Community Juvenile Services Board

About

To meet the requirements of the Community Juvenile Services Act (CJSA), the County has established a Community Juvenile Services Board. The Board is an integral partner in the establishment and implementation of the CJSA criteria in Albany County.

Mission & Vision

The Board’s vision is to work together with the juvenile justice system in the county to promote a broad range of effective, evidence informed services within the community representing a continuum of care designed to promote the healthy development of youth and families in Albany County.

The Board’s mission is to provide guidance and expertise to the youth service system with the goal of effectively serving juveniles, their families, and the community by promoting a safe and healthy environment for all those living in Albany County.

Core Values

These core values guide the board:

• Promoting cost effective, as well as data-driven supported services/treatments for youth within the community;
• Promoting evaluation, continuous improvement, and careful monitoring of the effectiveness of youth services;
• Promoting the healthy development of our community’s youth which requires a continuum of care that includes early prevention and intervention;
• Promoting individualized interventions that utilize the least restrictive method, while protecting public safety;
• Promoting a system in which all stakeholders and partners should have the opportunity to collaborate and provide input to develop creative and innovative approaches; and
• Promoting a system that allows for timely access to services for all in need; and Promoting collaboration to identify the best solution for youth in the community, while recognizing youth’s rights.

National District Attorney Association’s National Juvenile Prosecution Standards

]The Board is also guided by the National District Attorney Association’s National Juvenile Prosecution Standards (NDAA-NJPS), which state that the primary duty of the prosecutor is to seek justice while fully and faithfully representing the interests of the state. While the safety and welfare of the community, including the victim, is their primary concern, prosecutors should consider the special circumstances and rehabilitative potential of the juvenile to the extent they can do so without unduly compromising their primary concern.