Children's Justice Act Task Force

The Task Force must include at least 1 of each the following voting member (CAPTA members): 

• Law enforcement representative: up to 2 seats 
• Criminal court judge: up to 2 seats
• Civil court judge: up to 2 seats
• Prosecuting attorney: up to 2 seats
• Defense attorney: up to 2 seats
• Attorney for children: up to 2 seats
• Guardian ad litem (i.e. court-appointed special advocate representative): up to 2 seats
• Health professional: up to 2 seats
• Mental health professional: up to 2 seats
• Child protective service agency representative: up to 2 seats
• Individual experienced working with children with disabilities: up to 2 seats
• Individual experienced working with homeless children and youths: up to 2 seats
• Parent/representative of a parent group: up to 2 seats
• Foster care adult survivor: up to 2 seats

In addition, the department may make direct appointments of members as follows:

• Ombudsperson(s) for Families (OBFF) representative: 1 seat per office
• Ombudsperson for American Indian Families (OAIF): 1 seat
• Minnesota Children’s Justice Initiative representative: 1 seat
• Minnesota Children’s Alliance representative: 1 seat

Other individuals may be periodically included in Task Force activities as non-voting ad hoc consultants. Examples include department staff, subject matter experts, and other agency representatives. The department Task Force coordinator is a permanent, non-voting directly appointed member. 

It is important to maintain diverse, statewide representation. 

Children’s Justice Act Task Force member seats carry a term of four years. Members may serve until their successors are appointed. Members whose terms are due to expire may reapply for another four-year term, but they may not serve more than two consecutive terms. There is no lifetime limit to the number of terms an individual may serve.  

The department directly appointed members may be reappointed for as long as they hold the position for which they were originally appointed if they are fulfilling all responsibilities of membership. 

The application process includes an application and interview. New task force members must also complete orientation training provided by the department.

For more information about vacancies and members, visit the Secretary of State Boards and Commissions

Each May, the department must submit a report and application to the Children’s Bureau to ensure ongoing compliance, operation and funding of the Task Force. In addition to the annual report and application, the department must also submit an assessment report every three years to the Children’s Bureau, documenting the process by which the Task Force determined their work plan for the upcoming three-year period. 

Find answers to questions (PDF) about CJA Task Force member duties, representation, application and selection process and more.