Overview Cameo House Community Options for Youth (COY) Detention Diversion Advocacy Program (DDAP) Expert Witness, Court Navigation, & Sentencing Mitigation Services Juvenile Collaborative Reentry Unit (JCRU) No Violence Alliance (NoVA) Overview Technical Assistance California Sentencing Institute Next Generation Fellowship Legislation Transparency & Accountability

In this issue: 

CJCJ’s Cameo House Gathers to Celebrate Families

Cameo House staff and particpants come together to honor motherhood during an unprecedented year. 

CJCJ’s Cameo House offers women and their children a safe, nurturing home in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District. This past year has been difficult for all of us, particularly for homeless, justice system-involved women. Cameo House, a transitional home and alternative sentencing program, provides services and long-term stable housing for these vulnerable members of our community. 

Last month, Cameo House staff gathered with program participants to celebrate Mother’s Day! The team cooked a delicious dinner and put together gifts to honor all of the women. The holiday offered a chance to reflect on Cameo House’s profound impacts on participants and their families. 

We are incredibly grateful to share a recent milestone in our efforts to Save Cameo House. On Wednesday, June 30th, the San Francisco Budget and Appropriations Committee brokered a deal with the Mayor’s Office to include a full year of funding for Cameo House. This exciting development was made possible by the broad support from the city, community, and key justice stakeholders. While the local budget still needs approval from the full Board of Supervisors, we fully expect the process to be resolved in Cameo House’s favor in the coming weeks. CJCJ is committed to keeping Cameo House’s doors open and continuing to support women in achieving their goals for many years to come. 

With your help, Cameo House can continue to support justice-involved women as they build close, nurturing relationships with their children. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution today.

Find out more about Cameo House » 

California’s Youth Deserve Justice Reinvestment

While CJCJ co-sponsored legislation will not be moving forward this year, we continue to collaborate for a future that invests in youth and communities.

This year, CJCJ and a dozen partner organizations proudly sponsored Senate Bill (SB) 493, The PROMYSE (Promoting Youth Success and Empowerment) Act, by Senator Steven Bradford. Our coalition is made up of directly impacted individuals, service providers, and youth justice advocates with a shared passion for community reinvestment.

The PROMYSE Act was developed to dramatically improve spending and accountability of a long-standing annual state grant called the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA). Unfortunately, this critical legislation was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee last month. While SB 493 will not be moving forward, it provided opportunities for legislators and system leaders to learn about the realities faced by youth under probation supervision across California.

A recent op-ed by CJCJ Communications and Policy Intern, Emma Knight, highlights the harms of probation and detention alongside opportunities to invest in a new vision for youth justice. Together, we will continue to promote policies that improve the wellness of California’s communities by reprioritizing investments in health-focused services that work. 

Find out more about JJCPA and our vision for justice reinvestment »

New Justice Policy Journal Issue Offers Insights

CJCJ publishes data-driven research in the Spring 2021 issue of its long-standing Justice Policy Journal.

The Spring 2021 issue of CJCJ’s Justice Policy Journal (JPJ) includes critical research on childhood trauma, youth risks and needs, and responses to mental health crises. The JPJ provides an international forum for policymakers and researchers to examine current justice issues and promote innovative policy solutions. 

In this issue, Shantaé M. Motley examines the impacts of a Washington state law enacted to reduce the harmful consequences of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) through prevention and intervention. Motley finds that Washington’s emphasis on community collaboration had positive results. Notably, state grant funding increased from aiding 120 children to approximately 2,000 children during the research period. This research sheds light on the importance of community-based partnerships to effectively address ACEs and strengthen families. 

Other articles explore law enforcement responses to mental health crises and consideration of dynamic risk factors among youth involved in the justice system. CJCJ remains committed to promoting effective responses to community health and safety grounded in data-driven research. 

Find out more in the new issue of CJCJ’s Justice Policy Journal »

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