Welcome to the Center for Youth Justice!
Learn More!Introducing a New National Map and Research Brief
As we roll into Fall, we hope you join us for our “Diversion in Action” spotlight series! We’ll be showcasing how C...
We at the Center for Youth Justice at Georgetown University and Youth Advocate Programs (YAP...
The Center supports the development of leaders in youth justice and related systems of care through our Certificate Programs, Practice Models, and Leadership Networks.
We help them achieve better outcomes for the young people in their care by assisting in the implementation or improvement of a diverse range of youth justice reform initiatives that address racial disparities and disproportionality, multi-system collaboration, social service improvement, statutory and court reform, and many other issues. The leaders we train come from across the United States and all over the world, including American Samoa, Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Cameroon, Puerto Rico, Red Lake Nation, St. Lucia, and Thailand.
Contact us at centerforyouthjustice@georgetown.edu and we will get you in touch with the right team member.
New from Nashville Public Radio: Report finds 14 ‘forgotten children’ buried at former youth corrections facility in Tennessee
We encourage you to read this new article from Alexis Marshall published by Nashville Public Radio about the Taft Youth Development Center in Nashville where, through our research for our new…
Diversion in Action: New Hampshire
Our Diversion in Action Spotlight Series keeps rolling on! Today, we explore the substantial statewide work being done in New Hampshire!…
New on the Imprint: First-Ever National Survey Finds Forgotten Graves of Incarcerated Children
We encourage you to read a new extensive article by Michael Fitzgerald and Jeremy Loudenback in The Imprint about our Forgotten Children Initiative’s new national research brief identifying 40…
America’s Youth Justice Story: A Brief Video Recap
We at the Center for Youth Justice at Georgetown University and Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. were so pleased to see so many of you on September 10th for our America’s Youth Justice Story:…
Sonnja Brown Announced as the Recipient of the 2026 Janet Reno Endowment Women’s Leadership Award!
We are so proud to announce that Sonnja Brown was awarded the 2026 Janet Reno Endowment’s Women’s Leadership Award! Somehow, we kept it as a surprise from her!! The Women’s Leadership Award…
PRESS RELEASE: New Research Reveals a National Legacy of Forgotten Children
The Center for Youth Justice’s Forgotten Children Initiative identifies burial sites or cemeteries associated with 40 correctional institutions across 29 states—more than half of all U.S.…
New from the Washington Post: At least 1,000 ‘forgotten children’ who died in state custody are buried across U.S., study finds
We encourage you to check out this new article from Katie Mettler of The Washington Post, covering our research that has identified burial sites associated with youth institutions in 29…
Mapping a National Legacy of Youth Who Died in Custody
Introducing a New National Map and Research Brief When the Forgotten Children Initiative launched in February 2026, burial sites associated with children who died in youth institutions were…
