About Iowa's Youth Justice Council (YJC)
The Youth Justice Council is composed of young people between the ages of 16-28 who have lived juvenile justice experience. YJC creates their own priority areas and projects, provides recommendations to the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council, and advances youth engagement efforts within the juvenile justice system in Iowa.
In March of 2021, Iowaβs Juvenile Justice Advisory Council voted to create and resource a subcommittee composed of youth who have directly experienced the juvenile justice system, recognizing the need to partner with those most impacted to create system change. After months of planning and preparation, the Youth Justice Council officially launched in December of 2021.
Council Members
- Abby Phillips, Member, Council Bluffs
- Audi Wodrazka-Espinoza, Member, Sioux City
- Jack Gatkuoth, Vice Chair, Des Moines
- Jaquez Peace, Designer Co-Chair, Dubuque
- Kuol Wor, Designer Co-Chair, Des Moines
- Melvin Gaye, Recruiter, Urbandale
- Monica Malek, Member, Des Moines
- Zoie Simone, Chair, Johnston
YJC Priorities
The Youth Justice Council solicited input from nearly 500 youth through the Talking Wall project. They coupled that information with their own lived expertise to develop their 2025 Action Plan
- Support youth where they are
- Reimagine mental health and health supports for youth in the juvenile justice system
- Enhance the quality of life for youth in juvenile justice
- Prevent youth from entering the juvenile justice system
- Champion needed legislative changes