Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative

To make the juvenile justice system better, many different groups must work together as a team. Because of this, every JDAI location starts by building a leadership team. They also create a plan for how they will make decisions together. This team is made up of experts from all over the state and people from the community who care about the work.

• guide the reform process
• analyze problems and recommend solutions
• design changes to policies, practices, and programs
• track the impact

JDAI sites should also work on detention reform, including addressing racial and ethnic disparities. To start this work, the county can pass an official rule. Or the team members can all sign a written agreement that explains how they will work together.

Examples of this strategy in action

• Create a local steering committee.
• Hold regular meetings.
• Hire a JDAI coordinator.
• Create partnerships with law enforcement, schools, mental health providers, and community-based organizations.

JDAI leaders makes decisions by looking at real facts and numbers. The data collected helps provide information on who is being detained and why, and to monitor the impacts of policies and practices.

Examples of this strategy in action

• Start a local team to look at numbers and facts.
• Check data reports every few months and once a year to see how you are doing.
• Double-check the facts to make sure the information you collect is correct.
• Teach staff how to type new information into the system the right way.
• Study how to use the information so you can make better decisions for youth.
• Update the computer systems where you keep all your data.

We want to make sure every young person has the same chance to succeed, no matter the color of their skin.

Making things fair for all races and ethnic groups is the hardest part of fixing our juvenile justice system. To make real, lasting change, we need leaders who are committed to the work. We also need to keep checking our rules and programs to make sure they are helping everyone equally.

Every time we make a big decision, we should ask: "How does this affect different groups of people?" We must also look at the data we collect and break the numbers down by race/ethnicity. This helps us see exactly where the system is working and where it needs to be fairer.

Examples of this strategy in action

• Check for racial impact: Before you start any new rule or program, research how it might affect people of different races.
• Take bias training: Classes that help teach you about "hidden" unfair thoughts we might not even know we have.
• Create a response guide: Build a clear chart (a "grid") so that probation counselors respond to youth behavior in a fair and consistent way.
• Build new options: Create more programs that give youth a way to learn and grow outside of a locked facility.
• Break down the data: When you look at your numbers, separate them by race and ethnicity to make sure the system is working fairly for everyone.

When deciding who should go to detention, we have to look at the facts. JDAI programs use a special checklist called a 'Risk Screening Tool.' This tool uses a fair scoring system to see which youth can safely stay at home with their families while they wait for their court date. By using this tool, we make sure we only use detention when it is truly necessary, while letting other youth remain in the community.

Examples of this strategy in action

• Work together to create and use a fair checklist for deciding who needs to go to detention.
• Start "diversion" programs that help youth fix their mistakes without having to go to court.
• Create a crisis team to help youth and families during an emergency.
• Update the rules for how police give out tickets or court notices.
• Change police manuals to make sure the rules for juvenile cases are up to date.
• Track and check "overrides" to see why a person might have changed the score on a youth's risk test.

It is important to create programs that offer a safe alternative to locked detention. These programs give youth the support, structure, and rules they need to stay out of trouble. These programs are called Alternatives to Detention and they only target youth who would otherwise be detained. They allow kids to stay in their community while still being held accountable for their actions.

These programs can include:

• Electronic Home Monitoring: Using a GPS or ankle bracelet so a young person can stay at home while ensuring they are where they are supposed to be.
• Community Monitoring: Assigning a staff member to check in on the youth at home, school, or work to help them stay on track.
• Day or Evening Reporting Centers: A safe place where youth go during the day or after school to get help with homework, learn new skills, and stay busy.
• Temporary Housing: Providing a safe place to stay for youth who cannot go back to their own homes right away.

The most effective juvenile justice systems offer a wide range of programs. These programs match each child's specific situation while making sure they can stay safely in their own community.

Examples of this strategy in action

• Curfew Programs: Making sure youth are safe at home by a certain time each night.
• Reporting Centers: Places where youth check in during the day, evening, or weekends to stay on track.
• Shelter Care: Providing a safe, temporary place to stay for youth who cannot be at home.
• Community Service: Giving youth a way to give back to their neighborhood through helpful work.
• Electronic Home Monitoring: Using a GPS or ankle bracelet so a young person can stay home instead of in a locked facility.
• Domestic Violence Diversion: Special programs that help families resolve thin-home conflicts without going through a formal court case.

Updating how the juvenile court works can help cases move faster. By making the process simpler, we can avoid long waits for youth and their families. Case processing reforms are introduced to increase the speed of cases through the system. 

These changes help in many ways: 

• They shorten the time youth spend in locked facilities.
• They open up more spots in community programs.
• They make sure help reaches youth quickly and at the right time.

Whether a youth is in detention or in a community program (ATD), their case should move just as fast. Community programs are meant to be short-term. The longer a youth is in a program waiting for court, the more likely they are to break a rule. This can lead to them being sent to locked detention or making their case take even longer.

Examples of this strategy in action

• Study the process: Look at how cases move to find where they get stuck.
• Review delays: Check why court dates keep getting pushed back (continuances).
• Set faster deadlines: Make sure paperwork is filed sooner.
• Shorten the wait: Reduce the number of days between court hearings.
• Make testing a priority: Get youth their required tests or assessments faster so the case can move forward.

Some youth stay in detention when they don't really need to be there. These youth are often referred to as “Special Detention Cases”. By looking at the facts, we found that most of these "unnecessary stays" happen for three reasons:

• Warrants: A youth is picked up because they missed a court date.
• Probation Violations: A youth broke a minor rule, like missing a meeting or breaking curfew.
• Waiting for a Placement: A youth is just waiting for a spot to open up in a program or a new home.

If we focus on fixing these specific cases, we can quickly and safely lower the number of kids in locked detention.

Examples of this strategy in action

• Two-Step Warrant Process: Before a judge orders a youth to be picked up for a minor issue, try other ways to get them to court first.
• Probation Response Guide: A clear chart that helps probation counselors give fair and consistent consequences or rewards for a youth's behavior.
• Updating Probation Rules: Changing the rules to make sure they are fair and help the youth succeed rather than just focusing on punishment.
• Court Reminder Program: Sending phone calls or texts to remind families and youth about their upcoming court dates so they don't miss them.
• Community Coaches: Pairing youth with a mentor or coach from their own neighborhood to help them stay on track.
• Canceling Warrants (Quashing): Giving judges the power to "clear" or cancel a warrant if the youth shows up to fix the problem.
• Making a Plan for the Future: Working with the youth and family to create a step-by-step plan for what happens after the judge makes a final decision.

Since it started, JDAI has worked to ensure that juvenile detention centers are safe and treat all youth fairly. In 2004, JDAI created a list of rules for these facilities, referred to as the Juvenile Detention Facility Assessment, it was most recently updated in 2014. 

 For years, leaders and community members have used these rules to make detention centers safer and better for everyone.  This helps them stay up-to-date with the best ways to help youth. We encourage every site to do a "Self-Check" every two or three years. This makes sure they are always improving and following the highest standards.

Examples of this strategy in action

• Staff Training: Teaching workers the best ways to keep youth safe and how to handle difficult situations calmly.
• Classification Systems: Using a fair process to decide which housing area is the safest and best fit for each young person.
• Population Reductions: Lowering the number of youth in detention so the building isn't crowded and staff can meet every youth’s needs.
• Statewide Facility Standards: Making sure every detention center in the state follows the same high-quality rules for safety and care.
• JDAI Facility Standards: Following a national model to make sure our centers are some of the best and fairest in the country.