Youth Justice

The Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth is the state advisory group responsible for implementing the provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act in Tennessee.

The four core requirements of the act are to:

1. Deinstitutionalize status offenders;
2. Remove children from adult jails;
3. Separate children from adult offenders; and
4. Reduce racial and ethnic disparities (R/ED) within the youth justice system.

 To assure compliance with these requirements, TCCY conducts periodic on-site monitoring of all jails and detention facilities in Tennessee.

TCCY also performs on-site monitoring of programs awarded funds through TCCY and distributes state and federal funds to counties and community programs to prevent delinquency or improve services for children involved with juvenile courts.

TCCY oversees the statewide and local racial and ethnic disparities task forces, which work with local communities to address the overrepresentation of minorities at all applicable points of contact within the youth justice system. Also, in collaboration with other state agencies, the courts, schools and community-based organizations, TCCY provides training and technical assistance on grant applications and compliance with the JJDP act.

Until July 2012, TCCY annually evaluated a representative sample of all children in state custody through the CPORT/QSR Program. A report has been produced identifying similarities between children in custody because they were adjudicated delinquent and those found to be neglected and abused.

A list of Juvenile Detention Centers, Temporary Holding Facilities and Youth Development Centers is also available.