Goals for Change

By advancing models of successful system change, Models for Change aims to accelerate progress toward a more rational, fair, effective, and developmentally appropriate juvenile justice system. What would such a system look like? The MacArthur Foundation, in partnership with its grantees in the juvenile justice field, has developed a working framework for a model juvenile justice system—grounded in a handful of widely shared and firmly held juvenile justice system values. In addition to guiding Models for Change investments, the framework can serve as a kind of rough template of an ideal system, capable of both stimulating and giving practical direction to reform efforts.

Fundamental Fairness

All participants in a model system—including juveniles, their victims, and their families and communities—receive fair and unbiased treatment.

Recognition of Juvenile-Adult Differences

A model system takes into account that juveniles are fundamentally and developmentally different from adults.

Recognition of Individual Differences

In a model system, juvenile justice decision-makers treat young people as individuals—recognizing and responding to differences in development, culture, gender, needs and strengths.

Recognition of Youth Potential

Young offenders have strengths and assets and are capable of positive change and growth. Giving up on them is costly for society. Investing in them makes sense.

Safety

Communities and individuals deserve to be and feel safe.

Responsibility

A model system recognizes and reinforces three kinds of responsibility: that of court-involved juveniles, that of child-and-family-serving institutions and systems.

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