America has made great strides in developing an effective youth policy-thanks, in large measure, to juvenile justice and other youth service professionals who are using what works, developing new approaches, and applying research and evaluation information to control juvenile crime and improve our juvenile justice system. OJJDP's Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders provides an overarching approach to addressing juvenile crime and victimization. The Strategy emphasizes prevention and early intervention and the development of a system of graduated sanctions that holds youth accountable and protects communities. The Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) Model is an effective tool for achieving youth accountability and enhancing community safety. BARJ can be used to combat delinquency in your State, county, or city.

Outlines an alternative philosophy, restorative justice, & a new mission, the balanced approach,Ó which requires juvenile justice professionals to devote attention to: enabling offenders to make amends to their victims & community; increasing offender competencies; & protecting the public through processes in which individual victims, the community, & offenders are all active participants. Includes: philosophy & practice; accountability, competency development, & community safety; role changes; getting help: strategies for involving stakeholders; measuring outcomes; & practice tools. Case studies. Illustrated.

The present handbook offers, in a quick reference format, an overview of key considerations in the implementation of participatory responses to crime based on a restorative justice approach. Its focus is on a range of measures and programmes, inspired by restorative justice values, that are flexible in their adaptation to criminal justice systems and that complement them while taking into account varying legal, social and cultural circumstances. It was prepared for the use of criminal justice officials, non-governmental organizations and community groups who are working together to improve current responses to crime and conflict in their community

A selection of papers presented at the international conference, Leuven, May 12-14, 1997.