Judith Jones
Published: 2005
Total Pages: 21
Get eBook
"Ombudsman" is derived from the Swedish word meaning agent or representative. It has come to denote a trusted commissioner or agent who looks after the interests or legal affairs of a particular group. Through their unique access to information and investigative authority, ombudsmen often bring endemic problems within child serving systems to the attention of appropriate decisionmakers. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, OJJDP supports the development and adoption of policies that lead to the establishment of a state ombudsman office for children, youth, and families. This third Bulletin in the series describes the role of an ombudsman and different types of ombudsman programs in several states. In addition to defining the role of an ombudsman and describing ombudsman programs, this Bulletin looks at how Tennessee, Connecticut, and Georgia operate their state ombudsman offices. It also discusses how Kentucky, New Jersey, and Rhode Island have adopted the ombudsman concept using funding from the state and other sources, and provides information on organizational and other resources that may assist individuals and agencies interested in establishing a state ombudsman office for children, youth, and families. OJJDP is presenting a Juvenile Justice Practices Series to provide the field with updated research, promising practices, and tools for a variety of juvenile justice areas. These Bulletins are important resources for a large number of youth serving professionals involved in developing and adopting juvenile justice policies and programs, regardless of their funding sources.