America's Youth Justice Story
About this Event
The Center for Youth Justice at Georgetown University and Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. are proud to announce registration is now open for the 2026 Janet Reno Forum on September 10th!
“America’s Youth Justice Story: Unearthing the Past and Reimagining the Next Chapter” will be an in-person, one-day conference held in the heart of Washington, DC on Georgetown University’s Capitol Hill Campus. During this 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, the Forum will explore the past, present, and future of America’s Youth Justice story through the lens of truth-telling and creative expression.
- We’ll meet storytellers, leaders, community-members, artists, and advocates as they each, in their own ways, serve as truth tellers to effectuate change and rewrite the next chapter of youth justice.
- We’ll unearth a forgotten, painful past, and survey the work underway to bring dignity to those who our society has literally buried in unmarked sites.
- We’ll look clear-eyed at the challenges and harms that are present in today’s youth legal system, but also at the inspiring efforts of those working tirelessly to create practices that are restorative, just, and lead to better futures.
- Participants will also dive into the cathartic power that art can have to shift perspectives, nurture empathy, and help heal harms through an array of creative expressions including an art gallery, spoken word, music, and more from justice-driven and system-impacted artists.
Finally, the Shay Bilchik Award for Innovation in Youth Justice and the Janet Reno Women’s Leadership Awardswill be presented, recognizing the incredible efforts of two individuals who have contributed to rewriting and reimagining a more hopeful and effective, safer and less costly, family-centered American youth justice story.
More details, including panelists, speakers, and featured artists will be announced in the coming weeks and months!
“The Forgotten Children of Youth Justice’s Past” will explore how the racist past of the youth legal system led to kids in state custody being buried in unmarked sites, reflect on how that past still impacts the system today, and survey the work currently underway to tell the stories of these forgotten children with dignity and care.
will facilitate a panel that includes:
- , American forensic anthropologist, artist, and Executive Director of the Institute of Forensic Anthropology & Applied Science at the University of South Florida.
- Family members of the Forgotten Children
- And more...
“America Youth Justice Narratives: Perspectives of the Media, Policy-makers, and Communities” will explore the stories we, collectively, are telling about today’s youth justice system. What are the most prominent narratives being told about the youth legal system today, by the media, policy-makers, and communities themselves, and what are some ways we can help shift those narratives for positive impact? What stories are those who have been impacted by the system telling? How can we use storytelling and truth-telling to transform lives, to help heal harm and trauma, and make a better future for all?
will facilitate a panel that includes:
- Ramon Ramos, Founder and President of The Exception
- Liz Ryan, Stanley S. Nelson Distinguished Practitioner for Justice Reporting & Communications at Louisiana State University and former OJJDP Administrator
- Vincent Schiraldi, Visiting Fellow of the Pinkerton Foundation and former Maryland Secretary of Juvenile Services
- And more...
“Reimagining the Next Chapter of America’s Youth Justice Story” will explore the inspiring efforts of those working tirelessly to create and advocate for practices that are restorative, just, and lead to better futures for–and critically–led and written by the youth and families themselves.
, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Youth Advocate Programs, will facilitate a panel that includes:
- Clinton Lacey, President and CEO of the Credible Messenger Mentoring Movement (CM3)
- , Youth- and Family-advocate and Commissioner for the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center and
- And more...
The Forum will be held in-person on Georgetown University's new Capitol Hill Campus. The 125 E Auditorium provides a large but comfortable setting, allowing participants to be a part of the conversation. We will also be utliizing the Capitol View Convening Space on the roof of the McCourt Buidling for a gallery walk and more!
Coffee, beverages, and refreshments will be available, and attendees are free to enjoy the beautiful Capitol Hill neighborhood for lunch and a bit of a stretch in the autumn air!
The Center for Youth Justice at Georgetown University supports and educates leaders across systems of care to advance a balanced, multi-system approach to improving outcomes for, and promoting the positive development of, youth at risk of youth legal system involvement.
Shay Bilchik, one of the country’s most influential voices in the juvenile justice arena, founded the Center as the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform in 2007. , the current director, works closely with Georgetown’s other policy centers and departments in leading the Center’s efforts. In 2025, the Center was renamed the
A research center within the McCourt School of Public Policy, the pillars of our approach are grounded in the pursuit of five core goals:
- Advancing a strength-based, holistic, and developmental approach for youth, because after all, we must always remember that these are kids
- Promoting authentic, meaningful, and impactful youth and family partnerships, always remembering the mantra of “nothing about us, without us”
- Preventing legal system involvement for youth in the first place where possible and embracing community-driven models and approaches;
- Strengthening cross-system collaboration and partnerships to minimize burdens on youth and families, maximize precious system resources, and achieve positive outcomes for all; and
- Advancing racial justice and equity in the youth legal system; our work must not and cannot cease until all youth and families have equitable opportunities to thrive.
You can find more information at our webite at: https://cyj.georgetown.edu/
Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. is a 50-year-old donor-supported national nonprofit that partners with youth justice, child welfare, and other systems to deliver community-based services as an alternative to placing young people in trouble or in crisis in corrections, care, and treatment facilities. The nonprofit also applies principles of its family-centered, accountability-focused evidence-based model to help public safety systems reduce violence.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 89.99 to USD 110.00
