Time Lost Isn't the Only Casualty
Slow case processing can lead to higher failure-to-appear rates and packed detention centers while simultaneously undercutting the efficacy of detention alternatives.
This report, the fifth installment in a series devoted to revolutionizing detention programs in America, spotlights how sites can streamline case processing procedures to move juveniles into — and out of — detention more quickly. The end result? A cheaper, more efficient system that everyone — public officials, justice-involved youth and even politicians — can appreciate.
This report shares six tips from Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) sites that undertook — and succeeded in — streamlining case processing in their jurisdictions. Some of their advice? Get the judges on board; don’t tackle this reform effort first; and accurate, trusted data is vital for system change.