JDAI Site Updates
JDAI and Coalition for Juvenile Justice Release Practice Guide
Detention reform was a major highlight of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice’s (CJJ) annual spring conference, Investing in Our Children: Emerging Reforms in Juvenile Justice. The national association of governor-appointed State Advisory Groups (SAG) works in partnership with JDAI to improve juvenile detention policy and practice around the country. To advance these common goals, a JDAI practice guide was unveiled at the CJJ conference: "State Level Detention Reform --A Practice Guide for State Advisory Groups."
The practice guide describes why SAGs should prioritize reform and improve juvenile detention policy and practice. Reducing reliance on secure detention using JDAI practices supports the central mission of SAGs in meeting the core requirements of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act; garners substantial long-term savings and allows for more effective use of public dollars; and vastly improves court services and produces better outcomes for court-involved children, youth, and families, while also enhancing public safety.
The guide is specifically aimed at SAG members and staff, and showcases examples of SAG leadership in key states that have advanced JDAI principles and policy. Including detention reform as a priority area in their three-year plan, SAGs are dedicating federal funds for detention reform. And by playing a convening role, SAGs have become central to the JDAI collaborative process.
"JDAI is a powerful vehicle for SAGs to use to motivate state and local jurisdictions to rethink and retool the way in which youth are processed by the juvenile court," says Dave Schmidt, chair of the New Mexico State Advisory Group and national vice-chair of CJJ.
The practice guide describes the many ways that SAGs can generate and lead an effective detention reform initiative. Readers see how a number of counties and states are using JDAI fundamentals to reduce reliance on secure detention, reduce costs and produce better outcomes for court-involved children.
"CJJ is gratified to draw attention to an upsurge in the number, quality and intensity of detention reform initiatives being advanced by SAGs," said Nancy Gannon Hornberger, executive director of CJJ.
"Through their edicated leadership, SAGs are producing quantifiable and sustainable positive outcomes for children and youth in conflict with the law," Gannon Hornberger added.
To obtain a copy of the guide
Federal Allocations for Detention Reform
By using a combination of federal Title II, Title V and JABG funds, SAGs have dedicated nearly $11 million to JDAI detention reform initiatives between 2001 and 2007. In a growing number of cases, federal funding to stimulate JDAI is being replenished with state funds. Below are specific examples of SAGs’ federal allocations toward detention reform:
- District of Columbia $85,910
- Illinois $2,500,000
- Louisiana $71,416
- Massachusetts $110,000
- Minnesota $805,000
- Nebraska $343,521
- New Hampshire $57,000
- New Jersey $525,000
- New Mexico $1,500,000
- North Dakota $3,570,000
- Oregon $119,700
- Tennessee $156,000
- Virginia $653,000
- Washington $370,000
- Total $10,866,547
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