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MONROE
TOWNSHIP - The New Jersey Juvenile Justice
Commission (JJC) today held its annual high
school commencement ceremony at the New
Jersey Training School (NJTS) in Monroe
Township. Carolyn Murray, counsel to Attorney
General Paula Dow addressed the graduates.
Troy Vincent, vice president of player development
for the National Football League and former
Philadelphia Eagles defensive back was the
keynote speaker. Veleria N. Lawson, Executive
Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission,
presented 89 graduates with their high school
diplomas or General Equivalency Degrees
(GED) issued by their local school districts
or the State. An additional 75 students
received their diplomas or GEDs over the
course of the year and have since been released
from JJC supervision.
All graduates have met the high school graduation
requirements set forth by the New Jersey
Department of Education. The JJC coordinates
each student’s curricula with his
or her home school to allow the student
to receive a diploma from his or her local
education authority. Students receiving
their diplomas are assigned to the NJTS,
Juvenile Medium Security Facility (JMSF),
the Female Secure and Intake Facility, and
several of the JJC’s residential community
homes, day programs and day reporting centers,
located throughout the State.
“The
New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission has
a challenging job - to turn around the lives
of troubled young people and provide them
with the tools they need to succeed. A high
school diploma is the most important tool
that our young men and women can receive
while they are with the JJC,” said
Executive Director Lawson. “Whether
these graduates choose to continue to pursue
academic studies at the college level, focus
on vocational and technical training, or
begin preparing to enter the job market,
a diploma provides them with a sense of
accomplishment and self-worth that will
help them succeed throughout their lives.”
JJC
Commencement
The
JJC has implemented several educational
reforms, including creating Individual Program
Plans for each student, infusing technology
into the delivery of instruction via distance
learning and on-line instruction, establishing
partnerships with community colleges, businesses
and sister agencies to expand educational
and career opportunities, and aligning career
and vocational offerings to coincide with
occupations in high demand.
Juveniles are placed with the JJC by the
courts. Students are evaluated upon entry
to the JJC and are placed in academic classes
according to their abilities in each area.
The JJC coordinates students’ studies
with sending school districts. For those
returning to school from the JJC, this coordination
often allows students to return to their
home schools at the same place as their
classmates.
Teachers provide state-of-the-art instruction
to students in JJC programs, juvenile county
detention centers, and community-based programs
throughout the state.
In addition to the core curriculum, JJC
students are instructed in gang awareness,
respect and dignity, physical education
and various career & technical education
programs.
For more information on the JJC, please
visit www.njjjc.com.
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