Emerging Adult Pilot Program

Emerging Adult Pilot Program

“In 2022, Nebraska Probation was selected by a national foundation as one of three innovation sites in the country to work with young people aged 18 to 25, referred to as emerging adults.  Our work focuses on redefining strategies to improve outcomes for this age group as data has shown emerging adults to be the group most likely to reoffend.”

                                                           -Chief Justice Funke, State of the Judiciary Address 2025 

Overview

What is an "Emerging Adult"
An emerging adult refers to individuals in the developmental stage between adolescence and full adulthood, typically ranging from ages 18 to 25 (though some extend the range to the late 20s). This concept, pioneered by developmental psychologist Jeffrey Arnett in 2000, recognizes that this period is a distinct life stage characterized by instability, exploration, transition, and identity formation. With advances in technology and ever-changing norms related to typical adult milestones (such as settling on a career choice, marriage, home ownership, or starting a family), emerging adults have delayed many of these milestones well into their 20’s as compared to past generations. Emerging adults experience both a time of possibilities and optimism, while also facing instability in being able to support themselves financially.  Jeffry Arnett’s research has highlighted that this period is one of many “revisions”—emerging adults may start out with one plan when they begin their independence, but this plan can have multiple revisions throughout their 20’s. He calls this phenomenon “One stage, many paths.”     

Why "Emerging Adults" Need Additional Support
Research has shown that executive functioning in the brain often develops much later than previously believed by neurologists. As a result, individuals who lack structured life experiences essential for typical development may require significantly more time, support, and patience to foster meaningful behavior change. Many maladaptive behaviors exhibited by emerging adults stem, at least in part, from factors such as unstable home environments, poverty, and untreated behavioral health challenges—all of which can have a profound impact on brain development and overall growth. Emerging adults are also nationally over-represented in the criminal justice system and have the highest failure rates of any similarly sized age co-hort.  Because this population is disproportionately failing within criminal justice interventions, stakeholders agree that it is time for jurisdictions to adopt new practices.

What is Nebraska Probation’s Emerging Adult Project?

Through a grant with the Annie E. Casey foundation and Columbia University’s Emerging Adult Justice Lab, Nebraska Probation was selected to pilot the integration of the Emerging Adult Developmental Framework into the case management practices of adult probation officers who work with emerging adults assessed at a high risk to recidivate. This framework will provide officers a better understanding of where individuals are in their healthy transition into adult roles and responsibilities. Similar to assessing basic needs through Maslow’ hierarchy of needs, the Emerging Adult Developmental Framework can help officers identify ways to support emerging adults in pursuing their educational and career goals, increase their opportunities to the contribute positively to their community, and strengthen executive decision making to help emerging adults desist from criminal activity.  Because this is a pilot initiative, Nebraska is testing this strategy in Omaha, Grand Island, and Kearney prior to looking to expand statewide.

In September, Nebraska Probation hosted a two-day training event for Emerging Adult Officers, featuring national experts Lael Chester (Director of Emerging Adult Justice Project, Columbia University), Steve Gross (Playmakers Association), and Elijah Norris Holliday (Project Restore Minnesota). Local experts Dr. Kenneth Zoucha and Doris Moore also provided presentations to support officers’ knowledge of brain development and cultural competency with emerging adults.

Nebraska Probation also collaborated with RISE Prison Re-Entry, a local non-profit organization in Omaha, to engage emerging adult voice into the project through hosting focus groups and pro-social events to provide feedback around their experience on probation and gaps that may exist in the services offered.

Emerging Adult Core Strategies

Specialized officers selected to participate in the project completed training around five core strategies:

  • The Emerging Adult Developmental Framework – Creating opportunities for emerging adults to experience safety and belonging, and have a sense of their own identify, competency, and ability to contribute to their families and communities.
  • Brain Development – Providing habilitative skill practice for emerging adults to exercise executive decision making, especially during high-stress or high-reward interactions in their environment.
  • Trauma Informed Practices – Prioritizing officers’ ability to discern root causes of the emerging adults’ justice involvement and explore ways they might be able to heal from past trauma.
  • Promote Identity Development – Partnering with community organizations that can help support and sustain an emerging adult’s pursuit of establishing their own set of values and beliefs.
  • Individualized Case Management Approaches – Utilizing a “one size fits one” approach to each emerging adult. Officers will individualize case planning based on the individual’s strengths, responsivity needs, and through building up their social infrastructure.

Measuring Success

Nebraska Probation will monitor the discharge outcomes and recidivism of Emerging Adults in the pilot program.  It is our goal to see a reduction in unsatisfactory discharges and revocations, and in increase in successful discharges and early releases from probation. We also hope to see progress with the Developmental Framework so that participants feel supported in taking on adult responsibilities and roles.

Recent News about the Emerging Adult Probation Project

National Information

For additional information contact:

Eric Maly 
Director of Adult Services 
521 South 14th Street, Suite 500
Lincoln, NE 68508
Cell: 402-326-6413 
eric.maly@nejudicial.gov