CITIZENS FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE INC

Citizens for Juvenile Justice is the only independent, statewide nonprofit in Massachusetts dedicated to transforming youth serving systems to ensure that they treat all youth in a fair and equitable manner that is developmentally appropriate and rehabilitative. Our mission is to advocate for systemic reform that achieves equitable youth justice. Since 1994, we have addressed systemic issues in state and local youth serving systems – including the juvenile justice, education, and child welfare systems – through advocacy, research, public education, and coalition building driven by community engagement. We serve young people from birth through their mid-twenties throughout Massachusetts, with a strong focus on Greater Boston and Gateway Cities, with an estimated 20,000+ people served annually. We take an equity-focused, anti-racist approach to our work, scrutinizing decision points in youth serving systems where disparities emerge for youth of color, from low-income communities, with disabilities, immigrant youth, LGBTQIA+ youth, and those at the intersection of these identities. Our efforts are critical to creating an informed dialogue around youth needs and advancing data-informed, research-backed practices that ensure all youth can lead successful lives. CfJJ's impact is far-reaching, protecting young people's rights, promoting educational attainment, increasing economic mobility, and improving individual and community health.