Core Principles for Reducing Recidivism and Improving Other Outcomes for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System
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CORE PRINCIPLES FOR REDUCING RECIDIVISM AND IMPROVING OTHER OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM Supported by Sponsored by and with guidance from Core Principles for Reducing Recidivism and Improving Other Outcomes for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System Elizabeth Seigle, MSW Nastassia Walsh, MA Josh Weber, MPA Supported by Sponsored by and with guidance from The Council of State Governments Justice Center prepared this paper with support from, and in partnership with, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of Justice under grant number 2012-CZ-BX-K071. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice is also a sponsor of and provided guidance on the content of the paper. The opinions and findings in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (MacArthur Foundation), the U.S. Department of Justice, or the members of the Council of State Governments. The MacArthur Foundation and BJA reserve the right to reproduce, publish, translate, or otherwise to use and to authorize others to use all or any part of the copyrighted material in this publication. OJJDP is authorized to use all or any part of the copyrighted material in this publication as well. Websites and resources referenced in this publication provided useful information at the time of this writing. The authors do not necessarily endorse the information of the sponsoring organizations or other materials from these sources. About the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation: The MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation’s largest independent foundations. Through the support it provides, the MacArthur Foundation fosters the development of knowledge, nurtures individual creativity, strengthens institutions, helps improve public policy, and provides information to the public, primarily through support for public interest media. The MacArthur Foundation works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how technology is affecting children and society. Additional information is available at www.macfound.org/ or modelsforchange.net. About the Bureau of Justice Assistance: The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, supports law enforcement, courts, corrections, treatment, victim services, technology, and prevention initiatives that strengthen the nation’s criminal justice system. BJA provides leadership, services, and funding to America’s communities by emphasizing local control; building relationships in the field; developing collaborations and partnerships; promoting capacity building through planning; streamlining the administration of grants; increasing training and technical assistance; creating accountability of projects; encouraging innovation; and ultimately communicating the value of justice efforts to decision makers at every level. Visit bja.gov for more information. About the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, supports states, local communities, and tribal jurisdictions in their efforts to develop and implement effective programs for juveniles. OJJDP strives to strengthen the juvenile justice system’s efforts to protect public safety, hold offenders accountable, and provide services that address the needs of youth and their families. OJJDP sponsors research, program, and training initiatives; develops priorities and goals and sets policies to guide federal juvenile justice issues; disseminates information about juvenile justice issues; and awards funds to states to support local programming. For more information, see www.ojjdp.gov/. About the Council of State Governments Justice Center: The Council of State Governments Justice Center (CSG Justice Center) is a national nonprofit organization that serves policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels from all branches of government. It provides practical, nonpartisan advice and evidence-based, consensus-driven strategies to increase public safety and strengthen communities. For more about the CSG Justice Center, see csgjusticecenter.org. Council of State Governments Justice Center, New York, 10005 © 2014 by the Council of State Governments Justice Center All rights reserved. Cover design by Mina Bellomy. Interior design and production by Carrie Cook. Suggested citation: Elizabeth Seigle, Nastassia Walsh, and Josh Weber, Core Principles for Reducing Recidivism and Improving Other Outcomes for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System (New York: Council of State Governments Justice Center, 2014) ii I CONTENTS Acknowledgments v Introduction 1 Part One: Policies and Practices That Reduce Recidivism and Improve Other Youth Outcomes 7 Principle 1: Base supervision, service, and resource-allocation decisions on the results of validated risk and needs assessments. 7 • Recommendation A: Minimize juvenile justice system supervision and services for youth who are at a low risk of reoffending. 9 • Recommendation B: Maximize the impact and value of system resources by prioritizing services for youth most likely to reoffend and by minimizing the use of confinement. 10 • Recommendation C: Use validated assessments to identify the primary causes of a youth’s delinquent behaviors and focus system interventions and resources on addressing these causes. 12 • Recommendation D: Use specialized, validated screenings and assessments to identify youth with mental health and substance use treatment needs and match them to services, minimizing juvenile justice intervention when appropriate. 14 Principle 2: Adopt and effectively implement programs and services demonstrated to reduce recidivism and improve other youth outcomes, and use data to evaluate system performance and direct system improvements. 16 • Recommendation A: Eliminate the use of programs and practices that do not reduce recidivism or improve other key youth outcomes. 17 • Recommendation B: Support and fund services shown to reduce recidivism and improve other youth outcomes. 18 • Recommendation C: Evaluate recidivism and other youth outcomes, and use this data to guide policy, practice, and resource allocation. 21 CONTENTS I iii Principle 3: Employ a coordinated approach across service systems to address youth’s needs. 24 • Recommendation A: Partner the juvenile justice system with the other key service systems in which youth are or should be involved in order to assess and effectively address their needs. 25 Principle 4: Tailor system policies, programs, and supervision to reflect the distinct developmental needs of adolescents. 34 • Recommendation A: Engage families and other supportive adults in major system decisions and processes. 35 • Recommendation B: Employ a developmentally appropriate approach to system supervision by focusing resources on promoting positive behavior change and using a graduated response to violations. 36 • Recommendation C: Hold youth accountable for their actions in ways that address the harm caused to victims and communities and that support positive behavior change. 39 • Recommendation D: Promote youth’s respect for and compliance with the law by engaging them in system decisions and processes and by addressing system bias and the disparate treatment of youth of color and other groups that are disproportionately represented in the juvenile justice system. 40 Part Two: Key Implementation Strategies, Structures, and Supports 43 Principle 1: Base supervision, service, and resource-allocation decisions on the results of validated risk and needs assessments. 44 Principle 2: Adopt and effectively implement programs and services demonstrated to reduce recidivism and improve other youth outcomes, and use data to evaluate system performance and direct system improvements. 54 Principle 3: Employ a coordinated approach across service systems to address youth’s needs. 62 Principle 4: Tailor system policies, programs, and supervision to reflect the distinct developmental needs of adolescents. 68 Conclusion 77 Endnotes 79 iv I CORE PRINCIPLES FOR REDUCING RECIDIVISM AND IMPROVING OTHER OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ACKNOWLEDGMENTS his paper is the result of a collaborative effort involving juvenile justice experts, practitioners, and T advocates from across the country. It draws on an extensive review of the literature and related research, observations from the field, feedback from national experts, several multidisciplinary forums and advisory group discussions, and a rigorous review process. Although the individuals involved in every aspect of the project are too numerous to thank, the authors hope they see their efforts reflected in this paper. This report could not have been developed without the esteemed expertise and contributions of Shay Bilchik, Dr. Mark Lipsey, Ned Loughran, Dr. Brian Lovins, and Dr. Gina Vincent. Special thanks to Carrie Rae Boatman and the staff at the Annie E. Casey Foundation for their careful review and insight into the draft. This report would also not have been possible without the support and leadership of Administrator Robert Listenbee, Jr., Kellie Dressler and the staff at the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. CSG Justice Center staff also met with several state and local juvenile justice