After neglecting to name an Administrator to the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, President Obama has announced the appointment of Robert Listenbee from Pennsylvania to fill that role.  Since 2008, interim administrators at OJJDP have worked hard to fill the role, but the selection of Robert provides a big lift to the juvenile justice field. 

Robert has an excellent background, highlighted in a recent Juvenile Justice Information Exchange article, and is the first attorney with a defense background and the first African American to fill this role. The leader of OJJDP clearly can impact the direction of federal juvenile justice research, investments, and policies.  I have the good fortune to have worked with Robert on some occasions, and the juvenile justice field can rightfully have high expectations for the leadership he will provide.

Now, let’s get the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act reauthorized and recommit the federal vision of juvenile justice to one of best practice, solid research, and supporting the innovation and system reform that is being ably implemented by so many across Wisconsin.            
by Jim Moeser