Service Opportunities in Leadership (SOL) student Kate Evans PPS’21 published a report on New Jersey’s juvenile justice system as part of her summer research with Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ). To complete her research, Evans interviewed and surveyed nearly 100 stakeholders from across the state. The report looks at some of the successes of reform efforts through the state’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative and proposes areas of study where challenges remain, including in reporting, racial equity, and funding.
Based in Newark, N.J., ACNJ conducts research and policy analysis about the needs of New Jersey’s children. Evans, originally from Chatham, N.J., spent her summer as an intern with the organization with funding from the SOL program. SOL is an intensive 12-month leadership program for Duke undergraduates that combines academic study, research service learning, mentoring, and leadership training. Students take an introductory course in the spring, followed by a summer experience, and a capstone course in the fall. More information about the program is available here.