Day-to-day, state ICJ Offices around the country facilitate transfers of juveniles under community supervision and returns of runaways, escapees, absconders, and adjudicated delinquent youth. These states work collectively as the Interstate Commission for Juveniles to serve juveniles while promoting community safety. Over the last year, I have had the privilege of leading this group of distinguished professionals during an especially exciting time, as we launched a new Strategic Plan, focused on:

• Improving Data System for Better Outcomes
• Promoting Member Engagement & Leadership Development
• Addressing Gaps in Rules & Resources
• Leveraging Relationships to Promote Awareness & Improve Outcomes

To Improve Data System for Better Outcomes, more than 30 state ICJ personnel and national office staff worked diligently with software development experts to build a new national data management system: the Uniform Nationwide Interstate Tracking System for Youth (UNITY). With an eye toward an intuitive interface and data integrity, the UNITY Team has created a user-friendly system that will greatly benefit the nation and the youth we serve.

In the area of Promoting Member Engagement & Leadership Development, we have grown in leaps and bounds. An expanded Mentoring Program was launched to support leadership development for state ICJ personnel. The Committee Guidelines Policy was revised to promote leadership development, succession planning, and diversity. In addition, plans were made for a Leadership Exchange Series to promote leadership development and racial equity.

To Address Gaps in Rules and Resources, an Ad Hoc Committee on Juvenile/Adult Issues reviewed challenges that result from state-to-state variances in age of majority and provided multiple recommendations. In the midst of this work, the nation was seized by the COVID-19 pandemic. To enable states to better respond to national emergencies, ICJ Rule 2-108 was enacted through the emergency rule promulgation process. Also, multiple new resources were introduced to support states in implementing the Compact as fully as possible during this unprecedented emergency.

To Leverage Relationships to Promote Awareness & Improve Outcomes, the Commission worked in partnership with the FBI, TSA, Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision, SEARCH, National Attorneys General Training Institute, National District Attorneys Association, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, the American Probation and Parole Association, and others to address national policy issues and emerging concerns.

It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve as the Commission Chair during 2020. The leaders I have served with are some of the finest, most committed leaders I’ve ever encountered. The Executive Committee members are diligent and devoted to the Commission and the youth we serve. The Commissioners and Compact Staff are dedicated, creative, and passionate leaders. Our relationships with external partners are consistently growing stronger as we work together toward our common goals. The National Office staff continue to serve next to us and support us in every aspect of the work. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jacey R. Rader, Commission Chair