Every year, thousands of young people enter the criminal and juvenile justice system.  

• By the age of 23, nearly 41% of young adults have experienced an arrest.  

• Young adults, 18-25, disproportionately make up 25% of all arrests.  

Youth face unique challenges as they navigate both school and family responsibilities along with their court obligations. Without proper interventions and support, many of these youths find themselves continuing to engage with the justice system into their early adult years. 

Getting youth the right support early on can really change the path of their lives. We partner with a wide range of organizations, including local community providers and schools, law enforcement agencies, courts, and probation departments, to develop, implement, and evaluate efforts on finding fair and age-appropriate ways to keep young people out of detention whenever we can.  

We want to ensure that decisions about what happens to young people—whether they should be detained or referred to services—are based on evidence, fairness, and a genuine understanding of their development. In response, we help communities and agencies connect young people with helpful services and create opportunities for them to thrive in their communities, steering them away from deeper system involvement.  

Through a mix of data-driven tools and community support, JSP is all about finding ways to promote accountability, create opportunities to meet the needs of young people, and ensure long-lasting well-being for our youth.