State Ombudsman Programs

"Ombudsman" is derived from the Swedish word meaning agent or representative. It has come to denote a trusted commissioner or agent who looks after the interests or legal affairs of a particular group. In the United States, public ombudsman offices have been created-through legislative, executive, or judicial authorization-as independent agencies that monitor the delivery of services for certain populations (e.g., children, the elderly, incarcerated adults, university students, government workers). The American Bar Association (ABA) defines "ombudsman" as "a government official who hears and investigates complaints by private citizens against government agencies" (American Bar Association, 1979). Few states have an ombudsman who concentrates solely on juvenile justice issues, but many have ombudsman offices that address issues concerning youth in out-of-home placements (including foster care settings, group homes, and shelters), detained or incarcerated youth, and youth who remain under state supervision after being reunited with their families or reentering the community from out-of-home placement.