Advisory Board of the Center for Juvenile Law and Policy
Javier Stauring
Chaplain Javier Stauring is Co–Director of the Office of Restorative Justice of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Javier started volunteering at Central Juvenile Hall in 1990, where he found his calling to minister to incarcerated youth. In 1995 he was hired by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and since then he has overseen the largest Catholic detention ministry program in the nation. In 2002, Javier became Co-Director of the Office of Restorative Justice. As Co-Director, Javier supervises the Catholic detention ministry programs at all juvenile halls and probation camps in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. His responsibilities also include overseeing three other restorative justice programs: Ministry to Victims of Crime, Ministry to Families of the Incarcerated, and Ministry to the Formerly Incarcerated.
Javier is also Director of Healing Justice Coalition, an interfaith coalition of faith-based organizations in California who are involved in juvenile justice reform.
In 2007 Javier was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to the Juvenile Justice State Commission and contributed to the publication of the “Juvenile Justice Operational Master Plan -- Blueprint for an Outcome Oriented Juvenile Justice System.” In 2003, Javier was honored by Human Rights Watch for his work on behalf of incarcerated young people. He is the only U. S. citizen ever to receive this prestigious international award.
Javier is a member of various juvenile justice advisory groups, including: The SB 81 Community Partner Advisory Group, the Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Subcommittee, and the Los Angeles County Juvenile Re-entry Council. He sits on a number of boards, including: the h Children’s Division of Human Rights Watch and the Center for Juvenile Law and Policy at Loyola Law School.
Javier’s true passion is his ministry of presence with incarcerated youth in LA County. His direct ministry with youth ages 9-18, some who as young as 14 are sentenced to life in prison, incites his advocacy work. He advocates tirelessly for sensible sentencing laws and humane conditions of confinement for youth. Javier credits his wife Irma and three children, Micaela, Ellis and Carolina for giving him the loving strength (and permission) to live his ministry.