OJJDP and NIJ Release New Bulletin in Justice Research Series; and more - News Roundup

Juvenile Justice Reform

• OJJDP and NIJ Release New Bulletin in Justice Research Series (U.S Department of Justice)  OJJDP and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) have jointly released “Changing Lives: Prevention and Intervention to Reduce Serious Offending,” part of the Justice Research series. This bulletin reviews effective programs that mitigate risk factors for delinquency and crime among juveniles and young adults to prevent future serious criminal behavior. These programs are grouped by family, school, peers and community, individual, and employment. This bulletin summarizes the final report from the NIJ Study Group on the Transitions From Juvenile Delinquency and Adult Crime.
• Savannah-Chatham Police Partnering With State To Search For Signs Of Gangs (GPB.org) Savannah-Chatham police are joining forces with gang experts from the State of Georgia to assess possible gang-related activity in the city.

Jobs, Grants, Events and Webinars

• Please share the Reclaiming Futures Opportunity Board with your colleagues in the juvenile justice, adolescent substance abuse and teen mental health areas. It’s free to browse and post!

Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment and Mental Health

• Physical Fitness Helps Young Adolescents Avert Depression (Science World Report) The researchers at the University of North Texas conducted a survey on 437 students from six middle schools in a metropolitan county in North Texas. Out of the total, 55 percent were girls. Based on the survey, they found that physically-fit sixth-graders were less likely to report feeling depressed on being promoted to the seventh grade.

• Addiction and Health Consequences Increase as Synthetic Marijuana Use Grows (Marketwired.com) A growing and concerning number of individuals are seeking help for the effects of synthetic marijuana, also more commonly known as "K2". Once marketed as providing a "legal high," synthetic marijuana underwent a national ban in July of 2012. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, between January and June of this year, 795 cases of synthetic marijuana exposures have already been reported to poison centers. Overall, the ban has reduced the number of incidents reported, but as the drug appears in certain regions like Illinois, health consequences are experienced in the community.