Our Mission
The Center for Youth Justice at Georgetown University supports and educates leaders across systems of care to advance a balanced, multi-system approach to improving outcomes for, and promoting the positive development of, youth at risk of youth legal system involvement. Shay Bilchik, one of the country’s most influential voices in the juvenile justice arena, founded the Center in 2007. Michael Umpierre, the current director, works closely with Georgetown’s other policy centers and departments in leading the Center’s efforts.
A research center within the McCourt School of Public Policy, the pillars of our approach going forward will be grounded in the pursuit of five core goals:
- Advancing a strength-based, holistic, and developmental approach for youth, because after all, we must always remember that these are kids
- Promoting authentic, meaningful, and impactful youth and family partnerships, always remembering the mantra of “nothing about us, without us”
- Preventing legal system involvement for youth in the first place where possible and embracing community-driven models and approaches;
- Strengthening cross-system collaboration and partnerships to minimize burdens on youth and families, maximize precious system resources, and achieve positive outcomes for all; and
- Advancing racial justice and equity in the youth legal system; our work must not and cannot cease until all youth and families have equitable opportunities to thrive.
Why We Do What We Do
The Center works to focus the nation’s youth justice and related systems of care on the key principles embodied in an evidence- and outcomes-based youth justice reform agenda, utilizing a multi-system approach. These include:
We believe that a fair and equitable youth legal system is essential for building a just society. By empowering communities and systems partners to understand, challenge, and rectify systemic biases, we aim to create a lasting impact on the lives of young individuals, ensuring that their encounters with the legal system are characterized by fairness, understanding, and an unwavering commitment to equity.
What We Do
We conduct rigorous and comprehensive research to identify and understand the root causes of challenges and injustices within youth legal systems. With this knowledge, we design and deliver impactful programs for community stakeholders and partners, equipping them with evidence- and outcomes-based strategies to address and rectify systemic biases. Through collaborative initiatives, ongoing support, and dissemination of research-informed comprehensive practices, we empower stakeholders to play a pivotal role in advancing equity in legal systems.
How Do We Do It?
We employ a multifaceted approach to achieve our mission.
- Community Competence: Recognizing the importance of community and multi-system perspectives, we actively engage with and seek input from key stakeholders. By incorporating these perspectives into our initiatives, we ensure a more nuanced understanding of the challenges and co-create solutions that resonate with the diverse needs of the communities involved.
- Comprehensive Research: We conduct and identify in-depth research and assessment to understand systemic challenges and inequities, explore opportunities to transform systems that achieve positive outcomes, and bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice. This research forms the foundation of our initiatives.
- Educational Programs: We design and deliver targeted certificate programs for community partners. These programs provide practical insights and strategies, empowering participants to recognize and address challenges, and to drive action locally.
- Leadership Networks: Through partnerships, we facilitate the exchange of ideas, experiences, and comprehensive practices to create a collective commitment to fairness and equity in youth legal systems justice.
- Dissemination of Impactful Practices: We actively share effective strategies and practices emerging from our initiatives and the field. We contribute to a broader movement towards a fair and just youth legal system by disseminating this knowledge.