Registration is now Open!
Join us for the 2025 James E. Anderson Pennsylvania Conference on Juvenile Justice! We will celebrate 30 years of Balanced and Restorative Justice through the eyes of youth and families, victims, and juvenile justice professionals with a unique and powerful perspective on the past, present, and future of juvenile justice. Don't miss this opportunity to share insights, celebrate successes, and help build a stronger, more equitable juvenile justice system in Pennsylvania. Register now through our new registration system powered by Cvent to be part of this milestone event!
November 5-7, 2025
The annual conference is attended by juvenile justice professionals (judges, juvenile probation officers, district attorneys, public defenders, victim advocates, residential and community-based service providers, and others serving the juvenile justice system) from Pennsylvania and nationally.
The training workshops focus on various topics and issues facing juvenile justice professionals, highlighting practices, programs, and initiatives that exemplify best practices related to Pennsylvania's Balanced and Restorative Justice mission and Juvenile Justice System Enhancement Strategy.
Thursday Morning Plenary - Thirty Years of Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) in Pennsylvania
The plenary will be a celebratory journey through the political climate and landscape following the passage of Act 33 of Special Session No. 1 of 1995. The presentation will tell the story of the creation of and the strategy to achieve the BARJ mission in the Commonwealth.
The plenary will be led by many notable partners in the history of Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system, including Hon. Stephen P. B. Minor, President Judge, Potter County, and Chair, Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission (JCJC); Hon. Arthur E. Grim, President Judge (ret.), Berks County, and former Chair, JCJC; Hon. Kim Berkeley Clark, President Judge (ret.), Allegheny County, and former Chair, JCJC; Jim Anderson, Executive Director (ret.), JCJC; Ron Sharp, Executive Director (ret.), JCJC; Clay Yeager, Director of the Center for Juvenile Justice Training and Research (ret.), JCJC; Jim Rieland, Director (ret.), Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, 5th Judicial District of Pennsylvania, Family Division, Juvenile Section, and former Chair, BARJ Committee, Pennsylvania Council of Chief Juvenile Probation Officers; and Valerie Bender, Victim Advocate/Consultant (ret.). Additionally, many others who played a critical, historical role in the juvenile justice system will be recognized and acknowledged for their contributions and leadership.
Following the Morning Plenary, the Afternoon Plenary will open with remarks from Keith Snyder, Executive Director (ret.), JCJC, who will reflect on the early years of the Juvenile Justice System Enhancement Strategy (JJSES) and connect that history to our current progress. Building on the foundation laid in the Morning Plenary, Keith will set the stage for nationally recognized speakers who will explore where JJSES is headed next.
We are pleased to announce room blocks at the Hilton Harrisburg and Crowne Plaza are open. Early reservations are encouraged to secure the contracted rates. Please see below for reservation details.
Hilton Harrisburg
To reserve your room, call 717-233-6000 and provide the GROUP CODE: JCJC25 to indicate your participation in the Conference. The hotel will confirm your booking.
Crowne Plaza
To reserve your room, call 717-234-5021 and provide the GROUP CODE: JCJ to indicate your participation in the Conference. The hotel will confirm your booking.
Penn Harris
To reserve your room, call 717-763-7177 Ext. 1 and provide the GROUP CODE: JCJC Conference to indicate your participation in the Conference. The hotel will confirm your booking.
The James E. Anderson Juvenile Justice Youth Scholarship Award is presented to a person who is currently, or was at some point in the past, involved in the Pennsylvania juvenile justice system, has demonstrated remarkable resiliency and exceptional accomplishments, and is currently attending college or an approved post-secondary institution of higher learning, or who will be enrolled for the fall 2025 or spring 2026 semesters.
All nominations for the James E. Anderson Scholarship Award must be submitted no later than June 2, 2025.
For questions regarding the 2025 Awards Programs, please contact either Angel R. Stewart at angstewart@pa.gov, or contact Keysla Rodriguez at keyrodrigu@pa.gov.
The Juvenile Court Judges' Commission and the Pennsylvania Council of Chief Juvenile Probation Officers are pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the 2025 JCJC Professional Awards Program!
Who Can Submit Professional Award Nominations?
Professional Award nominations may be submitted by stakeholders that work/volunteer with juvenile justice-involved youth (including but not limited to Juvenile Probation Officers, Service Providers, Juvenile Court Judges, Volunteers etc.) provided the nomination form includes required signatures.
What are the Benefits to Nominating?
- Recipients receive recognition of their accomplishments at the James E. Anderson Pennsylvania Conference on Juvenile Justice.
- Recognition inspires stakeholders, improves system performance, and enhances services provided.
- Recognition fosters positive work environments and productivity.
- Recognition improves well-being and mental health of stakeholders.
The following 2025 Professional Awards are now being accepted:
Chief Juvenile Probation Officer of the Year – an individual who supervises a juvenile probation department within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as of the date of the nomination email submission. Award Winners prior to 2018 are eligible for nomination.
Juvenile Probation Supervisor of the Year – an individual who supervises Juvenile Probation Officers, but who is not a Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, as of the date of the nomination email submission. This category includes Deputy Chiefs, Assistant Directors, Supervisors, Coordinators, and other positions functioning in a similar capacity that supervise Juvenile Probation Officers. Award Winners prior to 2018 are eligible for nomination.
Juvenile Probation Officer of the Year – an individual who is employed as a Juvenile Probation Officer, but who is not a Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, Deputy Chief, or Juvenile Probation Supervisor as of the date of the nomination email submission.
Court Operated Program of the Year – any program operated by court employees which serves alleged and/or adjudicated delinquent youth. Award Winners prior to 2020 are eligible for nomination.
Residential Program of the Year – any public or private sector program serving alleged and/or adjudicated delinquent youth in a residential setting. This includes foster homes, group homes, residential treatment programs, general childcare facilities, shelter care facilities, detention centers, independent living programs, and other programs providing out-of-home, overnight care to children. Award Winners prior to 2020 are eligible for nomination.
Community-Based Program of the Year – any public or private sector program, not operated by the court, which provides community based, non-residential services to alleged and/or adjudicated delinquent youth including, but not limited to, day treatment programs, in-home services, out-patient services, Boys and Girls Clubs Education Services, youth aid panels, youth commissions, anti-violence programs, school-based programs, diversionary programs, mentoring programs, or similar programming. Award winners prior to 2020 are eligible for nomination.
Outstanding Service Award – a person committed to furthering the development of at-risk, alleged and/or delinquent youth, or advancing the mission of the juvenile justice system through volunteer work which may include, but is not limited to youth aid panels, youth commissions, anti-violence programs, school-based programs, diversionary programs, mentoring programs, faith-based programs, community centers or similar programming). This would be above and beyond the individual’s professional role requirements.
Juvenile Court Support Service Award – Individuals eligible to receive this award include those persons who provide clerical, secretarial, fiscal specialist, management, information technology, quality assurance, or other support services to the juvenile court. This includes receptionists, secretaries, clerk/typists, information technology specialists, quality assurance specialists, office managers and others functioning in a similar support capacity. (This individual does not need to be in a position that is entirely dedicated to the juvenile court system, but it should be a significant part of their position).
Victim Advocate of the Year – an individual who works on behalf of crime victims in a district attorney’s office, juvenile probation department, or in a community-based agency (This individual does not need to be in a position that is entirely dedicated to victims of juvenile crime, but it should be a significant part of their position).
PLEASE NOTE: Submissions that were not selected as previous winners may be resubmitted for reconsideration in the same category.
All Professional Award Nomination Forms are Due by Monday, June 2, 2025.
For awards questions, please contact Angel Stewart at angstewart@pa.gov or Keysla Rodriguez at keyrodrigu@pa.gov.
The Juvenile Court Judges' Commission (JCJC) will again sponsor a Youth Awards Program to honor youth selected as winners of the Creative Expression Contest and recipients of the Outstanding Achievement Award. This year’s theme is “Healing My Past to Impact Our Future”.
Who Can Submit Youth Award Nominations?
Youth award nominations may be submitted by stakeholders that work/volunteer with juvenile justice-involved youth (including but not limited to Juvenile Probation Officers, Service Providers, Juvenile Court Judges, etc.) provided the nomination form includes required signatures.
What Are the Benefits of Nominating Youth?
- Youth gain recognition of their accomplishments at the James E. Anderson Pennsylvania Conference on Juvenile Justice.
- Youth gain confidence and motivation to continue making positive life changes.
- Youth meet and interact with the featured youth award program speaker.
- Youth make positive connections with prosocial role models.
- Youth receive a certificate of recognition to commemorate their accomplishments.
The JCJC Awards Committee is accepting nominations for the Outstanding Achievement Award and the Creative Expression Contest, both of which are described below.
Creative Expression Contest:
Using the theme “Healing My Past to Impact Our Future” youth are to submit an original creative expression project in one of the following three categories: Poster, Written (essay, poem, story, etc.), or Mixed Media (dance, song, audio, video, or photography). This contest has a fifteen (15) and under category, and a sixteen (16) and over category.
2025 Creative Expression Nomination Form
Outstanding Achievement Award:
The Outstanding Achievement Award submission consists of a narrative description of a youth’s outstanding qualities of community service, victim reparation, academic accomplishments, school attendance, citizenship, attitude, extra-curricular activities, peer relationships, significant life experience, and positive changes in behavior.
2025 Outstanding Achievement Nomination Form
Deadline Extended:
All Youth Award Nominations Must Be Postmarked No Later than August 11th, 2025.
For awards questions, please contact Angel Stewart at angstewart@pa.gov or Keysla Rodriguez at keyrodrigu@pa.gov.
Download the Save The Date flyer and share!
Each year, the conference includes workshops that highlight practices, programs, and initiatives which exemplify the various components of Pennsylvania’s Balanced and Restorative Justice mission and the Juvenile Justice System Enhancement Strategy. Our goal is for workshop presenters to encourage open dialogue among colleagues, spark imagination, and discover solutions to our system’s ongoing challenges and changes. Workshop themes may include, but are not limited to, competency development, accountability, and competency development.
General Conference Information
Email: ra-jcjcevents@pa.gov
