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Project Overview 
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has been utilizing satellite videoconferencing technology since 1993 to, effectively and efficiently, disseminate meaningful and logistical training and information to diverse juvenile justice constituencies across the United States.  The Eastern Kentucky University Training Resource Center was selected in 1995 as an OJJDP grantee to design and deliver its videoconferences.

Satellite videoconferencing is a cost-effective means of delivering consistent training and information to people who live in geographically diverse areas that may limit their access to such information.  A fundamental issue at the core of technology-based training and information delivery is the changing nature of today's professional world.  Limited funds and time, great distances, and other constraints are creating a strong demand for more efficient, expedient ways to disseminate information.

Supported by OJJDP research reports and publications, these satellite broadcasts are similar in quality to a news program or documentary.  In a standard broadcast, the topical research and data is supported by videotape highlights of promising programs.  A live panel of experts is assembled for each broadcast.  These individuals are able to address specific issues and interact with the viewing audience during call-in segments. Broadcasts originate from the studios of EKU and, on occasion, remote locations.

To date, OJJDP and the Juvenile Justice Telecommunications Assistance Project, have designed, developed, and delivered twenty-five (25) videoconferences in real time to an audience in excess of 275,000 viewers. The Project has also utilized the World Wide Web and new video streaming technology to make six conferences available, live, on the Internet.  Furthermore, numerous agencies and organizations have utilized videotaped copies, obtained from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service's Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse, of the broadcasts for their own internal training purposes.

A high point in the project’s history occurred October 15, 1998, when JJTAP, in cooperation with the Safe and Drug Free Schools Program, U.S. Dept. of Education, designed and produced the White House Conference on School Safety: Causes and Prevention of Youth Violence.  The broadcast originated from the East Room of the White House and featured remarks by President and Mrs. Clinton and Vice President and Mrs. Gore.

Aside from videoconferencing design and coordination, the Juvenile Justice Telecommunications Assistance Project provides technical assistance on technology-related issues to other federally-funded projects, develops training videos for the Office, and explores emerging trends in telecommunications that might positively impact OJJDP's training and information dissemination activities.

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