Many of you may have heard us talk about the desktop Guide. The Desktop Guide to Quality Practice for Working with Youth in Confinement is the product of a major collaboration between the National Center for Youth in Custody (NCYC), the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), and the National Partnership for Juvenile Services (NPJS). Its content covers a variety of topics essential to providing and maintaining quality care to youth in Juvenile Justice.

Please pass this information regarding this extremely valuable resource on to anyone who is looking to improve their practices.

News for Teachers

Departments of Justice, Education Release Correctional Education Guidance Package for Serving Juvenile Justice System-Involved Youth

Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan released the Correctional Education Guidance Package on Monday, December 8. Developed through a partnership between the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education, this guidance package is designed to inform the efforts of states, school districts, and juvenile justice facilities that serve system-involved youth. The package includes recommendations and federal requirements for ensuring that youth in confinement receive an education comparable to those provided in traditional public school settings. OJP Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason and OJJDP Administrator Robert L. Listenbee joined the Attorney General and Secretary of Education for the announcement.

Quality education is an essential protective factor for system-involved youth that helps them set realistic long-term goals, acquire the skill sets to succeed, and return to school and their communities as productive citizens.

The package includes the following components:

• Guiding Principles for Providing High-Quality Education in Juvenile Justice Secure Care Settings, jointly issued by DOJ and ED.
• Dear Colleague Letter on Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for Students with Disabilities in Correctional Facilities, issued by ED's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, clarifies state and public agency obligations to provide a free, appropriate public education to eligible students with disabilities who reside in correctional facilities.
• Dear Colleague Letter on Civil Rights of Students in Juvenile Justice Residential Facilities, issued by DOJ's Civil Rights Division and ED's Office for Civil Rights, stipulates that juvenile justice residential facilities receiving DOJ or ED funding must comply with the federal civil rights laws that these agencies enforce.
• Dear Colleague Letter on Access to Federal Pell Grants for Students in Juvenile Justice Residential Facilities, issued by ED's Office of Postsecondary Education, provides campus financial aid professionals the eligibility requirements for youth residing in juvenile justice facilities to apply for Pell Grants.

Resources:

Learn more about system-involved youth.

PREA Resources

2015 PREA Auditor Trainings-Coming to California!

The dates and location for the 2015 PREA auditor trainings have been finalized. For the first time, PRC will deliver its auditor training in the Western United States through three trainings in San Diego, California. Interested candidates should submit their application for review as soon as possible. Invitation letters for the March training will be issued in January. Note: Please do not attempt to make any travel hotel reservations unless you are explicitly instructed to do so in an invitation letter.

Click here to view information for 2015 trainings, including dates, locations, and application deadlines.

Inmate Education Video: New Languages

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections, via its BJA PREA grant, has translated the PRC Inmate Education video into Spanish and Hmong. These videos are available for download on the PRC website. Click here to access these files on the PRC Curricula page. Scroll down and select "Inmate Education" to access the videos, along with the companion Facilitator's Guide.

Additional Auditors

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently certified a number of individuals as PREA auditors. These qualified individuals participated in a 40-hour training and passed the cumulative exam at the conclusion of the training. There are currently 440 certified PREA auditors. Of those, 294 are certified to audit adult facilities, 59 to audit juvenile facilities, and 87 to audit both. More names will be added as the DOJ continues the certification process.

Click here to access the list of current certified PREA auditors.

PRC Frequently Asked Questions Announcements

PRC has posted new interpretive guidance from the DOJ on the FAQ web page. The addition includes FAQ 16 under General.

Click here to access the FAQ page.

PREA FAQ: Did you know?

PRC and DOJ partners would like to highlight a particular FAQ on the PRC website. FAQ 5 in the General section, added July 11, 2013, explains the relationship of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act to the PREA audit process.

Click here to be directed to the General section to review this FAQ.

Upcoming Events: Webinars

Understanding LGBTI Inmates and Residents

Tuesday, December 9, 2014 (3:00-4:30 p.m. EST)

Click here to learn more. Click here to register.

Meeting the Youthful Inmate Standard: Implications for Operations, Promising Practices, and the Law

Tuesday, December 16, 2014 (2:00-3:30 p.m. EST)

Click here to learn more. Click here to register.

The Making of a PREA Coordinator

Tuesday, January 27, 2015 (2:00-3:30 p.m. EST)

Click here to learn more. Click here to register.

Asking Adults and Juveniles About Their Sexual Orientation: Practical Considerations for the PREA Screening Standards

Tuesday, February 9, 2015 (3:00-4:30 p.m. EST)

Click here to learn more. Click here to register.

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