bruce Youth Work, Community Law in Action, American University’s Center for Community Engagement and Service, Southern Poverty Law Center, Center for Juvenile Justice Reform. Other support is provided by Non-Profit Roundtable of Greater Washington and Public Justice Center.