The Annie E. Casey Foundation Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative JDAI

1. The Annie E. Casey FoundationJuvenile Detention Alternatives InitiativeJDAI Council of State Governments May 17, 2009 Rand Young, WA State JDAI Coordinator rand_young@msn.com 509-624-4924

2. Rapid Growth of JDAI Nationally100 jurisdictions - 25 states & District of Columbia WA MT NH MN ● OR MA ID NJ IA CA DE IL NV MD IN VA DC MO NM HI AZ AL GA TX MS LA County site State site

3. JDAI Goals • Reduce Detention for low-risk youth • Develop community-based alternatives to detention • Improve the effectiveness of the juvenile justice system • Reduce racial disparities for youth in Detention • Maintain or improve public safety

4. High - Risk Youth Murder Rape/Sex Offenses Robbery Burglary Weapons charges Assault Physical injury crimes Bomb Threats Low – Risk Youth Minor theft Alcohol violations Minor drug charges Disorderly Conduct Truancy Runaways Probation Violations Many Warrants

5. Reducing Detention is Good Public Policy • Maintains or improves public safety • Cost-effective for taxpayers • Produces better outcomes

6. What we have learned about detaining youth • Reducing detention for low-risk youth has not increased crime • Detention is the most expensive crime reduction strategy • Detention is not particularly effective in reducing crime • Low-risk youth can be negatively influenced by high-risk youth • Detention interrupts school – youth fall further behind and dropout • Detention can pull youth deeper into the criminal justice system • Detained youth are more likely to reoffend than youth not detained

7. Less Detention – No increase in Crime

8. Detention is the most expensive crime reduction strategy Cost Per Day $200 $35

9. Cost Savings/Avoidance - Reduced Liability Seattle, Washington • Reduced detention population from 180 – 90 • Avoided new construction costs • Saved $3.9 - $5.4 million per year over a 20 year period Tacoma, Washington • Reduced detention population from 158 to 65 • Reduced liability by closing an unsafe detention unit • Shifted savings & staff to community-based alternatives Spokane, Washington • Reduced detention population from 65 – 40 • Reduced Liability - eliminated unsafe “double-bunking” • Transferred detention staff to alternative programs

10. Detention is not particularly effective in reducing crime $1.00 invested = $ ____ Crime Reduction Benefit $13.36 $10.82 $7.68 $6.81 $1.98 $1.01 WA State Institute of Public Policy: Recommendations to Improve Cost-Effectiveness in the Juvenile Justice

11. Most Detained Youth are not risks to public safety Felony Assault Robbery Arson Weapons Misdemeanor Shoplifting Drug Possession Alcohol Violations Disorderly Conduct 38.6% 32.3% 29.1% Status Offenses Probation Violations Warrants

12. New Felony New Misdemeanor Court Ordered Detention Truancy, Runaway Abuse & Neglect Probation Violations Warrants

13. JDAI Strategies 1) System-wide Collaboration 2) Reliance on Data 3) Objective Admissions Screening 4) Alternatives to Secure Detention 5) Expedited Case Processing 6) Warrant & Probation Violation Options 7) Reduce Racial Disparities 8) Regular Detention Facility Inspections

14. System-wide Collaboration • Leaders work together to improve juvenile justice • Implement the Eight JDAI strategies

15. Reliance on DataData drives decisions & policy Measure current outcomes & costs • Number low-risk youth detained • Juvenile arrest rates • Cost of Detention Develop plan based on data • Reduce low-risk youth detained • Develop alternative programs • Monitor arrest rates • Reduce costs – redirect to alternatives

16. Objective Admission Criteria Risk Assessment Tool to Detain the Right Youth • Identify & detain high-risk youth • Reduce detaining low-risk youth • Standardize decisions • fairness • consistency

17. Alternatives to Secure Detention • Community Service Work Projects • House Arrest & Electronic Monitoring • Weekend Programs • Day & Evening Reporting Centers • Foster & Shelter Care Programs

18. Expedited Case Processing • Youth learn best with a swift consequence • Improve coordination: Prosecutor, Defense & Probation • Reduce court case continuances • Identify stalled cases & problem solve

19. Probation Violation Options • Consistent sanctions for all youth • Match sanction with the seriousness of violation • Develop immediate informal sanctions • Use Alternative Programs • Make Detention the last resort

20. Warrant Options – Minimize FTAs • Expedite court process • Court Hearing Reminder Calls • In-Person Reminder Contacts • Verify notice of hearing was received

21. Reduce Racial Disparities • Prioritize reducing racial disparities • Measure rates of racial disparities at decision points • Detention • Sentencing • Sanctioning • Transfers to Adult System • Adopt “standardized” methods of decision making • Detention Risk Assessment Tool • Standardize Probation Violation Sanctions

22. Regular Detention Facility Inspections • Annual Self-Inspections • Measure compliance with JDAI Standards • Update policies and make improvements

23. JDAI Technical Assistance • Small grants for travel & coordination • Technical Assistance Providers • Tools, Guides, Publications • jdaihelpdesk.org • Model Site Visits • JDAI National Conferences

24. “The daily detention population in our facility has greatly reduced but without a resultant compromise in community safety. In fact, just the opposite: we have the lowest rates of reoffense that we’ve ever had.” Amy Holmes Hehn Multnomah County District Attorney