Developmental Framework Project

#DevelopingJustice

The Emerging Adult Justice Project (EAJP), with the support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, has embarked on a project to envision a research-based, transformative developmental framework for working with emerging adults (age 18-25 years) in contact with the criminal legal system. This ambitious project involves a multi-year, research- and site-based project to develop and test the Framework with the goal of profoundly reorienting the justice system’s response to emerging adults.

Brief Overview of the Developmental Framework

Announcement of Innovation Sites: Washington DC, Nebraska and Massachusetts Selected to Implement the Developmental Framework for Emerging Adults

 
 
 

This Project is being rolled out in different phases:

Phase #1 (2021 – 22) Assembling a Steering Committee of experts – researchers, practitioners, advocates, and young people with direct experience – to create a developmental framework grounded in research, on-the-ground practice and community knowledge that adopts a holistic approach: What do young people need to thrive?

Steering Committee members and their affiliations at the time of this phase of the project:

  • Quincy Booth, DC Department of Corrections

  • David Brown, Annie E. Casey Foundation

  • Naoka Carey, EAJP, Justice Lab

  • BJ Casey, Yale University

  • Lael Chester, Columbia EAJP, Justice Lab

  • Mark Courtney, University of Chicago

  • Andrew DeSilva, Strive

  • Felipe Franco, Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiatives, Annie E. Casey Foundation

  • Derrell Frazier, Mental Health Association of Maryland

  • Frankie Guzman, National Center for Youth Law

  • Chet Hewitt, Sierra Health Foundation

  • Marcy Mistrett, The Sentencing Project

  • Kelly Murphy, Child Trends

  • Erika Preuitt, Department of Community Justice, Multnomah County

  • Iliana Pujols, Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance

  • Deborah Rivas-Drake, University of Michigan

  • Vincent Schiraldi, Columbia EAJP, Justice Lab

  • Jaleel Terrell, Prevention Links

Phase #2 (2022-23): Selecting three “Innovation Sites” to implement the Framework.

The EAJP, in partnership with the Casey Foundation, designed a competitive, transparent process to select three jurisdictions interested in “test-driving” the new Developmental Framework at different points in the criminal legal system. The process included an informational webinar, a Request for Interest and an Optional Early Opportunity for Feedback and Frequently Asked Questions.

Members of the Selection Advisory Committee included:

  • Ken Schatz, Vermont Department for Children and Families (Ret.)

  • Derrell M. Frazier, REFORM Alliance

  • Joshua Dohan, International Legal Foundation

  • Frankie Guzman, Frankie Guzman, National Center for Youth Law

  • Mark Courtney, University of Chicago

  • Erika Preuitt, Department of Community Justice, Multnomah County, Oregon

  • Felipe Franco, Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiatives, Annie E. Casey Foundation

At the end of this process, we were honored to announce the following Innovation Sites and their focus areas:

  1. Washington DC – Community Led by the Justice Policy Institute (JPI) in partnership with DC Emerging Adult Justice Action Collaborative and the Thrive Under 25 Coalition (School Justice Project, Free Minds Book Club, etc.). The focus will be on creating resources, services, and opportunities in the community for emerging adults in or exiting the justice system.

  2. Nebraska – Probation/Community Supervision Led by Probation Dept (AOCP) in partnership withRISE Prison Re-Entry Program, Project Restore MNand Multi-Health Systems. Will use the Framework to reshape probation practices to better meet the developmental needs of 18- to 25-year-olds.

  3. Massachusetts (Lowell and Lawrence) – Indigent Defense Led by public defenders at the Committee for Public Counsel Services (Youth Advocacy Division and the Public Defender Division) in partnership with Youth Advocacy Foundation/education advocates and UTEC. Will develop a pilot defense office to seek better legal and life outcomes for emerging adult clients.

Phase #3 (March 2023 on): Launching the Innovation Sites EAJP is supporting the planning, design, and implementation of the new Developmental Framework in each of the Innovation Sites and will capture lessons learned to further develop the Framework and inform and guide the burgeoning field.

For the latest update on the project, please see Brief Overview: Emerging Adult Justice Developmental Framework Innovation Sites (April 2026).

PAINTING

a poem shared at the first in-person convening on the EAJ innovations sites in Washington DC (November 2023)

By Lester

Painter, change the color of my painting
Give it a little bit of color ’cause it’s dark
Put some sky blue so I can have a taste of liberty
Erase these wall that hold me down
And add some wings to me
To fly far away from my captivity
’Cause my daily living is sad and full of darkness
And many rain clouds gather around me
Leaving me wet with pain and cold in my soul
Pain a brilliant sun in my life so I can get dry
Because I’ve been trying to get dry with this cold breeze
But instead of getting dry, I get more cold
Add the word home in my road
And the word family in my future
And I’ll be grateful the rest of my entire life