Recent Updates
Please submit the online nomination form by June 30, 2026, nominating a young person who:
- Is between 16 and 28 years old
- Had prior contact with the juvenile justice system
- Has made great strides, despite previous contact with the juvenile justice system in overcoming obstacles to improve their life and their community.
Three awards were made to agencies in Milwaukee, Chippewa, and Sawyer Counties for the FY2023 Positive Youth Development Grant Program. Two awards were made to agencies in Milwaukee County for the FY2022 Youth Justice System Improvement Grant Program. All agency awards are listed in the Initiatives By County page.
The Governor's Juvenile Justice Commission approved two statements opposing life sentences without opportunity for parole for youthful offenders.
The final report on the Youth Outreach Project conducted by the Youth Voice Commission in 2025 is published and available to read and share.
All meetings of the Governor's Juvenile Justice Commission and its subcommittees for 2026 are scheduled and posted on the Events page. Each meeting includes a meeting link for the virtual meeting and will have the agenda attached before the meeting.
Nominations for the 2024 Tony Maggiore Youth Excellence Award are now closed. Check back in November to find out the winner!
Nominations are open for the Tony Maggiore Youth Excellence Award! The deadline is August 30, 2024.
Eligible youth are:
- Between ages 16 to 28 years old.
- Previously under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system.
- Have made great strides, despite previous involvement in the juvenile justice system, in overcoming obstacles to improve their life and their community.
The GJJC supports the provisions of the Governor’s 2023 – 2025 State Budget proposal that address juvenile justice reform. These proposals include important substantive changes that benefit Wisconsin children and are long overdue, including much-needed evidence-based alternatives to incarceration and community-based services.
The GJJC sent a memo to the Wisconsin Legislature in support of Assembly Bill 48 and Senate Bill 55, relating to prosecuting or adjudicating delinquent a person under the age of 18 for committing an act of prostitution. This legislation, also known as Safe Harbor legislation, is designed to steer young victims of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking away from delinquency.
The deadline to apply for the Youth Program Evaluation grant program has been extended to March 3, 2023.