The Montgomery County RJIP

Juvenile Justice Training

Montgomery County Human Services Center
1430 Dekalb Street, Norristown, PA. 19404
December 18th, 2015
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Program
9:30am-9:35am Welcome, Introduction and Overview, Angela Bell
9:35am-9:50am Identifying the Problem, and finding a Solution, RJIP Data, Judge
Christopher Cerski
9:50am-10:30am Adolescents: Brain Development, Dr. John DAlessandro
10:30am-10:40am Break
10:40am-11:20am Implicit Bias and Neuroscience, Salma S. Safiedine
11:20am- 12:00pm Understanding Juvenile Diversion Programming, Geoffrey Kolchin
12:30pm Debrief: Youth Aid Panel-Program Development and Progress
Angela Bell

Presentation Descriptions
Diversion Today: As modern times see unprecedented incarnation rates, there is an ever
growing interest in finding ways to get people out of the criminal justice system, and keep them
out. With his over 30 years of experience in the criminal justice system, Mr. Kennedy provides
an overview of national standards and best practices for criminal justice diversion programs.
The Impact of Implicit Bias: The modern science of implicit bias helps us think more
constructively about the issue of biased decision making in the criminal justice system. Join us in
an interactive workshop led by Salma S. Safiedine, Director of the ABA Racial Justice
Improvement Project, to learn about dealing with unconscious bias in high-pressure situations,
and the techniques we can use to manage our own biases and the impact of unconscious bias in
the organizations that we help to shape. This session provides a unique training opportunity that
will address
what implicit
bias is and

how and why it is relevant to the criminal justice system and the daily administration of justice.
The curriculum includes interactive learning and specific problem-solving exercises that can be
used to assess current practices.
Juvenile Diversion and Best Practices: Many youth who are arrested for low-level offenses,
including acts that are typical yet undesirable adolescent behaviors, are inappropriately referred
to the justice system. Research shows that sending such youth into our courts and correctional
facilities increases the risk that they will re-offend in the future. These youth do much better
when they are able to stay in their communities. PCCD has invested millions to support
evidence-based Blueprint and Model Programs in Pennsylvania, with impressive results and
solid returns on investment. Supported programs address a wide range of risk-related factors,
from family conflict to bullying, and from life skills to aggression replacement. Geoff Kolchin
from PCCD and the Juvenile Law Center share on aspects of Juvenile Diversion, national
standards and best practices.
Adolescents: Developments in Law, Procedure and Program: Involvement in the criminal
justice system and its incarceration system, has shown to have adverse effects on personality,
development, and perspective. Research has continuously demonstrated that youth are at
increased risk as they are in critical stages of development. This session will provide insight into
the latest research on adolescent brain development and its implications in the criminal justice
system. The presentation will include training and is designed to gauge specific reactions to
various scenarios.
Youth Aid Panel-Program Development and Progress: Through a grant from the Bureau of
Justice Assistance, the ABA Criminal Justice Section has established the Racial Justice
Improvement Project and has selected Montgomery County, Pennsylvania as one of the
jurisdictions to create a task force. The goal of the task force is to identify a specific racial
disparity in their criminal justice system then institute a specific policy reform to reduce or
eliminate the disparity. This Task Force believed the criminal justice community would benefit
much from an expanded and improved Diversion Program and thus has worked diligently with
the District Attorneys Office to expand and enhance the Youth Aid Diversion Program (YAP).
Angela Bell highlights the process and progress of the Task Forces work.