Topics Related to Juvenile Justice

Reentry 2030 aims to help communities create a network of care to address barriers to employment, education, housing and more that the formerly incarcerated face upon reentry. JJDP is participating in both initiatives by hosting a series of reentry simulations throughout the state.

As juveniles in North Carolina’s youth development centers approach young adulthood, many will soon be taking the big step back into society, and to be successful, they will need to find gainful employment. On July 23, juveniles at Chatham Youth Development Center had the chance to engage with professionals from a variety of fields during the facility’s annual Career Day.

In recognition of Second Chance Month, youth development centers across North Carolina highlighted the theme of reentry this month, hosting a series of real-world simulations designed to teach youth in their care the realities of adult life – from selecting a career to maintaining a balanced budget.

A new Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention initiative will place tablet computers in the hands of justice-involved youth at all of the state’s youth development and juvenile detention centers, opening a world of new possibilities in the realms of education, behavioral health and reentry.

Every day, employees of the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention seek to build safer communities by intervening in the lives of at-risk and justice-involved youth. Oct. 22-28 is Juvenile Justice Week in North Carolina, and JJDP is proud to recognize its 2023 Raising the Bar Award recipients.  These awards are given to JJDP employees who have gone above and beyond in their duties, creating better outcomes for youth in the Division's care.

Beneath the warmth of the summer sun, youth and staff at two Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention facilities shared days of fun and bonding last week, complete with water-based activities to beat the heat. Lenoir Youth Development Center held its annual Fun Day celebration July 19, followed in short order by Chatham Youth Development Center on July 21.

A new pilot program (no pun intended) is opening up a world of possibilities for justice-involved and at-risk youth in Wake County – equipping them with the skills to fly unmanned aerial vehicles.Hosted by the Wake County Cooperative Extension Service, the Wake County 4-H SPACES and 4-H SPACESTOO programs are a pair of juvenile crime prevention programs funded by the Wake County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council and Wake County government. A number of the youth served in the program were referred by court counselors or team members in the juvenile justice system.

Second Chance Month came to Chatham Youth Development Center in a big way April 25, as the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention welcomed special guests from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina; the Governor’s Office; the Governor’s Crime Commission; Communities in Schools; and Research Triangle Institute.

Should youthful mistakes forever alter a person’s chances of living a successful and productive life?

It’s a deceptively simple question, but the answer is complicated.

There’s no better way to broaden one’s horizons than to travel and see the world. 

In January, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention West Regional Manager for Facility Operations Charles Dingle had the opportunity to do just that. Thanks to a grant from The Churchill Fellowship, Dingle spent a week overseas in the United Kingdom, visiting juvenile justice facilities and gleaning lessons that might benefit JJDP facilities at home in North Carolina.