Initiatives

JUSTGeorgia’s current focus is on securing passage of a new juvenile code for Georgia.  The new code seeks to incorporate evidence-based best practices and leading scientific findings in child and adolescent development.  In April, 2009 JUSTGeorgia spearhead the introduction of the Child Protection and Public Safety Act (Children's Code Rewrite). This bill was based on the Proposed Model Code written by the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia.  The Children's Code Rewrite incorporated the most recent evidence-based best practices while also acknowledging the political realities of today.

 

JUSTGeorgia looks forward to working with its legislative sponsors to reintroduce the bill when the legislature reconvenes this spring. JUSTGeorgia is also actively engaging stakeholders throughout Georgia in order to implement their ideas and address their concerns during the legislative process.  By undertaking such a thorough process, JUSTGeorgia believes that the new juvenile code will better serve, rehabilitate, and reform Georgia’s youth, while also making our communities safer.  Please join the coalition to get involved in this exciting opportunity.

 

Beyond advocating for the comprehensive rewrite of the Georgia juvenile code, JUSTGeorgia plans to continually identify and advocate for changes in policies of Georgia’s juvenile and social services systems where they inadequately address the needs of children. By persistently promoting Georgia’s child serving agencies to adopt evidence-based best practices within their policies, JUSTGeorgia seeks to make sure Georgia’s government is a government that works for children.  In doing so, JUSTGeorgia seeks to encourage better outcomes for the youth served by these systems, which in turn will lead to safer, more vibrant communities.

 

Current:

 

• Passage of a new juvenile code for Georgia that reflects evidence-based best practices and the latest scientific findings in child and adolescent development.

 

• Identify and advocate change to policies in Georgia’s juvenile and social services systems that will better serve children and youth and promote safe communities.