PCCD and the EPISCenter Win NCJA Outstanding Criminal Justice Program Award

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and the Evidence-based Prevention and Intervention Support Center at the Pennsylvania State University recently received an award from the National Criminal Justice Association for criminal justice programming.

The annual Outstanding Criminal Justice Program Award for the Northeastern Region was presented to both organizations at the National Forum on Criminal Justice conference held in Breckenridge, Colorado. 

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) partnered with the Evidence-based Prevention and Intervention Support Center at the Pennsylvania State University (EPISCenter) to distribute and facilitate the implementation of evidence-based juvenile-justice programs designed to prevent and address youth violence, delinquency and substance abuse.

The EPISCenter provides communities with free, high-quality technical assistance and training for proven, effective programs that span youth developmental periods and comprise both universal prevention and targeted intervention initiatives.

PCCD Executive Director Linda Rosenberg and Chairman of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Advisory Committee, Jim Anderson, attended the ceremony to accept the award on behalf of the commission. Dr. Stephanie Bradley, the managing director of the EPISCenter, was also on-hand to receive the award.

"A child's formative years help determine the path they take later on in life," Rosenberg said. "That is why delinquency prevention efforts are key to reducing crime in the long run. PCCD's goal is to continue to promote evidence-based programs and facilitate their use by local organizations and providers throughout this commonwealth. We wholeheartedly thank the NCJA for recognizing our joint efforts with the EPISCenter."

The NCJA Outstanding Criminal Justice Program Awards are given out annually to five criminal justice programs as a way to seek out and share successful criminal justice programs that merit recognition for providing effective services to address crime-related issues in their communities. The winning programs are recognized as innovative and can document concrete results. Programs are evaluated in how they can:

• Address an important criminal justice issue;
• Demonstrate collaboration among criminal justice and allied agencies and disciplines;
• Provide quantitative evidence of accomplishing program goals;
• Provide a good example of the use of federal funds to initiate a program that is eventually supported through state and local funds; and
• Can be easily replicated in other jurisdictions.

For more information on the National Criminal Justice Association please visit http://www.ncja.org.  To learn more about the Outstanding Criminal Justice Program awards and view previous winners, visit http://ncja.org/outstanding-criminal-justice-program-awards.

PCCD's mission is to enhance the quality and coordination of criminal and juvenile justice systems, to facilitate the delivery of services to victims of crime, and to increase the safety of our communities.  For more information, visit www.pccd.state.pa.us or call 717-705-0888.

Media contact: Luanne Melia, 717-705-0888

SOURCE Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency