SJR78 Summary

• Creates the Alabama Juvenile Justice Task Force to conduct a comprehensive review of the state's juvenile justice system and develop evidence-based policy recommendations focused on protecting public safety, holding juvenile offenders accountable, containing costs, and improving outcomes for youth and families.

• Task force membership includes 16 members representing state leadership, legislature, judiciary, courts, law enforcement, public defenders, prosecutors, Department of Youth Services, and children's advocacy organizations, with diversity requirements for gender, race, and geography.

• Task force shall receive technical assistance from the Pew Charitable Trusts to analyze Alabama's juvenile justice system, with the Department of Youth Services and Administrative Office of Courts required to provide relevant data and staff expertise.

• First meeting must occur between May 20, 2017 and June 30, 2017, with the task force meeting no fewer than six times, and a final report due to the Governor and Legislature by February 15, 2018.

• Task force is dissolved upon submission of the final report, which will be made available to the public.