Current Projects and Evaluations
Nebraska Juvenile Justice Artificial Intelligence (AI) Initiative
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming part of professional practice, including within juvenile justice. The University of Nebraska Omaha's Juvenile Justice Institute (JJI) is leading a multi-phase initiative to better understand how AI is currently being used across Nebraska's juvenile justice system and to promote its responsible and ethical implementation. Phase 1 consists of interviews with professionals representing juvenile courts, probation, secure care, community-based organizations, and other youth-serving agencies to explore AI adoption, workforce experiences, organizational policies, and training needs. Findings will guide the development of evidence-informed resources, training opportunities, and best practice recommendations to help Nebraska's juvenile justice professionals navigate the evolving role of AI.
Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) Evaluations
Through a competitive process administered by the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (Crime Commission), the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) awards nearly $600,000 annually in grant funding to organizations working to reduce violent crime across Nebraska. OVP is committed to "leveraging its resources to innovate, develop, sustain, and expand programs that address violence so that Nebraska's youth may realize their full potential and contribute to Nebraska's future." The University of Nebraska Omaha's Juvenile Justice Institute (JJI) serves as the evaluation and training and technical assistance (TTA) partner for funded organizations. JJI supports grantees in developing logic models and evaluation plans, strengthening data collection and reporting practices, and using evaluation findings to inform program improvement and demonstrate impact.
Judicial Experiences and Perceptions of AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) Cases
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has introduced new forms of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that present complex legal, technological, and developmental questions for juvenile courts. While many states are actively considering or adopting legislation addressing these offenses, little is known about how judges are experiencing these cases in practice, whether existing legal frameworks provide adequate guidance, or what additional resources may be needed to support judicial decision-making. The University of Nebraska Omaha's Juvenile Justice Institute (JJI) is conducting a national survey of juvenile court judges to examine judicial experiences, perceptions, training needs, and policy recommendations related to AI-generated CSAM cases involving youth. Findings will inform future judicial education, best practice guidance, and policy discussions aimed at helping courts respond thoughtfully and effectively to this rapidly evolving area of law.
Building Local Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's (OJJDP) Building Local Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success initiative is designed to help communities create coordinated, sustainable systems that improve outcomes for youth and families while reducing juvenile justice system involvement. The University of Nebraska Omaha's Juvenile Justice Institute (JJI) serves as a national training and technical assistance (TTA) provider, partnering with JBS International and other organizations to support local communities through coaching, strategic planning, training, and the development of practical tools and resources. JJI helps communities identify and implement evidence-informed prevention and intervention strategies, strengthen collaboration across youth-serving systems, incorporate youth and family perspectives into planning, and build sustainable continuums of care that promote long-term success for young people.
Accelerated Juvenile Justice Certificate Program
The University of Nebraska Omaha's Juvenile Justice Institute (JJI) partners with RADIUS to deliver a customized Accelerated Juvenile Justice Certificate Program designed to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and confidence of youth-serving professionals. Building on JJI's established Juvenile Justice Certificate curriculum, this cohort-based professional development experience combines evidence-informed instruction, interactive skill development, and applied learning across topics including juvenile justice foundations, positive youth development, motivational interviewing, restorative practices, trauma-informed approaches, educational advocacy, ethics, and youth engagement. Through collaborative learning, coaching, and evaluation, the program prepares practitioners to translate research into practice while strengthening outcomes for youth, families, and communities.
Completed Projects and Evaluations
- Evidence Based Nebraska: Evaluation of Community Based Juvenile Services Aid (CBA) funded programs via the Juvenile Case Management System (JCMS)
- Heart of a Champion-One Heart Mentoring Program Evaluation
- Nebraska Supreme Court’s Statewide Juvenile Restorative Justice & Family Intervention Initiative
- Juvenile Reentry Mentoring Program
- International Criminal Justice Experiment
- Evidence-based Nebraska Annual Report 2022-2023 Tier 1 Basic Program Evaluation
- Mediation Center Lancaster County Program Evaluation
- ARRIVE Program Evaluation
- Adams County Diversion Evaluation
- OJJDP Compliance Project
- Evidence-based Programming in Nebraska – What Works?
- Evaluation of the Probation Risk Assessment Instrument
- Nebraska’s Three-Year Comprehensive Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Plan 2015-2018
- The Juvenile Reentry Project Evaluation
- Juvenile Services Comprehensive Community Planning: User Manual Development
- Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Assessments
- Lancaster County Early Identification and Assessment
- Lancaster County Truancy Evaluation
- Juvenile Diversion Case Management System
- Evaluating Community-Based Alternatives
- State of Nebraska Victim Assistance Strategic Plan
- Juvenile Justice Community Planning
- Justice by Geography
- Juvenile Diversion Training
- Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative
If you have any questions about the projects highlighted here or to request a copy of any JJI report or publication, email unojji@unomaha.edu.
You can also find a library of published JJI reports on Digital Commons.