Juncker honored for juvenile justice reform work in Louisiana
Increasing use of evidence-based treatment in Jefferson Parish
January 29, 2009
Source: Models for Change Louisiana/Jefferson Parish News Release
Roy Juncker, Director of the Jefferson Parish Department of Juvenile Services, was recognized Wednesday, January 28, 2009 by the Jefferson Parish Council for his work in reforming Louisiana's juvenile justice system.
Juncker has worked to transform the Department of Juvenile Services into a model system offering progressive and effective probation, treatment and detention programs. He was recently presented with the Bureau of Governmental Research Excellence in Government 2008 Latter & Blum Realtors Merit Award for his accomplishments.
"Roy deserves this honor," said Councilman-at-Large John Young. "Despite his statewide efforts in the area of juvenile justice reform, his primary focus is always on ways to improve the lives of youths and citizens of Jefferson Parish."
Juncker's work has aided Jefferson Parish in being chosen by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to participate in the Models for Change project. As part of that project, the Jefferson Parish Department of Juvenile Services has focused on implementing evidence-based practices, or standardized, scientifically sound screening and assessment tools utilized at appropriate points of juvenile justice processing. This process reduces the chance that an at-risk youth will fall further into the juvenile justice system.
At the beginning of Juncker's involvement in Models for Change, 13 percent of juveniles entering the system in Jefferson Parish received evidence-based treatment. Now, 33 percent of juveniles receive such services.
"The Jefferson Parish Department of Juvenile Services' Models for Change grant, under the leadership of Roy Juncker and the Jefferson Parish Youth Planning Board, is one of the success stories of the program," said Debra DePrato, Director of Louisiana Models for Change. "Roy's leadership is helping make the parish's juvenile justice system more rational, fair and effective."
Juncker has been a leader in the reform of Louisiana's juvenile justice system and serves on Governor Bobby Jindal's Advisory Board of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Issue(s): Evidence-based practices
Action Network(s):
State(s): LA