Compliance monitoring is a function carried out by each state and territory that receives federal juvenile justice funding. The Executive Office of Public Safety employs a full time Compliance Monitor to work with entities that hold or have the capacity to hold juveniles to assure compliance with the first three core protection requirements of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) which are

1) The de-institutionalization of status offenders

2) The separation of juveniles and incarcerated adults

3) The removal of juvenile offenders from lockup

The fourth core protection requirement is the reduction of Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) where it exists. This function is carried out by the EOPS DMC Reduction Specialist and is described here:  Disproportionate Minority Contact.

The EOPS Compliance Monitor:

· Plans and monitors for de-institutionalization of status offenders, separation of juveniles and incarcerated adults, and lockup removal of juvenile offenders.

· Receives, reviews, and verifies compliance monitoring data from facilities in the Commonwealth capable of securely detaining a juvenile offender.

· Is accepted as the statewide expert on juvenile detention issues and conducts trainings for all levels of law enforcement to ensure the highest level of understanding of the core requirements of the JJDPA.

· Distributes federal grant funds to Alternative Lockup Programs through out the Commonwealth to ensure compliance with Section 223 (a)(14) of the JJDP Act regarding lockup removal.

· Submits an Annual Compliance Monitoring Report to the United States Department of Justice's Office for Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention.


 



For more information on Juvenile Justice Compliance Monitoring, please contact Ricardo Goodridge, Compliance Monitor, at 617-725-3316 or via email Ricardo.Goodridge@state.ma.us .