“To advise government and local communities to ensure effective service provision and development of policies that improve the juvenile justice system, advocate for delinquency prevention and guide Hawaii’s youth in becoming productive community members.”

-JJSAC Mission Statement

The Hawaii Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council (JJSAC) is a Governor-appointed advisory group concerned about youth involved, or at-risk of being involved, in the juvenile justice system.  The JJSAC advises the Governor, the Legislature, and the Office of Youth Services (OYS) on the formulation of policies to improve the overall effectiveness of the juvenile justice system and addresses juvenile justice issues. The JJSAC oversees the implementation of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act federal grant programs which are administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).

Congress recognized that the success of federal involvement in juvenile justice systems would rest on committed and knowledgeable individuals at the state and local levels who support and promote the goals of the JJDP Act of 1974, as amended. Ultimately, the JJDP Act empowered states participating in the Formula Grant Program to establish volunteer, citizen-based advisory groups to oversee the implementation of the JJDP Act in their state. Hawaii’s JJSAC was established by Executive Order 91-2, and has state-wide representation from each of the islands and from the public and private sectors and representation from the youth demographic.

The JJSAC is organized into six committees: Executive Committee, Compliance Committee, Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Committee, Prevention and Accountability Committee, Youth Committee, and a special Nominations Committee.

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act
The enactment of the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act of 1974, as amended, P.L. 93-415; 42 U.S.C. 5601 et. seq., serves as a vehicle to achieve Congressional directives aimed at improving the effectiveness of the juvenile justice system.

Nationwide, Juvenile Justice State Advisory Councils/Groups, authorized by the Act and appointed by the Governor, use funds from Titles II and V of the JJDP Act for programs designed and implemented to address compliance with the core requirements of the Act, for prevention programs specifically designed to address youth and crime delinquency issues in their jurisdiction.

Core Requirements of the JJDP Act
The four core requirements of the Act were established to ensure appropriate services, proper treatment and safe confinement of juveniles involved in the juvenile justice system, and to address the juveniles’ rights to due process:

1. Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders (DSO). Juveniles charged with status offenses, offenses which would not be criminal if committed by an adult, shall not be placed in secure detention or correctional facilities. Status offenses include but are not limited to truancy, running away, and minors in possession of alcohol.

2. Jail and Lockup Removal (JLR). No juvenile shall be securely held in adult jails or lockups. Under the Reporting Exception, accused law violators may be held for up to six hours for the purpose of identification, processing, interrogation, transfer to a juvenile facility, or while awaiting release to parents/guardians.

3. Sight and Sound Separation (SSS). During the temporary period that a juvenile may be securely held in an adult jail and lockup, sight and sound contact is prohibited between the juvenile and adult inmates or trustees.

4. Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC). States must address reducing the proportion of juveniles detained or confined in secure detention facilities, secure correctional facilities, and jails and lockups, who are members of ethnic groups f such proportion exceeds the proportion such group represents in the general population.

Agendas, Committees, Meeting Minutes

Full JJSAC Agendas
2013
April 17, 2013 – Cancellation Notice
March 7, 2013 – Compliance Committee Agenda
February 27, 2013 – Executive Committee Agenda
February 20, 2013  – Prevention and Accountability Committee

2012
March 6, 2012
May 30, 2012
June 7, 2012 – Compliance Committee
August 30, 2012 – Prevention and Accountability Committee
September 6, 2012 - Compliance Committee
September 12, 2012 - Executive Committee
December 6, 2012 – Prevention and Accountability Committee Cancellation Notice
December 12, 2012 – Executive Committee Cancellation Notice
December 19, 2012 – Advisory Council Annual Meeting

Minutes
March 6, 2012
May 15, 2012 – Executive Committee
May 30, 2012
June 7, 2012 – Compliance Committee
August 2012 – Prevention & Accountability Committee
September 6, 2012 – Compliance Committee
September 12, 2012 – Executive Committee
September 26, 2012

Special Reports and Documents
2012 JJSAC Annual Report
State of Hawaii 2012 Juvenile Justice and Deliquency Prevention Fact Sheet
2012 Compliance Determination
Juvenile Justice System Crime Analysis FY 2009-2011
Disproportionate Minority Contact in the Hawaii Juvenile Justice System 2000 – 2010

Hawaii Contact:  Christopher Lum Lee, Juvenile Justice Program Specialist @ 587-5738