Restorative and Transformative Justice Hub in Newark is an innovative program to reduce adolescent criminality. Jaqueline Henry, senior director of youth education and employment programs at the charity United Community Corporation, leads this project for adolescents from youth crime prevention by addressing their underlying issues.
New Course for Youth Crime Prevention
A $1.4 million grant from the state’s Juvenile Justice Commission funds the comprehensive program in conjunction with Essex County. It empowers and develops youth via education, employment, mental health assistance, and relationships.
Henry emphasizes understanding the numerous factors that influence teenage behavior and tackling food insecurity and housing instability. The program seeks to change participants’ lives by creating a supportive atmosphere inside Newark’s violence reduction initiatives and social assistance providers.
Essex County Director of Citizen Services and North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr. emphasizes community-based alternatives to detention centers due to the state’s shrinking juvenile incarceration population. The program fits with 2021 legislation signed by late Lt. Gov. Shelia Oliver to launch similar pilots in Paterson, Trenton, and Camden.
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Leaders Emphasize Transformative Potential and Data-Driven Approach
State Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin stresses the transformational power of such initiatives to interrupt the cycle of violence and improve communities. State Senator M. Teresa Ruiz believes the initiative has great promise and emphasizes the need for data-driven financing and expansion.
The Restorative and Transformative Justice Hub in Newark is the first in New Jersey to address child criminality through a comprehensive and community-centered strategy. This initiative’s focus on youth crime prevention, intervention, and good outcomes might lead to enduring change and safer, more resilient communities across the state.