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Models for Change: Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice
February 20, 2014
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NACo’s Work with Models for Change
For more information about NACo’s Criminal Justice Programs and to view the recorded webinar, please visit:
http://www.naco.org/justice.
Strategic partnership designed to:
• Build county leadership capacity, expertise, and commitment for juvenile justice reform across the country
• Promote model programs for juvenile justice reform by providing thought leadership, education, technical assistance, and peer networking opportunities to county officials and staff
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Today’s Speakers: Soledad McGrath Program Officer, Justice Reform MacArthur Foundation Chicago, Ill. Dr. Elizabeth Cauffman Professor of Psychology & Social Behavior, Education and Law University of California, Irvine Mary Gaspari
Intake Supervisor Chester County, Pa.
Models for Change
Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice
One-size-fits-all policies
do not work
Reform Areas
• Aftercare • Community-based alternatives • Evidence-based practices • Juvenile indigent defense • Mental health • Racial and ethnic fairness • Right-sizing jurisdiction
Innovate Locally. Diffuse Nationally..
C O R E S T A T E S
A C T I O N N E T W O R K S
Models for Change: Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice
Kids are different from adults
Landmark SCOTUS Decisions Roper v. Simmons (2005)
– Abolishing the imposition of the death penalty for offenses committed by youth
Graham v. Florida (2010)
– Abolishing life without parole sentences on youth convicted of non-homicide crimes
J.D.B. v. North Carolina (2011)
– Holding that age is a relevant factor in determining whether a youth is in custody for purposes of Miranda warnings
Miller v. Alabama (2012)
– Abolishing mandatory life without parole sentences for youth convicted of homicide offenses
Reform Still Matters
Responding to mental health
needs
Coordinated systems of care Interventions
for youth charged with
status offenses
Stronger legal defense
for indigent youth
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Counties have the power to create positive outcomes for kids
and communities
Bring Reform to Your Community
Learn More: www.modelsforchange.net www.modelsforchange.net/resourcecenters
Diversion Project 2010-2012
In Pennsylvania, avoiding an adjudication of delinquency includes dispositions of: ◦ Consent Decree ◦ Informal Probation ◦ Warn/Counsel/Close
Youths are still required to make amends to victims and communities and remain crime free.
Long-term consequences to a youth due to an adjudication of delinquency ◦ Lower acceptance rates at venues of higher
education (colleges, technical schools, etc.) ◦ Denial of employment opportunities ◦ Effects on military career
Research on effects of out-of-home placement
Long-term consequences to the community ◦ Slow the track to adult prison ◦ Reduce costs to taxpayers ◦ Help young people become more productive citizens with a bright future ◦ Be tough AND smart on crime
PA Juvenile Court Rules adopted in 2005 – the Juvenile Probation Department must notify the Commonwealth’s Attorney of disposition plans ◦ The Commonwealth’s Attorney then has the option
to file a motion objecting to the handling
In Chester County, this led to a significant reduction in the use of all diversion decisions ◦ By 2009, we ranked 66th of 67 counties in PA on
diversion rates.
Working with MfC since 2005 on youth in the juvenile justice system with behavioral health concerns
Participation on the PA Juvenile Justice Mental Health Sub-Committee of the Chief JPO’s Council
Growing understanding of the negative effects of adjudications of delinquency on individuals and the community
2010-2012 Elements of the Grant ◦ 2 Intake Diversion PO’s ◦ Support Staff ◦ Diversion Project Supervisor ◦ Multi-System Implementation Team and sub-
committees ◦ Development of diversion database ◦ Use of standardized screening and assessment
tools ◦ Outreach to families, other systems, community ◦ Training of staff and stakeholders
Screening and assessment ◦ MAYSI II – behavioral health ◦ YLS – risk to re-offend assessment ◦ Other evaluations Forensic Psychiatric Drug & Alcohol ◦ Screenings and assessments are used to assist PO
recommendations, not to replace professional judgment
Youth are supervised according to their individual risk to re-offend.
The team assists youth to ◦ Make amends to victims and the community ◦ Develop or improve positive skills ◦ Access services to address any special needs
(mental health and/or substance abuse, anger management, medication management)
Increased use of diversion dispositions – a 100% increase from 14% to 28%
Closer working relationships with justice system stakeholders – DA, Human Services, Community, Families
Improved access to community resources and services, including Evidence-Based Practices
Trainings to improve knowledge of adolescent development in JPO staff and stakeholders
Increased use of data to drive decisions
Reducing the length of supervision Disproportionate Minority Contact Charge-driven decisions Historical DA community safety perspective Closing the diversion-rate/low-risk rate gap Ongoing fidelity to the model
Mary Gaspari Intake Supervisor
Tricia Ushler Intake Juvenile Probation Officer
Jason Akers Community Regional Supervisor
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Question & Answer Session Instructions
• Type your question into the questions box at any time during the presentation, and the moderator will read the question on your behalf during the Q&A session.
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Thank you for participating in NACo’s webinar.
For more information about
NACo’s Criminal Justice programs, visit: http://www.naco.org/justice
For more information about
Models for Change, visit: http://www.modelsforchange.net/
http://www.naco.org/programs/csd/Pages/Models-for-
Change.aspx
With any questions about this webinar, please contact: [email protected]
