Just Facts Campaign

CfJJ launched its Just Facts Campaign in 2007 to require all agencies in the juvenile justice system to collect basic, non-identifying, statistical data and share this data with the public. The name of the campaign was picked with care: The public deserves the facts because, without them, we can’t possibly make wise and just decisions about policies that have a profound effect on kids, families and communities.

Our partners in the Just Facts Campaign include the Massachusetts Juvenile Justice Task Force on Racial Disparities, the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, the American Civil Liberties Union and the law firm Proskauer Rose (which generously provides CfJJ with pro bono assistance).

As a result of our efforts, race and ethnicity data is now being collected and shared by the Administrative Office of the Trial Court for the first time in over a decade!

In addition, under the skillful leadership of Senator Cynthia Creem and Representative Kay Khan, legislation (Sen. No. 940) has been introduced to mandate that data including race, ethnicity, gender, age and offense be collected at all the key points in the system and shared annually with the public.

Here is just a sample of critical questions that we will finally be able to answer once the public gets the missing facts:

• How many kids are arrested each year in Massachusetts?
• What types of crimes are youth being prosecuted for?
• How do youth of different races, ethnicities, and genders fare as they move through the juvenile justice system?

CfJJ Fact Sheets
"Just Facts" Fact Sheet (March, 2009)

Other Publications
The Provider - Mandate Collection of Juvenile Data (February, 2008)