By the Numbers

Reality Check

Creating the ideal information system isn’t easy. To set yourself up for success, identify clear reform goals so that you know what data to collect. Then, scrutinize your statistics from the get-go to resolve potential snags early and be ready to call for technical help.

Data in Action: Sacramento

Sacramento County, California, analyzed the date of a referral, intake type and the top alleged offense for each referral annually over a five-year span. This simple but essential planning tool enabled them to gain a clearer sense of who was coming in to their detention system.

Data in Action: Illinois

Cook County, Illinois, gathered the dates that youths were admitted to and then released from detention as well as their reason for confinement. They used this information to create a bed space chart, which shows the detention center’s population count — categorized by offense type — and how many beds each of these groups were occupying over time. This chart is a vital planning tool for reform efforts that focus on reducing the use of detention and rationalizing the admission process.

Supply List Essentials

Sites investing in data-smart planning will need these 4 items: 1. a computer with plenty of memory; 2. a high-quality printer; 3. software for merging and formatting data; 4. software for generating reports.

A Matter of Perspective

Frontline workers are conditioned to look at each case on an individual basis. Data planning done right requires an opposing, bigger-picture viewpoint. This shift in perspective, as you might guess, isn’t always a smooth one for employees to make. But remember: Good data is essential to the planning process.

A Sharper Focus

By using data to answer critical questions, jurisdictions can gain a better understanding of who is in detention and how their current system operates. They can also pinpoint expected outcomes and determine if their results satisfied initial expectations and public safety concerns.