U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 

process, OJJDP selected three additional States (Ohio, Oregon,

and Wisconsin) for such assistance in 1998.

Since the selection of these States and their participating local

communities, OJJDP, DRP, and NCCD have partnered with the

coordinating State agencies to develop and implement 5-year

comprehensive strategic plans in up to six local sites. The plans

are based on the establishment of a continuum of juvenile delinquency prevention, early intervention, and graduated sanctions

programs and services and use a data-driven, research-based, and

outcome-focused approach. OJJDP’s training and technical assistance initiative for the Comprehensive Strategy strives to mobilize

communities to create a multidisciplinary continuum of care that

can respond in a timely, effective, and appropriate manner to a

community’s prevention, intervention, and graduated sanctions

needs. 

Program Planning

A four-phased planning process was created to help communities

develop a comprehensive strategy in each site. This ongoing

process includes mobilization, assessment, planning, and

implementation. 

During the mobilization phase, every segment of the community

(law enforcement, courts, corrections, schools, government agencies, social service agencies, businesses, civic organizations, the

faith community, parents, and private citizens) is engaged in

developing a coordinated approach that addresses risks that

threaten the healthy development of youth and identifies ways to

ameliorate those risks.

The assessment phase—during which communities assess risk

factors and identify systematic responses to those factors—forms

the basis of the prevention and graduated sanctions components

of the Comprehensive Strategy. During this phase, communities

use risk-focused planning to structure prevention efforts and

guide the objective decisionmaking process for appropriate

responses to system-involved youth. Communities also develop

Expansion of OJJDP’s 

Comprehensive Strategy

by Dennis M. Mondoro, Timothy Wight, and John A. Tuell

Encouraged by increased interest in its Comprehensive Strategy

for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders, the Office

of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is offering training and technical assistance to additional sites. An innovative strategic planning initiative, the Comprehensive Strategy is

aimed at reducing juvenile delinquency, improving juvenile justice systems, and identifying and controlling the small population

of serious, violent, and chronic juvenile offenders. 

In the past, OJJDP selected sites to receive Comprehensive

Strategy training and technical assistance through a competitive

application process. As a result of growing requests from the

field and increased resources available to the initiative, OJJDP

has now opened up the program to other States and communities

that wish to receive training and technical assistance and participate in the strategic planning process. 

Background

OJJDP launched a national training and technical assistance initiative for the Comprehensive Strategy in 1995, with the publication of its Guide for Implementing the Comprehensive Strategy

for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders.1 In 1996, in

partnership with Developmental Research and Programs, Inc.

(DRP), of Seattle, WA, and the National Council on Crime and

Delinquency (NCCD), of San Francisco, CA, OJJDP began intensive Comprehensive Strategy training and technical assistance

in three pilot sites: Duval County, FL; Lee County, FL; and San

Diego County, CA. OJJDP expanded the initiative in 1997 by selecting five States—Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Rhode Island, and

Texas—through a competitive process to receive the intensive

training and technical assistance. Using the same competitive

May 2001 #18

1 Howell, J.C., ed. 1995. Guide for Implementing the Comprehensive Strategy for

Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders. Summary. Washington, DC:

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice

and Delinquency Prevention.
PRESORTED STANDARD

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PERMIT NO. G–91

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U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

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Washington, DC 20531

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Penalty for Private Use $300

an inventory of available resources for addressing juvenile problems, a process that provides a detailed analysis of existing gaps

in resources, services, and programs. The assessment phase also

provides communities with the information and data they need to

effectively coordinate prevention services with the juvenile justice

system’s response to delinquent behavior.

The plan identifies and systematically addresses prioritized community risk factors through the establishment of a complete range

of prevention and early intervention services and graduated sanctions programs for juvenile offenders. The strategic planning

framework enables communities to develop new programs and

enhance existing services to ensure that these efforts are based on

research and focused on outcomes and that they address risks

while promoting the social development of all youth. Forty-two

local comprehensive strategic plans have been completed since

OJJDP’s training and technical assistance initiative began in 1995. 

The Comprehensive Strategy’s planning process requires a significant time commitment from participants; however, as reflected by

a variety of outcomes, participating communities benefit from the

intensive training and technical assistance. Many local communities report that the planning process has enhanced coordination

between various agencies and service providers, thus reducing

duplication of services. Improved communication also has led to a

better understanding of the prevention services and sanctions

options for juveniles. Communities have used momentum gained

during the planning process to reallocate resources to support

effective programs during the implementation phase and to

encourage and promote greater accountability for agencies providing services for children and families. Additionally, several

communities have successfully accessed local, State, and Federal

funds to support activities identified in their plans.

In working with existing Comprehensive Strategy sites, OJJDP

has learned valuable lessons about effective development and

implementation of strategic planning efforts. These include understanding the importance of gaining key leadership, agency, and

community support; maximizing existing resources and systems;

marketing the effort; and developing ways to improve the training

and technical assistance components of the initiative. OJJDP also

has learned that many communities are interested in receiving

assistance to strengthen their implementation of a seamless

continuum of services for youth and families.

For Further Information

To access information on Comprehensive Strategy training and

technical assistance, State, tribal, and local agencies, courts, and

governmental departments should contact:

State and Tribal Assistance Division

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

810 7th Street NW.

Washington, DC 20531

202–307–5924

Findings and experiences of the three pilot sites are described in

the OJJDP Bulletin Comprehensive Strategy: Lessons Learned

From the Pilot Sites (September 2000, NCJ 178258). To obtain a

copy of this Bulletin or other OJJDP publications, contact:

Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse

800–638–8736

301–519–5600 (fax)

www.puborder.ncjrs.org (Internet) 

To view examples of local Comprehensive Strategy plans, visit

OJJDP’s Web site at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org and click on the

Programs link to the Comprehensive Strategy.

Dennis M. Mondoro is a State Representative in OJJDP’s State and

Tribal Assistance Division. Timothy Wight is the Division’s Compliance

Coordinator, and John A. Tuell is its Deputy Director.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is a component 

of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice

Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice,

and the Office for Victims of Crime.

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