Youth Violence and the Justice System’s Response
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SESSION INFO

Wednesday, August 19, 2026
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Session Type: Workshop
This training draws on three federally collected data sources, the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, the National Juvenile Court Data Archive, and the Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement, to explore national trends in youth violence and the juvenile justice system’s response. The training will examine patterns in youth arrests, juvenile court case processing, and placement in juvenile residential facilities. Current trends will be examined within historical context, particularly comparing youth violence today with the mid-1990s peak. The training will highlight differences in how violent offenses by youth are addressed and will help attendees recognize emerging issues, better understand the communities they serve, and engage with data-driven discussions that broaden perspectives and inform equitable policy and practice.

SESSION PRESENTERS
Sarah Hockenberry
Sr. Research Associate, NCJFCJ


Sarah Hockenberry joined the National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ) in 2008 and serves as the project manager for the National Juvenile Court Data Archive and as a senior researcher for the National Juvenile Justice Data Analysis Program. Sarah is lead or co-author on several widely referenced juvenile justice reports, including the annual Juvenile Court Statistics report as well as the Juveniles in Residential Placement and Juvenile Residential Facility Census bulletins.

Charles Puzzanchera
Sr Research Associate, National Center for Juvenile Justice


Charles (Chaz) Puzzanchera joined the National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ) in 1998. He currently serves as the Project Director of the National Juvenile Justice Data Analysis Program as well as the National Juvenile Court Data Archive Project (Archive). Chaz manages the OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book and is the primary analyst of various national data sets, including the FBI’s Supplementary Homicide Reports and the National Incident Reporting System, court data collected by the National Juvenile Court Data Archive, and the Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement. Chaz is lead or co-author of some of the most widely referenced reports in the field of juvenile justice, including the annual Juvenile Court Statistics report as well as the Youth and the Juvenile Justice System: 2022 National Report.