| The Pennsylvania
Juvenile Officers Association (PJOA) was founded on November 17, 1978 by a
dedicated group of Pennsylvania law enforcement officers after attending an
International Juvenile Officers Association conference. Their purpose was to
improve proficiency of law enforcement in the performance of their duties;
to advocate and strive for uniform application of Juvenile Law throughout
the State of Pennsylvania, and to cultivate a spirit of fraternalism and
mutual helpfulness among the members and the people we serve.
When the first meeting
took place at Genetti's Motor Lodge in Hazelton, PA, November of 1978, there
were 30 members of the PJOA. Since this time our organization has grown to
over 400 members covering 30 counties in PA.
The PJOA has been
hosting an annual one week training conference since 1979. During that time
over 1400 juvenile justice professionals have been trained across the state.
Training topics have included preferential sexual offenders, school
violence,
Missing and Exploited Children, child abuse, and protecting children
On Line to name a few.
The PJOA is an
organization dedicated to improving the proficiency of law enforcement in
the performance of their duties relating to juveniles. PJOA also encourages
social, charitable, and educational activities among law enforcement
professionals. The PJOA provides a forum for education and training. In
addition, important and informative contacts are made through networks of
professionals dealing in all aspects of juvenile work. Juvenile advocates,
Juvenile Probation Officers, School Administrators, Educators, Children &
Youth Services Caseworkers and Social Workers all share the common goal of
PJOA in serving and protecting to day's youth.
PJOA is among the
leaders of today in establishing an organization of direct links to various
experts in the juvenile justice field. PJOA also has affiliates with the
Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Juvenile
Court Judges Commission, as well as many regional, county and municipal
agencies in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Past speakers to PJOA
include P A Supreme Court Justice Ron Castille, Former Attorney General of
the United States and Former P A Governor Richard Thornburg, P A Governor
Thomas Ridge, and P A Attorney General Michael Fisher. The PJOA presents The
Father Anthony Mattes Award, the Pennsylvania Juvenile Officer of the Year
Award, as well as a scholarship award to a high school senior who possesses
a commitment to academic excellence, the community, and has outstanding
character and leadership abilities.
Membership is subject to
the approval of the PJOA and is open to all Law Enforcement Officers,
Probation Officers, School Administrators and Educators, Children & Youth
Caseworkers, Social Workers, Counselors, Prosecutors or anyone whose
employment deals with children. |
