Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ)

The memories, connections, and impact of the 2026 CJJ Annual Conference will stay with us long after the week has ended.

From Hill Day advocacy and the Youth Summit to inspiring plenaries, meaningful networking, and celebrating leaders in youth justice, this year's conference showcased the power of partnership in advancing better futures for young people.

Check out our 2026 Annual Conference Recap to revisit the highlights, key takeaways, award recipients, youth voices, and unforgettable moments that made this year's conference so special.

https://ow.ly/L1lL50Z7G0G

Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, sponsored, exhibited, and helped make a success. Together, we're building bridges for better futures.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all of our attendees for making this year’s conference such a tremendous success. Over the past week, we’ve experienced a full schedule of enriching workshop sessions, valuable networking opportunities, engaging meetings, and the creation of many new connections.

Your active participation, enthusiasm, and collaboration truly brought this event to life. It has been a pleasure to come together, share ideas, and build meaningful relationships that we hope will continue well beyond this conference.

A very special thank you goes to our sponsors and exhibitors. Your generous support and partnership played a vital role in making this conference such a success, and we are deeply appreciative of your contributions.

Thank you all once again for being part of this incredible experience—we look forward to seeing you at future events!

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, our commitment to young people continues. 💚

At CJJ , we believe every young person deserves access to care, safety, healing, and support, not criminalization.
This month reminded us that mental health advocacy is year-round work. We must continue building communities and systems that prioritize wellness, dignity, and opportunity for all youth.

To every young person navigating difficult moments: you are not alone, your story matters, and your future is worth investing in.

Welcome to CJJ’s 2026 Annual Conference! 🎉

We are excited to officially welcome youth justice leaders, advocates, practitioners, youth, families, and partners from across the country to Washington, D.C. for an incredible week of collaboration, learning, advocacy, and connection.

Thank you for joining us as we come together to build bridges for better futures and advance meaningful change for youth and families. We hope you’re ready for a powerful and inspiring conference experience!

Just 1 more day until CJJ’s 2026 Annual Conference! 🎉

We are excited to welcome youth justice leaders, advocates, practitioners, youth, families, and partners from across the country to Washington, D.C. for a week of collaboration, learning, advocacy, and connection.

We hope you’re ready for a great time as we come together to build bridges for better futures and advance youth justice together. Safe travels, and we can’t wait to see you all tomorrow!

For more information, please visit: https://ow.ly/RNQ650Z3g6a

Join us in celebrating our 2026 Annual Conference Awardees! 🎉

We are proud to recognize Leahann, Pray’Eon, Max, and Carol for their outstanding leadership, dedication, and contributions to advancing youth justice and strengthening communities.

Our awardees will be honored during the 2026 Annual Conference Awards Luncheon on May 28th as we gather to celebrate the impact of leaders and changemakers across the field.

To read more about the incredible work they are doing in their respective states, please visit here: https://canva.link/sabdv3f8zkh0533

Congratulations to each of our honorees — we look forward to celebrating you in Washington, D.C.!

The countdown is on — we are officially 1 week away from CJJ’s 2026 Annual Conference! 🎉

We are excited to welcome juvenile justice leaders, advocates, youth, families, and system partners from across the country as we come together to learn, collaborate, and build bridges for better futures.

To prepare yourselves, please check out all deets at https://ow.ly/CCbH50Z19WJ

We look forward to seeing you all soon in Washington, D.C.!

On March 26, 2026, the Gault Center, Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout (YEAH Philly), and the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies hosted a webinar introducing a framework to shift narratives and practices around juvenile probation to move from punishment to possibility for all youth. The webinar was offered as part of the Juvenile Probation Accountability Coalition (JPAC).

Webinar Tip Sheet: Revolutionizing Probation from Punishment to Community-Led Safety, Part Ihttps://www.defendyouthrights.org/wp-content/uploads/JPAC-Webinar-Tip-Sheet.pdf

New Blog Post!

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, education for justice-involved youth must go beyond traditional classroom models to meet young people where they are. This blog explores the unique challenges and opportunities at the intersection of technology, access, and learning within juvenile justice settings. It highlights the importance of expanding digital access, incorporating innovative instructional approaches, and ensuring that youth in system-involved spaces are not left behind in an increasingly online world. Centering equity, engagement, and opportunity, the piece underscores how intentional investment in digital education can help close gaps, strengthen reentry pathways, and support long-term success for justice-involved youth.

To read the full blog post, please visit: https://ow.ly/BOYg50YUxTM