Spearheading a national movement to reform detention — a crucial early phase of the juvenile court process — by reducing overreliance on temporary confinement for youth awaiting their court dates.
Begun as a pilot project in five jurisdictions in the 1990s, the Foundation’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) reform model is now being implemented in more than 250 U.S. counties.
Juvenile Justice
<p>Begun as a pilot project in five jurisdictions in the 1990s, the Foundation’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) reform model is <a href="/resources/2014-juvenile-detention-alternatives-initiative-progress-report">now being implemented in more than 250 U.S. counties</a>.</p>
https://www.aecf.org/work/juvenile-justice
Participating JDAI sites have reduced their daily detention populations by 43% since joining the initiative while maintaining or improving public safety.
Juvenile Justice
<p>Participating JDAI sites have <a href="http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-2014JDAIProgressReport-2014.pdf#page=14" target="_blank">reduced their daily detention populations by 43% since joining the initiative</a> while <a href="http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-2014JDAIProgressReport-2014.pdf#page=18" target="_blank">maintaining or improving public safety</a>.</p>
https://www.aecf.org/work/juvenile-justice
In 2009, the New York Times published an editorial lauding JDAI’s “astonishing” results and recommending that the model “deserve[s] to be replicated nationwide.”
Juvenile Justice
<p>In 2009, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/14/opinion/14fri3.html?_r=0" target="_blank" title="New York Times: Locking Up Fewer Children">the <em>New York Times</em> published an editorial lauding JDAI’s “astonishing” results</a> and recommending that the model “deserve[s] to be replicated nationwide.”</p>
https://www.aecf.org/work/juvenile-justice
Promoting reforms to reduce incarceration and other out-of-home placements for delinquent youth.
A ground-breaking study, No Place for Kids: The Case for Reducing Reliance on Juvenile Incarceration, shows that America’s overreliance on youth incarceration is dangerous, ineffective, obsolete, wasteful and unnecessary, while providing no net benefit to public safety. The Foundation updated those findings four years later in Maltreatment of Youth in U.S. Juvenile Corrections Facilities.
Juvenile Justice
<p>A ground-breaking study, <a href="/resources/no-place-for-kids-full-report" title="Report: No Place for Kids (The Case for Reducing Reliance on Juvenile Incarceration)"><em>No Place for Kids: The Case for Reducing Reliance on Juvenile Incarceration</em></a>, shows that America’s overreliance on youth incarceration is dangerous, ineffective, obsolete, wasteful and unnecessary, while providing no net benefit to public safety. The Foundation updated those findings four years later in <a href="/resources/maltreatment-of-youth-in-us-juvenile-corrections-facilities"><em>Maltreatment of Youth in U.S. Juvenile Corrections Facilities</em></a>.</p>
https://www.aecf.org/work/juvenile-justice
We have expanded JDAI to focus on the “deep end” of the juvenile justice system — reducing long-term placements into correctional institutions and other facilities. Casey’s Juvenile Justice Strategies Group is piloting efforts in six local JDAI sites, as well as Georgia, to devise and implement reforms aimed at reducing the number of children removed from home in the delinquency court process.
Juvenile Justice
<p>We have <a href="https://assets.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-isyourjdaisitereadytodiveintothedeepend-2014.pdf" target="_blank">expanded JDAI to focus on the “deep end” of the juvenile justice system</a> — reducing long-term placements into correctional institutions and other facilities. Casey’s <a href="/blog/turning-jdais-focus-to-the-deep-end-of-the-juvenile-justice-system" target="_blank">Juvenile Justice Strategies Group is piloting efforts in six local JDAI sites</a>, as well as <a href="/blog/comprehensive-juvenile-justice-reform-in-georgia" target="_blank">Georgia</a>, to devise and implement reforms aimed at reducing the number of children removed from home in the delinquency court process.</p>
https://www.aecf.org/work/juvenile-justice
Over the past decade, the Foundation has undertaken several intensive projects to help states and localities analyze and reorient their juvenile justice policies, leading to significant shifts away from juvenile incarceration in Alabama, New York City, Washington, D.C., and other jurisdictions.
Juvenile Justice
<p>Over the past decade, the Foundation has undertaken several intensive projects to help states and localities analyze and reorient their juvenile justice policies, leading to significant shifts away from juvenile incarceration in <a href="/blog/alabama-practices-reduce-detention-populations-and-state-commitments">Alabama</a>, <a href="https://assets.aecf.org/m/blogdoc/blog-newyorkcityexperience-deependreform.pdf" target="_blank" title="The New York City Experience">New York City</a>, <a href="http://giving.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/notorious-to-notable-final.pdf" target="_blank">Washington, D.C.</a>, and other jurisdictions.</p>
https://www.aecf.org/work/juvenile-justice
Advancing a key set of principles related to juvenile justice reforms.
Youth should remain at home and be supervised in the community rather than being separated from their families and placed into correctional institutions or other residential facilities when they do not pose a significant risk to public safety.
Juvenile Justice
<p><a href="http://www.jdaihelpdesk.org/deependresearchreports/Bringing%20Youth%20Home%20A%20National%20Movement%20To%20Increase%20Public%20Safety%20Rehabilitate%20Youth%20And%20Save%20Money%20(NJJN%202011).pdf">Youth should remain at home</a> and be supervised in the community rather than being separated from their families and placed into correctional institutions or other residential facilities when they do not pose a significant risk to public safety.</p>
https://www.aecf.org/work/juvenile-justice
Rigorous data collection and careful data analysis are critical to success in juvenile justice reform. Objective data-driven decision tools should guide treatment at all stages of the juvenile court process.
Juvenile Justice
<p>Rigorous <a href="http://www.jdaihelpdesk.org/redutech/Starter%20Kit%2007%20JDAI%20System%20Assessment%20Framework%20-%20Tab%206%202015.pdf#page=16" target="_blank">data collection and careful data analysis</a> are critical to success in juvenile justice reform. <a href="http://www.jdaihelpdesk.org/redutech/Starter%20Kit%2007%20JDAI%20System%20Assessment%20Framework%20-%20Tab%206%202015.pdf#page=18" target="_blank">Objective data-driven decision tools should guide treatment</a> at all stages of the juvenile court process.</p>
https://www.aecf.org/work/juvenile-justice
Racial and ethnic disparities in our nation’s juvenile systems must be addressed. Vigorous efforts to identify and change policies and practices that disadvantage youth of color are vitally important.
Juvenile Justice
<p><a href="http://www.jdaihelpdesk.org/SitePages/reducingracialdisparities.aspx" target="_blank">Racial and ethnic disparities in our nation’s juvenile systems must be addressed</a>. Vigorous efforts to identify and change policies and practices that disadvantage youth of color are vitally important.</p>
https://www.aecf.org/work/juvenile-justice
Systems must engage families and involve them in all aspects of their children’s cases.
Juvenile Justice
<p>Systems must <a href="http://www.justice4families.org/media/Families_Unlocking_FuturesFULLNOEMBARGO.pdf" target="_blank">engage families</a> and involve them in all aspects of their children’s cases.</p>
https://www.aecf.org/work/juvenile-justice
Violence and maltreatment remain widespread in juvenile corrections and detention facilities nationwide. Juvenile corrections agencies have a profound obligation to address these problems and provide safe and humane care to youth in their custody.
Juvenile Justice
<p><a href="/blog/new-report-documents-continuing-rampant-maltreatment-of-incarcerated-youth" title="New Report Documents Continuing Rampant Maltreatment of Youth">Violence and maltreatment</a> remain widespread in juvenile corrections and detention facilities nationwide. Juvenile corrections agencies have a profound obligation to address these problems and <a href="http://www.jdaihelpdesk.org/SitePages/conditionsofconfinement.aspx" target="_blank" title="Conditions of Confinement">provide safe and humane care to youth</a> in their custody.</p>
https://www.aecf.org/work/juvenile-justice