Six Nevada Division of Child and Family Services Team Members Named Georgetown University Center for Juvenile Justice Reform Fellows to Take Action on Racial and Ethnic Disparities 

The Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) has been selected to participate in the Georgetown University Center for Juvenile Justice Reform (CJJR) Fellows Network based on the approval of their Capstone Project. 
  
The Nevada Team’s Capstone Project, Disparities Faced by Youth of Color in Parole Length of Stay, is focused on the fact that youth of color, particularly Black youth, tend to stay on parole longer than white youth. To address these racial and ethnic disparities, the team plans to create and implement a streamlined decision-making process to guide recommendations of termination of parole, and to examine how restitution is addressed as part of parole decisions.  
 
“We are excited to see that the Nevada team is taking a proactive approach to address disparities through data analysis and policy changes,” said Michael Umpierre, CJJR Director. “The team’s effort to collect restitution data and develop an objective decision-making framework for termination of parole has the potential to significantly reduce youth’s unnecessary justice involvement and improve their well-being.” 
 
DCFS regularly collects system-wide data from state and county entities related to the racial and ethnic disparities in Nevada’s juvenile justice system at all contact points from arrest to certification to the adult system.

“This project represents an opportunity to tap into national expertise and to move forward with concrete action to address the racial and ethnic disparities we know exist in our juvenile justice system” said Administrator Ross Armstrong. 
 
Part of Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, CJJR advances a balanced, multi-systems approach to serving youth and families that reduces juvenile delinquency and promotes positive child and youth development. The Center works nationwide to promote an evidence-based juvenile justice reform agenda, highlighting the research on policies and practices that work best to achieve better outcomes for children. 
 
Members of the Nevada Team attended the Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities Certificate Program in November 2019 and were admitted to the CJJR Fellows Network in February 2021. Nevada’s team members include Sharon Anderson, Unit Manager Youth Parole Bureau; Alexia Benshoof, Management Analyst 4 Data Analytics; Leslie Bittleston, Social Services Chief Juvenile Justice Services; Susie Miller, Deputy Administrator over Residential Services; Kathryn Roose, Deputy Administrator over Quality and Oversight and Sara Velasquez, Training Officer at Summit View Youth Center.   
   
For more information on CJJR Fellows Network, visit http://cjjr.georgetown.edu/certificate-programs/fellows-network/. 

Click the link for additional information about Nevada’s Youth Parole Bureau.