juvenile justice institute.

Welcome to the Juvenile Justice Institute (JJI) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Established in 2002 to serve as the research arm for Nebraska’s juvenile justice system, JJI has become a hub for research and technical assistance. The Institute promotes evidence-based practices in criminal justice and substance abuse treatment throughout the state by providing technical assistance and completing policy and program evaluations for the Legislature, administrative agencies and private organizations.

Through its work, JJI has become a nexus for academia, government and the community. It is building the infrastructure and tools required to tackle a range of problems facing juvenile and adult justice systems by emphasizing program-oriented research projects. JJI’s goal is to partner with policymakers and practitioners to advance the most effective criminal justice and substance abuse treatment policies and programs possible. In addition to maintaining positive working relationships with a number of state agencies, the staff of JJI currently serve on task forces involving with juvenile substance abuse, drug courts, mental health, and juvenile justice policy related to detention, evaluations, and processing.

JJI also promotes the development of future criminal justice professionals by providing university students unique educational opportunities. Graduate students working for JJI receive an educational experience in which academia is made relevant to the demands of work and community. Students are involved in basic and applied research activities that foster academic excellence and provide a practical context in which to apply what students are learning in the classroom. Students are exposed to a variety of research experiences preparing them to work in academia or public arenas.

Recent projects completed by JJI include:

• Coordination of Nebraska ’s Methamphetamine Treatment Study and establishment of the Substance Abuse Training Initiative.
• Completion of the Metropolitan Community Justice Recidivism Reduction Center Study for the Nebraska Community Corrections Council.
• Continued work with state and local agencies providing design, implementation and evaluation support.

The Institute is directed by Dr. T. Hank Robinson and supported through the involvement of faculty from within the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Nicki Kennedy serves as JJI’s program coordinator and Colleen Cunningham is its staff secretary. JJI employees Graduate Research Assistants each year.

This website was created for students, criminal justice professionals, and anyone interested in the area of criminology. Here you will find information JJI and its current projects and research. For more information about JJI please contact us directly. This website also provides links to valuable state and national resources in the fields of criminal justice and substance abuse training.

Updated 6/16/2009 by Melanie Kiper