Taking on Transformation is a project of the Columbia Justice Lab’s Youth Justice Initiatives. It is a hub for system leaders, and anyone making decisions about youth justice, who are pushing for real transformation of the youth justice system.
This topic explains the importance of bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to develop a shared vision for youth justice.
This module discusses THE WHY AND
HOW OF developING a shared vision for youth justice transformation that incorporates the voices and priorities of all key stakeholders.
Bringing a diverse group of responsible and impacted stakeholders together to envision a new system for youth justice may have its challenges. The group may not have worked together before, and some members may carry mistrust of others based on their roles and experiences with the system. Members will bring different experiences and understandings of the system, its effects, harms and challenges.
The preliminary work of gathering stakeholders to one table to develop a shared vision may therefore involve trust building, acknowledgment of harm and past exclusion, before all parties can work together to develop and implement a new vision. Investing in the cohesion of this group as a reform body with common goals and values is a worthy effort, as this group is essential to shaping and moving forward transformation. Both to develop the most informed vision possible, and for legitimacy and broad buy-in for the vision, it is critical that all stakeholders begin together with a voice in developing the vision, not leaving some to be consulted after the fact for approval. This effort will build the highest, most thorough vision, and support broad political will for its implementation.
Indicators that system leaders have made progress in developing a shared vision for youth justice transformation.
These steps provide specific guidance for how to develop a shared vision for transformation, together with all of the stakeholders needed to inform and articulate that vision. All of these steps are central in youth justice system reform, and can be implemented concurrently.
Establishing a working group or task force, or joining an existing collaborative partnership, provides an organized forum to build shared understanding, develop a new vision, and work through different perspectives and interests in building a shared vision for transformation.
Share findings from recent assessments and invite members of the working group with direct system experience to share their experiences directly. This can be a useful and impactful way of highlighting how the system is or is not living up to the values and vision stated and how it can be transformed to do better.
To build consensus for a transformed system, review existing values, principles, mission and vision of the youth justice system. Review values, principles, and statements from advocates, youth, and families and communities and narrow the list down to the most essential values and principles.
Too often, vision and mission statements fail to translate into day-to-day practice as experienced by youth, families and communities across the system. Translate the vision into action steps and quantitative goals. Monitor implementation to hold the system accountable to its new vision.
It is necessary to spread this new vision, and gain buy-in for it, among a broader coalition of stakeholders. Share the new vision developed, communicate it to relevant audiences, and gain support.
Take a look at some notable examples of places working to develop a shared vision with all of the key stakeholders, and tips for who those stakeholders might be for your own system.
At a minimum, leaders should proactively engage the following individuals and groups in joining a new collaborative for youth justice transformation and developing a shared vision. A number of additional related groups and allies will be further relevant when building support for that vision.
Stakeholders to be included in a collaborative to develop a shared vision for youth justice include:
We aim to honor and strengthen community self-determination; reduce (and eventually eliminate) dependence on the juvenile justice system; and keep youth safe at home and supported by the capable hands of their own communities.
We are rooted in our cultural differences and seek diverse perspectives. We recognize that both historically and presently, certain communities are targeted and harmed by systemic oppression, discrimination, and prejudice. We work to ensure our strategies and actions promote diversity, equity, and justice, based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, language, national origin, immigration status, system involvement, socioeconomic status, and the multitude of intersections thereof.
We envision a world where the response to youth who get in trouble with the law is developmentally appropriate, free of racial and ethnic bias, and focused on building strengths that help youth avoid further involvement with the justice system.
We seek to end youth imprisonment entirely by establishing a new national consensus against imprisonment of kids in favor of investments in community programs that can put kids on track to success. To achieve a tipping point, we are working to build a critical mass of states to make this shift away from incarceration and towards investing in youth in their communities.
This discussion covers the importance of establishing a foundation for working together toward a new shared vision of youth justice.
This discussion covered both the why and the how of having the most impacted youth and families leading transformation.
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National Youth Partnership Strategist,
Youth First Initiative
New Mexico Youth Justice Coalition
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Executive Director,
New Jersey Parents Caucus
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Administrator,
Pierce County Juvenile Court
Kathy Wright, Executive Director of New Jersey Parents Caucus, talks about the need to learn about the impact of the system directly from young people who experienced it and to trust them to lead if we are to create change.
Xiuhtecutli (Xiuy) Soto of the New Mexico Youth Justice Coalition speaks about how transforming youth justice begins with having patience with, providing support for, and relating to young people like him.
TJ Bohl, Administrator at Pierce County Juvenile Court, on some of the cultural obstacles inside the system to collaborating with communities, and the need for system leaders to overcome defensiveness to building a path forward together.
Explore why transforming the roles of communities and sharing authority and responsibility with them is central to youth justice transformation.
Explore the importance of cultivating true partnership with young people and families at the individual case level and in system
transformation.
Explore the importance of cultivating true partnership with young people and families at the individual case level and in system transformation.
Explore why transforming the roles of communities and sharing authority and responsibility with them is central to youth justice transformation.
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