RD120 - Interstate Commission for Juveniles Annual Report FY2010


Executive Summary:
This report summarizes the numerous accomplishments made during the first two years of the Interstate Commission for Juveniles. The accomplishments would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the Commissioners, Designees, Deputy Compact Administrators, and Ex-Officio members.

At the initial 2008 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Commission adopted interim By-laws, elected regional representatives and officers, adopted a committee structure, transition rules, a fiscal year cycle, state assessment and dues, ratified a revised budget plan for FY’10, and voted to house the Commission’s National Office at The Council of State Governments headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky, pursuant to a secretariat agreement.

After the meeting, the Commission drafted rules, defined the duties and responsibilities of each committee, began discussions to develop a national information system, worked to assist states in state council development, established compliance protocols for enforcement, adopted a Mission, Vision and Values Statement and Strategic Plan, and hired an Executive Director to run the National Office. On July 1, 2009, the Interstate Commission for Juveniles became a fledging independent joint agency of the compacting states.

Efforts have not slowed in the second year. With the National Office’s assistance, the Commission launched a new website, delivered training and technical assistance, continued assistance to states in state council development, developed functional requirements for a national system and created a fiscal plan, in addition to publishing administrative policies and legal opinions to clarify business practices for Compact members. The National Office has hired three additional staff members.

To realize the vision that started in 1999 with a survey by the U.S. Department of Juvenile Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquent Prevention (OJJDP) and the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), a primary objective of the Commission has been to have all fifty states and territories as signatories to this Compact as soon as legislatively possible. Currently, forty-five states and one territory are members, with four more expected to enact legislation this year. The Commission continues to promote the Compact to non-member states in an effort to avoid a disruption of service that inevitably will occur when the transition rule expires. The member and non-member states will no longer be able to transfer supervision of delinquent juveniles or return juveniles who have run away, absconded or escaped, from one state to another, jeopardizing public safety and the welfare of juveniles in those non-member states.

The Interstate Commission for Juveniles has come a long way from just two short years ago, and we all should be proud. I realize there is still a great deal of work yet to do and am confident we will meet future challenges. While we may not reach consensus on every issue, it is clear to me after two national meetings and serving as your Chair, that we are all committed to making the Compact a success. I am honored to work alongside each of you, Commission members, in building this Compact into one that was envisioned by OJJDP, our stakeholders, and all juvenile justice professionals across the country in promoting public safety, victims’ rights, and juvenile accountability while protecting juvenile welfare.