December 2009  
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative News
In this Issue

Feature Story

From the Foundation

JDAI Site Updates

JDAI in the News

JDAI Newsmakers

JDAI Resources

Juvenile Justice News

JDAI News provides readers with JDAI site updates and results of policy and practice reforms from 110 JDAI sites in 27 states and the District of Columbia.

This issue, along with all recent print and electronic JDAI newsletters, may be found on the Annie E. Casey Foundation website. To read archived newsletters, click here.

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Feature Story
JDAI conference JDAI Convenes in Nation's Capital
Nearly 500 juvenile detention reformers gathered in Washington, D.C., at the 17th annual JDAI Inter-site Conference.



From the Foundation
Bart Lubow State of the Initiative 2009
Annual speech by Bart Lubow, director of programs for high-risk youth at the Casey Foundation, at the JDAI National Inter-site Conference in Washington, D.C., on August 6, 2009.



JDAI Site Updates
Brian Huff Birmingham Reduces School-based Referrals
An innovative JDAI-influenced policy stemming flow of African Americans referred to juvenile court for minor infractions.

Scott McDonald Santa Cruz Awarded $1 Million Federal Grant
The JDAI Model Site in Santa Cruz County, Calif., was awarded $913,560 as part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

NJ Juvenile Justice Commission Risk Instrument Approaching Reality in New Jersey
An intentional and careful implementation of a statewide tool follows two years of development, study and planning.

Olymphia Perkins JDAI Virginia Adds Two Sites
Virginia Beach and Loudoun County became the ninth and 10th Virginia localities to join JDAI.

New Jersey
 New Jersey Adds JDAI Sites
Passaic County becomes the 12th JDAI site in New Jersey.

Multnomah County Multnomah Youth Avoid Reoffending
New research shows that most young people who are kept out of the formal juvenile justice system do not reoffend.

JDAI Sites Study Finds JDAI Sites Perform Better than Non-JDAI Sites
JDAI sites are more successful than non-JDAI sites in reducing average daily detention population, average length of stay and admissions.

Harris County JDAI Number of Local JDAI Newsletters Multiplies
Local site newsletters are becoming more common communications tools.

Caddo Parish Louisiana Parish Diverts Misdemeanors, Reduces Detention
Caddo Parish, La., is employing various strategies to reduce its average daily population from 47 in 2006 to 25 in 2009.

Indianapolis Backpack Giveaway Indianapolis Facility Hosts Community Fair
The detention center distributed 4,500 free backpacks and school supplies to neighborhood families at fair.

San Francisco San Francisco Awarded Federal Grant
JDAI site to receive a $600,000 Second Chance Act Youth Offender Reentry Initiative Grant.



JDAI in the News
JDAI Featured in Local and National Media
A dozen national and local editorials, news articles and media reports on JDAI activities have appeared in outlets across the country.



JDAI Newsmakers
Bernardine Dohrn Bernardine Dohrn Honored by Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Bernardine Dohrn was recognized by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges for her "Outstanding Contributions to Justice for Children & Families."

Mike Pomi Mike Pomi to Direct Nevada Children’s Organization
After 30 years in government, Mike Pomi retired as Washoe County’s director of juvenile probation services to become the executive director of the Children’s Cabinet.

Brenda Carrera Brenda Carrera Recognized for Contributions to Community
The Reno Gazette-Journal honored Brenda Carrera as a local Latino leader. Carrera is the JDAI coordinator at the Washoe County Department of Juvenile Services.



JDAI Resources
Two Decades of JDAI Two Decades of JDAI: From Demonstration Project to National Standard
Released at the 2009 JDAI Inter-site Conference, this report documents the initiative's progress in reforming juvenile detention practices and its contributions to the larger movement for more comprehensive reforms in juvenile justice nationwide.

Detention Reform Detention Reform: An Effective Approach to Reduce Racial and Ethic Disparities in Juvenile Justice
This Issue Brief, the third in a series, details JDAI’s efforts at reducing the over-representation of minorities in detention.



Juvenile Justice News
Statement of New Coalition of Juvenile Justice National Chair
JDAI invites David R. Schmidt to share position regarding detention reform as it relates to the goals of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice.

Longitudinal Study Finds Detention Causes Criminal Behavior
Study shows that juvenile delinquents were seven times more likely to commit criminal acts as adults than youth who never entered the juvenile justice system.

High School Dropouts Cost California More Than $1 Billion
Study finds that high school dropouts, who are more likely to commit crimes than their peers with diplomas, add $1.1 billion annually to California’s juvenile justice costs.

Please let us know if this newsletter is helpful to you and how it might be improved to meet your needs. Contact JDAInews@aecf.org with questions or suggestions. Thanks!
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