The Juvenile Justice Task Force Report is now available online.
The Task Force Report draws a comprehensive picture of juvenile justice trends across Maine and the nation. The Report's research extends beyond the correctional system to address concerns in education and social service provision that are also affecting youth outcomes. The Recommendations section of the Report makes specific suggestions for needed reforms and names parties in Maine that are responsible for assisting with these changes.
The ten goals and related recommendations cataloged in the Report identify the gaps in services and programming affecting the juvenile justice process in Maine and address them in such a way as to significantly improve youth outcomes while paying careful consideration to cost-effectivness and accountability.
The goals represent a year-long effort by the Juvenile Justice Task Force - a 70-person working group comprised of Maine professionals and interested stakeholders. After they were drafted by the Task Force, the goals and recommendations were presented in December to a group of 300 stakeholders from across the state for comment.
The Juvenile Justice Task Force is releasing this report to publicize its efforts before a broader audience of stakeholders. Simultaneously, implementation efforts related to several of the goals and recommendations are already underway.
