Appendix: Massachusetts juvenile justice agencies

Information on the entities that make up the Massachusetts juvenile justice system.

Table of Contents

Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPPS)

Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPPS)

EOPSS is responsible for the policy development and budgetary oversight of its secretariat agencies, independent programs, and several boards which aid in crime prevention, homeland security preparedness, and ensuring the safety of residents and visitors in the Commonwealth. 

Massachusetts  police departments submit arrest data to the FBI in accordance with a federal reporting system called the “National Incident- Based Reporting System (NIBRS).” This data is aggregated, analyzed and reported out by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS)

Office of Grants and Research 

The Office of Grants and Research oversees the distribution and administration of grants, and conducts research, related to criminal justice, anti-drug and violence prevention education, law enforcement and traffic safety. The Office is divided into four divisions: Justice and Prevention, Highway Safety, Homeland Security, and Research and Policy Analysis, which maintains the Massachusetts Statistical Analysis Center.

Trial & Juvenile Court

Trial Court

The Executive Office of the Trial Court includes staff to support judicial policy, judicial education, general counsel, research and planning, intergovernmental relations, specialty court administration, grants management, general administration, and communications. The Office of Court Management reports to the Court Administrator and supports Trial Court operations for the 7 Trial Court departments (District Court, Boston Municipal Court, Housing Court, Juvenile Court, Land Court, Probate & Family Court, and Superior Court), Probation, and the Jury Commissioner, in the areas of capital projects, facilities management, fiscal operations, human resources, security, support services, and information services.

Juvenile Court

The Juvenile Court Department oversees civil and criminal matters statewide involving children, including youthful offender, care and protection, child requiring assistance and delinquency cases. The Juvenile Court's mission is to protect children from abuse and neglect, to strengthen families, to rehabilitate juveniles, and to protect the public from delinquent and criminal behavior. There are 11 divisions of the Juvenile Court.

Data on applications for complaint and delinquency filings come from the Massachusetts Trial Court.  

District Attorneys

District Attorneys

Massachusetts has 11 elected district attorneys. District attorneys act on behalf of the state and bring charges against individuals in the Commonwealth in a prosecution. 

Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS)

Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS)

The Committee for Public Counsel Services provides legal representation in Massachusetts for those unable to afford an attorney in all matters in which the law requires the appointment of counsel. This includes representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, child welfare, mental health, sexually dangerous person and sex offender registry cases, as well as related appeals and post-conviction matters.

Youth Advocacy Division (YAD)

The Youth Advocacy Division of CPCS ensures that every child in Massachusetts has access to zealous legal representation that incorporates a Youth Development Approach, resulting in fair treatment in court. 

Massachusetts Probation Services-Juvenile Probation

Probation Services

The Massachusetts Probation Service’s mission is to increase community safety, support victims and survivors, and assist individuals and families in achieving long term positive change. Juvenile probation officers are responsible for case management for youth including intake and assessments, monitoring compliance with court ordered conditions, and bringing notices of violation to the court's attention when youth violate their terms of probation. 

Data on Probation comes from the Massachusetts Probation Services.

 

Department of Youth Services (DYS)

Department of Youth Services (DYS)

The Massachusetts Department of Youth Services is a multi-faceted agency that serves youth committed as juvenile delinquents or youthful offenders and detained youth awaiting judicial action. Their mission is to enhance community safety by improving the life outcomes for youth in their care and custody. This is achieved by investing in highly qualified staff and a service continuum that engages youth, families and communities in strategies that support positive youth development.

Data on youth Overnight Arrests, Detentions, Commitments, and Youth Engaged in Services (YES) participation comes from the Department of Youth Services.

Office of the Child Advocate (OCA)

Office of the Child Advocate    

The Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) is an independent agency that serves children and families across the Commonwealth. Their goal is to ensure all children receive appropriate, timely and quality services. The OCA collects and analyzes data and makes recommendations to legislators and professionals to improve these services. The OCA also takes complaints and provides information to families who receive state services.       

Date published: November 2, 2020
Last updated: November 2, 2020

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