FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2019

PCCD Director Pennington Awarded Tony Gobar Outstanding Juvenile Justice Specialist Award  

Harrisburg, PA. — The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) is proud to announce that PCCD's Director of the Office of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Programs, Michael Pennington, recently received the Tony Gobar Outstanding Juvenile Justice Specialist Award by the Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ), which was presented to him during the CJJ's National Conference in Washington, D.C. on June 20, 2019.

The CJJ works closely with the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to improve juvenile justice policy and practice at the national level.  The Tony Gobar Award is intended to recognize a state Juvenile Justice Specialist who has exemplified excellence in service to others, has been dedicated and committed to improving the juvenile justice system, and has demonstrated compassion and concern for youth and their advocates.

In his remarks, Pennington highlighted three key initiatives of Pennsylvania's juvenile justice system: the creation of the Resource Center for Evidence-based Prevention and Intervention Programs and Practices (EPISCenter) to help communities with risk-focused prevention planning, to implement evidence-based programs with fidelity and to support the improvement of local innovative programs; the adoption of the Juvenile Justice System Enhancement Strategy, which is a commitment to use evidence-based practices at every stage of the juvenile justice system to achieve our balanced and restorative justice mission; and the investment into the development of the Pennsylvania Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Youth/Law Enforcement Corporation, which is focused on bridging gaps and building relationships between youth and law enforcement through dialogue as a way to reduce the number of volatile interactions between youth, to decrease arrests of minority youth, and to diminish the risk of injuries to officers and youth.   

"Receiving the Tony Gobar Award is truly an honor," Director Pennington stated.  "It is very humbling to add my name on this award alongside so many outstanding juvenile justice specialists who I have gotten to know and call friends."

Our Mission is to enhance the quality, coordination and planning within the criminal and juvenile justice systems, to facilitate the delivery of services to victims of crime, and to increase the safety of our communities.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Kirsten Kenyon, (717) 265-8505