North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
North Carolina Department of Public Safety
2011 Annual Report
Mailing Address:
4212 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4212
Location:
3010 Hammond Business Place
Raleigh, NC 27603
919-733-3388
www.ncdjjdp.org
Division of Juvenile Justice
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, DIVISION OF JUVENILE JUSTICE
4212 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-4212
TELEPHONE: (919) 733-3388
Beverly Eaves Perdue, Governor
Reuben F. Young, Secretary
April 1, 2012
Dear Juvenile Justice Colleagues:
This Annual Report highlights many of the accomplishments resulting from wonderful partnerships we have
across the state. These partnerships include federal, state, law enforcement, judicial, human services, community
advocates, faith and many other relationships. Such partnerships form the bedrock of our state juvenile justice system
and serve as one of our core strategies for building successful programming. We also commit ourselves to attending
to the latest, most rigorous research to help guide all of our services and make the best use of public resources. And
if youth are placed at one of our centers, we are committed to applying evidence-supported principles and practices in
our efforts to teach them positive social behaviors and the skills needed to avoid future criminal behaviors all the while
maintaining the highest levels of public safety.
As the former Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, now the Division of Juvenile Justice
within the consolidated Department of Public Safety, we are very proud of the accomplishments noted in this report.
Juvenile crime rates continue to decline. So are the numbers of youth actually entering our system. And despite the
significant cuts in state and other resources during the past few years, our outcomes continue to be very positive. The
credit for these achievements should be given to our very dedicated employees, contractors, community partners and
other stakeholders. On behalf of Governor Perdue, Secretary Young, and myself, thank you for your interest in North
Carolina’s Division of Juvenile Justice Annual Report.
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 Sincerely,
Linda W. Hayes, Chief Deputy Secretary
Linda W. Hayes
Chief Deputy Secretary
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
Vision, Mission and Goals 				 1
Overview 2 - 5
Statewide Programs 6
Community Programs 7 - 10
Court Services 11 - 13
Reclaiming Futures 14
Facility Operations, Education 						 15 - 19
Top 25 Offenses 20
Conclusion 								 21
2011 Annual Report
Division of Juvenile Justice
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
Vision, Mission and Goals
Vision
By December 2016, the Division of Juvenile Justice will be operating an
integrated, comprehensive juvenile justice system providing exemplary
services to youth and to their families at the times and places where our
services will have the greatest positive impact.
Mission
To reduce and prevent juvenile delinquency by effectively intervening,
educating, and treating youth in order to strengthen families and increase
public safety.
Goals
1. Fostering communities that are safe from juvenile crime.
2. Collaborating with judges, district attorneys, law enforcement agencies,
	
schools, and other youth service providers to determine and provide the
	
right program for each youth.
3. To provide safe and secure housing for youth in care and to provide
	
	
programming that teaches pro-social skills.
4. To provide accurate assessment, effective treatment and education of youth.
5. To prevent youth from initial or further involvement in the juvenile justice
	
system through partnerships with local governments and communities.
6. To provide effective and timely administrative services to internal Division of
Juvenile Justice customers and to external recipients of community program
funds.
7. To develop and manage workforce development programs and services that
	
are effective, compliant with laws and regulations, and control costs in order
to attract, retain, and motivate a highly competent workforce supporting the
Division of Juvenile Justice’s mission.
Vision, Mission and Goals
Vision, Mission and Goals
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
Overview
2
Public Safety Increases as the Juvenile Delinquency Rate Drops for the Fifth Straight Year
For the fifth consecutive year the juvenile delinquency rate (juvenile crime) in the State of North Carolina has
decreased. Over that five-year period, the State has experienced a 28% decrease in juvenile delinquency. This alone
is a great achievement, but when one considers that at the same time the courts have been committing fewer and
fewer youth to long-term stays in the Division of Juvenile Justice’s youth development centers, these numbers are
truly exciting accomplishments. Last year, only 307 youth were committed to youth development centers; this is the
lowest level ever recorded and represents a 14% decrease from the year before. Over the last decade, commitments
have dropped almost every year, and since 2000 they have dropped by 670 commitments, or 69% overall.
These two tremendous accomplishments -- reducing juvenile crime and reducing juvenile commitments -- are
achievements that can, in large measure, be attributed to the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 1999, and to the hard
work of the caring and competent juvenile justice professionals in the Division of Juvenile Justice and their
community partners.
2000 - 2011 Juvenile Delinquency Rate
Data Source: NC-JOIN, Accessed 2-21-12 The juvenile delinquency rate is a calculation
of the number of juvenile delinquent
offenses divided by the total youth ages 6-15
in the population. The rate is the number
of delinquent offenses per 1,000 youth age
6-15.
Juvenile Delinquency Rate
25.00
27.00
29.00
31.00
33.00
35.00
37.00
39.00
41.00
00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
35.75
36.30
34.61 34.69
35.32
34.86
36.21
34.08
31.52
29.14
27.55
26.08
11
28% decrease in delinquency
rate from 2006 through 2011.
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
Overview
3
$100
$110
$120
$130
$140
$150
$160
$170
$90
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
State Budget Amounts Spent by the Division of Juvenile Justice
$147,206,016
$135,593,692
Budget totals are year-end amounts for each fiscal year, except 2011-12
Source: DJJDP Budget Operations Office, Accessed 2-22-12
DJJ Allocation in Millions
Budget
For the fourth straight year the budget of Juvenile Justice has been cut. In the past four years, the budget of
the division has been reduced by 15%, or $25 million, and the division has downsized its workforce by 15%, or
approximately 300 jobs. The division has also closed two youth development centers and reduced the number of
juvenile court districts, from 39 down to 30, resulting from declines in committed youth as well as in response to the
state’s fiscal crisis. The division has also cut substantial amounts of its community programming dollars, including
completely eliminating the Governor’s One-on-One program, the Support Our Students program, and closing a
number of the state’s wilderness camping opportunities and multipurpose homes.
All of these cuts have forced the division to work harder with less and to be more efficient than ever with the
funding it receives to serve North Carolina’s youth. This includes the need for the division to become creative in
forming public-private partnerships, in leveraging funding and in-kind resources as much as possible, and in driving all
services and programs toward an evidence basis to ensure that dollars are being effectively and efficiently spent.
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
State Budget General Funds Spent by the Division of Juvenile Justice
8% Detention Services (11,327,783)
23% Court Services
(33,329,996)
15% Juvenile Crime
Prevention Councils
(21,700,025)
Budget is year-end amount for FY 10-11, Total = $143,848,328
6% Administrative Services (8,418,266)
11% Community Programs
(15,580,294)
4% Treatment Services
(6,347,604)
4% Education Services
(7,259,686)
Overview
4
28% Youth Development
Centers (39,884,674)
Accomplishments
In 2011, the division made a number of positive changes to more effectively and efficiently serve the youth of North
Carolina including:
• Rebidding the dollars formerly involved in the wilderness camping contract to services that reflect, through the
literature, the best practices found in juvenile justice evaluation research.
• Better ensuring youth do not recidivate (commit additional crimes) once they leave a youth development center
by creating more re-entry opportunities, such as the transitional-living home started in Craven County in 2011.
• Significantly increasing evidence-based programs and practices in community-based services.
• Building into the curriculum at youth development centers more vocational opportunities, such as the horticulture
program at Dobbs Youth Development Center and the workforce development program at Stonewall Jackson Youth
Development Center.
• Creating a state office for Reclaiming Futures to ensure that youth experiencing substance abuse issues are better
served by the court system.
• Continuing district peer reviews to ensure the dissemination of best practices and to achieve greater court staff
accountability.
• Holding district forums to help North Carolina comply with federal statutes, train community partners on various
collaborative data tools that can more accurately assist in local planning, and help ensure that unbiased decision-making
is used in considering appropriate placement outcomes and alternatives for undisciplined youth.
Overview
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
Overview
5
Consolidation
Government Consolidation
Governor Perdue’s Executive Order 85 began the process of state Executive Branch reorganization relative to
public safety entities in March 2011. Executive Order 85, along with legislative action, created the North Carolina
Department of Public Safety by consolidating the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the
Department of Correction, and the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. The North Carolina General
Assembly reviewed Executive Order 85 and took up the subject of government reorganization during the 2011
session, making various adjustments and ultimately agreeing that consolidation should occur. Codified in House Bill
200, the newly created Department of Public Safety was officially established by the budget bill with a start date of
1/01/12. Each of the former Departments spent July through December of 2011 reviewing the statutes, working with
the Office of Budget and Management, the Office of the State Controller, Office of State Personnel and other entities
to begin the process of combining into the largest cabinet agency in North Carolina.
Governor Perdue appointed Reuben Young as Secretary of the Department of Public Safety in September of
2011. Former Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Secretary Linda Hayes was asked to
continue as the top leader in the Division of Juvenile Justice under Secretary Young. Chief Deputy Secretary Hayes
agreed to continue in her leadership role as the consolidation moves forward. Looking ahead, the Division of
Juvenile Justice’s mission remains focused on the accomplishment of effective public safety by treating, educating,
and holding youth accountable for their behaviors using the Comprehensive Strategy. This strategy offers research-supported
approaches across the full continuum of juvenile risk behavior. The Division of Juvenile Justice will continue
to develop and provide evidence-supported programs to accomplish its goals. The division is extremely proud of its
history and accomplishments. For over a decade, juvenile crime has declined substantially across North Carolina. This
would not have been possible without the wonderful partnerships that the Division of Juvenile Justice has at every
level of government along with hundreds of non-profits and other human service agencies. These partnerships form
the cornerstone of how the Division of Juvenile Justice hopes to continue working collaboratively to provide the best
chance for at-risk and delinquent youth to turn their lives around.
State Capitol, Raleigh, NC
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
Highlights Statewide Programs
6
Statewide Programs
Western Area
Total Juvenile Complaints
Total Detention Center Admissions
Total Youth Development Center Commitments
JCPC Program Participation**
Total Community Program Participation*
Piedmont Area
Total Juvenile Complaints
Total Detention Center Admissions
Total Youth Development Center Commitments
JCPC Program Participation**
Total Community Program Participation*
Central Area
Total Juvenile Complaints
Total Detention Center Admissions
Total Youth Development Center Commitments
JCPC Program Participation**
Total Community Program Participation*
Eastern Area
Total Juvenile Complaints
Total Detention Center Admissions
Total Youth Development Center Commitments
JCPC Program Participation**
Total Community Program Participation*
6,178
659
21
4,273
4,362
12,982
2,055
87
6,723
6,867
10,375
1,516
100
8,108
8,347
7,624
992
99
7,341
7,496
Operational programs during Calendar Year 2011
*Total Community Program Participation is defined as
admission or termination from Juvenile Crime
Prevention Council Programs, Multipurpose Group
Homes, and Eckerd.
**JCPC and community program participation calculated
by 2010-2011 school year.
Data Source: NC-JOIN and Client Tracking, Accessed 2-21-12
Chief Court Counselor
Youth Development Center
State Detention Center
County Detention Center
Multipurpose Juvenile Home
4
5
3
2
6 1
7
11 8
10
9
14
15
19
18
17
21
30
24
29
28
23
22
19
26
20 12
27
Western Area
7 Districts,
28 Counties
Piedmont Area
7 Districts,
19 Counties
Central Area
8 Districts,
21 Counties
Eastern Area
8 Districts,
32 Counties
Level II Residential Program
Transitional Home
Area Administrator
JCPC Consultant
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
7
Highlights
Community Programs
Community Programs
The Community Programs Section is statutorily mandated to prevent initial or further involvement of youth in
the juvenile justice system while contributing to public safety locally. Community-based prevention and intervention
(Juvenile Crime Prevention Council-funded) programs, alternative to commitment programs, gang violence prevention/
intervention initiatives, residential treatment programs, multi-purpose group homes, re-entry/transition programming,
and wrap-around programs served over 27,000 youth and their families last year in more than 600 programs
statewide.
Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils (JCPCs)
Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils are the foundation for North Carolina’s comprehensive strategy to prevent
and reduce juvenile delinquency and crime. These councils work with the Division of Juvenile Justice to manage
a statewide effort to improve public safety by partnering with county governments for funding local non-profits to
develop and implement local programs that address identified local needs.
Juvenile Crime Prevention Council members are statutorily mandated and are appointed by the county Board of
Commissioners. The meetings are open to the public, and all business is considered public information. The Division
of Juvenile Justice allocates approximately $22 million to these Councils annually, and the Councils leverage an
additional $18.5 million for local services annually.
NC ALLIES
Accomplishments of the Community Programs section’s contracted services and programs include full
implementation of all phases of NC ALLIES (A Local Link to Improve Effective Services). This on-line application and
review process, includes a client tracking system with measurable objectives by program type, and an
accountability system. This information data system allows contracted services, local programs, Juvenile Crime
Prevention Councils, county partners, and the division to track the progress of youth in the system and the
programs’ success in treating youth and their families. In addition, increased implementation of evidence-based and
evidence-supported programs throughout the state has ensured more effective services as juvenile crime has
continued to decline throughout the state.
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
Community Programs
8
Level II Dispositional Alternatives
As part of the process to rebid dollars formerly used for the wilderness camping contract which expired this
year, the Division of Juvenile Justice reviewed the research and examined data on the effectiveness of the
wilderness camping experiences. The division assembled a statewide advisory board of juvenile justice
professionals, judges, legislators, and other stakeholders, who determined more efficient and effective ways exist
to serve high-risk adjudicated juveniles with these designated dollars. Although wilderness and experiential
camping programs have shown to be somewhat effective in changing some juvenile misbehavior, new research
has helped illustrate that other programs can be significantly more effective toward changing criminogenic
thinking (thought patterns that lead to criminal behavior) and reducing recidivism (committing additional crimes).
Community Programs
Lee
Harnett
Chatham
Durham
Wake
Johnston
Cumberland
Brunswick
Moore
Pender
Pitt
Onslow
New Hanover
Columbus
Robeson Bladen
Hoke
Scotland
Sampson
Carteret
Duplin
Pamlico
Jones
Greene
Lenoir
Wayne
Beaufort
Guilford
Randolph
Alamance Orange
Hyde
Richmond
Washington Tyrrell Dare
Martin
Edgecombe
Nash
Wilson
Franklin Bertie
Halifax
Warren
Vance
Granville
Northampton
Hertford
Gates
Currituck
Camden
Pasquotank
Perquimans
Chowan
Stokes Rockingham Caswell Person
Ashe Alleghany
Wilkes
Yadkin Forsyth
Davidson
Davie
Iredell
Alexander
Montgomery
Stanly
Rowan
Union Anson
Gaston
Lincoln
Catawba
Caldwell
Watauga
Avery
Mitchell
Yancey
Burke
McDowell
Cleveland
Rutherford
Buncombe
Madison
Haywood
Swain
Henderson
Transylvania
Jackson
Macon
Clay
Graham
Cherokee Mecklenburg
Surrry
Cabarrus
Craven
Polk
New Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Contracted Community
and Evidence-Based Level II Dispositional Alternatives
Communinty-Based Services for Juveniles who Sexually Offend
Alexander Youth Network
Sexual Abuse Intervention Services
Alternatives to Commitment Expansion
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Family Therapy
2nd Chance Program: An Extension of the Hope Project
Community Detention Program
1) Juvenile Court Outreach Services, 2) Find-A-Friend’s Gang
Awareness Through Education (GATE)
Young Warriors Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
Healthy Choices Family Enrichment
Community Connections
Mentoring for Success
Community Service and Restitution
Temporary Emergency Shelter Beds
8th Judicial District Community Intervention Program
West
Piedmont
East
Central
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
Community Programs
Community Programs
9
Level II and III (Dispositional Alternatives)
The Division of Juvenile Justice continued
providing alternatives to commitment
programming that create less expensive options for
youth while maintaining public safety. Sixty-five
percent (65%) of the youth exiting the programs
completed their programming at a high or
acceptable level of participation and achievement
of behavior improvement goals. Only seven
percent (7%) of participants exiting the program
were committed to a youth development center.
Lee
Harnett
Chatham
Durham
Wake
Johnston
Cumberland
Brunswick
Moore
Pender
Pitt
Onslow
New Hanover
Columbus
Robeson Bladen
Hoke
Scotland
Sampson
Carteret
Duplin
Pamlico
Jones
Greene
Lenoir
Wayne
Beaufort
Guilford
Randolph
Alamance Orange
Hyde
Richmond
Washington Tyrrell Dare
Martin
Edgecombe
Nash
Wilson
Franklin Bertie
Halifax
Warren
Vance
Granville
Northampton
Hertford
Gates
Currituck
Camden
Pasquotank
Perquimans
Chowan
Stokes Rockingham Caswell Person
Ashe Alleghany
Wilkes
Yadkin Forsyth
Davidson
Davie
Iredell
Alexander
Montgomery
Stanly
Rowan
Union Anson
Gaston
Lincoln
Catawba
Caldwell
Watauga
Avery
Mitchell
Yancey
Burke
McDowell
Cleveland
Rutherford
Buncombe
Madison
Haywood
Swain
Henderson
Transylvania
Jackson
Macon
Clay
Graham
Cherokee Meckle nburg
Surrry
Cabarrus
Craven
Polk
Contractual Level II Dispositional Alternatives
AMI Catchment Area
Eckerd Catchment Area
Female Residential Treatment Center
Male Residential Treatment Center
Area of
State
Host County
(Sponsoring Agency)
Counties
Served
(14 Counties)
EAST Wayne (Methodist Home for
Children)
Wayne, Lenoir
and Greene
Dare (Dare County Schools) Dare
Onslow (Onslow County Youth
Services)
Onslow
PIEDMONT Davidson (Family Services of
Davidson County, Inc.)
Davidson
Rockingham (Rockingham County
Youth Services)
Rockingham,
Stokes and
Surry
CENTRAL Alamance (Alamance County
Dispute Settlement and Youth
Services
Alamance
Cumberland (Cumberland County
CommuniCare, Inc.)
Cumberland
WEST Burke (Appalachain Family Inno-vations)
Burke, Caldwell
and Catawba
Level II (continued)
Using data gleaned from the aforementioned
process, the Division of Juvenile Justice then
developed a very deliberate approach for securing
the dispositional options most likely to achieve better
outcomes: A combination of both residential and
non-residential services; evidence-based
programming found to be most effective in
addressing the needs of Level II juveniles;
services that fill gaps in the Division of Juvenile
Justice’s comprehensive strategy of graduated
sanctions for targeted juveniles; services that are
delivered statewide, regionally, and locally; re-entry
services; and programs that address the specific risks
and needs of these high-risk juveniles within local
communities.
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
Gang Prevention and Intervention Initiatives
Highlights of Community Programs’ gang prevention and intervention initiatives, funded through
federal stimulus dollars, are noted in a December 2011 report showing promising results. Over 200,000 risk
and needs assessments were examined from the past four years, and comparisons were made between gang
and non-gang identified youth. Gang-identified youth have highly elevated risks for reoffending and service/
treatment needs. Preliminary data show a correlation between the implementation of these gang prevention
and intervention initiatives and a decrease in gang involvement (30% decrease since FY 08-09).
Another important finding from the 2011 study was that gang membership/association was more
prevalent the deeper a juvenile went into the juvenile justice system:
Community Programs
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11
1,509
1,629
1,397
1,132
Statewide Distinct Juveniles Identified
as Gang Members or Associates
Data Source: NC-JOIN, Accessed 10-01-11
• 7% of distinct juveniles had delinquent complaints
• 13% of juveniles adjudicated
• 21% of juveniles admitted to short-term detention
• 44% of juveniles committed to a long-term youth
development center
Craven Transitional Home
Through the Gang Intervention Pilot program, the Division of
Juvenile Justice has established the Craven Transitional Home. The
facility allows the division to provide supervision of youth who are
exiting a youth development center, age 16 or older who are
gang-involved, and their natural home environment is not positioned
to sustain positive growth or development. Youth housed at the
facility have a need for alternative, community-based living for at
least six months.
Many youth leaving youth development centers need a period of
transition prior to reintegrating into the community. Specifically, they
are youth who are gang-involved, at-risk and/or need a safe haven
away from the negative influences of their community.
The division has six male youth who are residing in the Craven
Transitional Home. All six are employed and involved in educational
activities at the local community college. As a part of the program, the
youth have a service plan that allows them to work on their
individual needs. The goal is to make them self-sufficient for
independent living.
10
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
Court Services
Total Complaints by Race/Ethnicity: 2011
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African American
Hispanic/Latino
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Two or More Races
Unknown
White
Total:
Class A - E
94
484
63
0
32
0
252
844
Class F - I, A1
88
29
4,282
586
4
119
59
2,577
7,744
Class 1 - 3
324
149
12,076
2,097
26
345
212
9,650
24,879
Infraction
32
14
23
121
43
89
Status
76
19
1,179
318
1
69
49
1,892
3,603
Complaints
500
203
18,035
3,087
32
567
321
14,414
37,159
Data Source: NC-JOIN, Accessed 2-21-12
Court Services
In 2011, the Court Services Section served 19,024 juveniles and their families as we worked to keep our
communities safe, meet the needs of these juveniles and hold them accountable. The data in this report document
that the rate of juvenile delinquency complaints continues to decline, 5% this year and 28% decrease over the last
five years. Fewer young people are being placed in secure facilities. These positive developments have resulted from
the quality service by our court staff and the collaboration with effective community programs described elsewhere in
this report.
The continuing quality improvement program of Court Services involves the annual review of juvenile cases to
assure that standards and statutory requirements are met. These reviews are carried out by over 200 Juvenile Court
Counselors, who have been trained as peer reviewers. There have been multiple positive outcomes as a result of
these reviews.
Court Services
11
Total Complaints Received in 2011:
	 37,159
Delinquent Complaints: 90.3%
Undisciplined Complaints: 9.7%
In 2011, 75% of all complaints were
committed by males.
• All Court Counselors have developed a better understanding of policies and
standards. Those who are peer reviewers report that this has been a major
	
benefit to them as a result of their work as a reviewer.
• Each district has implemented plans to make identified needed
improvements. Those specific improvements vary form district to district, but
most often involve improved documentation.
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Status Complaints
Delinquent Complaints Infractions <1% (89)
Status/Undisciplined 10% (3,603)
Felony A-E 2% (844)
Felony F-I
A1 Misdemeanor
21% (7,744)
Misdemeanor 1-3
67% (24,879)
Data Source: NC-JOIN, Accessed 2-21-12
Court Services
Complaints Received: 2011
Data Source: NC-JOIN, Accessed 2-21-12
4,285
4,631
5,169 4,744
4,756
40,633 42,920 41,487 38,901 35,801 33,299
4,896
2005 - 2011 Juvenile Delinquent and Status Offenses
12
33,556
3,603
• Every district has implemented new strategies that will improve and maintain quality on an on-going
basis. These strategies include the creation of checklists, more structured record review procedures, and
	
the establishment of standing committees of district staff to focus on specific issues, such as training.
• Best practices in each district are shared with peers. Notable examples are strategies to appropriately
divert cases from court while ensuring the juveniles and their families receive needed services. One
particular example is the development of a community Teen Court program that can effectively deal with
	
a significant number of cases referred by schools. Last year only 34% of cases referred for school-based
offenses went to court, with the remaining cases being addressed through other community resources.
	
This has been achieved through strong working relationships with School Resource Officers, schools and
community programs.
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
13
Court Services
School-Based vs Non School-Based Offenses: CY 2011
Non-School,
57% (21,041)
School-based
43% (16,118)
N = 37,159 | Data Source: NC-JOIN, Accessed 2-21-12
Four area conferences were held to introduce community stakeholders to best practices in juvenile justice and
to prepare for the implementation of specific strategies across the state. Approximately 600 stakeholders
participated in the conferences, representing judiciary, law enforcement, court counselors, community programs and
education. The strategies are:
1. The deployment of a standardized assessment tool to guide court counselors in making decisions to pursue
secure detention of juveniles. The tool was designed based on models used in other states and modified to meet
North Carolina’s code and needs. The tool will be piloted in four districts and implemented statewide in July 2012.
2. The development of standardized district data reports will be made available to the community with
performance measures and will reflect the size and kind of issues coming to Court Services and how they are being
served by our system.
3. The creation of a graduated sanctions and rewards grid for each county to provide a greater range of
responses, immediately available, to judges and court counselors. These grids create an effective method to involve
a wide range of community resources in providing options to the courts. Where they have been succesfully
implemented, detention rates decrease and successful completion of probation increase.
In July 2011, eight of our district offices were consolidated to create larger districts as a result of legislative
decisions. Eight Chief Court Counselor and thirty-nine Court Counselor positions were eliminated. The
rapid adjustments required were carried out by our dedicated staff. The continued commitment to quality
improvement documented in this report is a testament to their professionalism.
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Non-School-Based Offenses
School-Based Offenses
16,118
21,041
School-Based vs Non School-Based Offenses Trend
16,563 16,140 16,711
18,262
21,444
23,879
26,092
27,960
Court Services
Data Source: NC-JOIN, Accessed 2-21-12
Reclaiming Futures - Engaging Communities and The Courts in Substance Abuse Recovery Services
Research has clearly shown a link between substance abuse and increased criminal activity. In 2011, 23% of
youth screened upon entering the juvenile justice system in North Carolina showed moderate or high risk for
needing substance abuse treatment. Nationally as few as 10% of youth that need substance abuse treatment will
receive it. Partnerships between the Division of Juvenile Justice and the Division of Mental Health/Developmental
Disabilities/Substance Abuse Services are working to get more youth connected with the treatment that they need.
Six sites in North Carolina have been implementing Reclaiming Futures, a national evidence-supported model
designed to ensure court-involved youth have access to a full continuum of services, which includes screening for
substance abuse problems using a reputable tool (i.e., Global Appraisal of Individual Needs, GAIN-SS) at entry into
court services, referral for further assessment as needed, and engagement of youth and their families in treatment.
In addition to improving screening and treatment practices, sites are partnering with community-based
services and “natural helpers” to provide long-term supports to youth after they complete treatment and probation.
They have identified new engagement strategies for their communities and families, including mentoring programs
utilizing local law students, expansion of the availability of family support programs (such as Strengthening Families
and Parenting Wisely) and connection of families with advocates that help them navigate various systems.
In 2011, North Carolina established the nation’s first statewide Reclaiming Futures office. The state is
positioned to expand Reclaiming Futures to additional sites and integrate the Reclaiming Futures model within the
statewide infrastructure. The office will provide training, technical assistance, and evaluation support to the
Reclaiming Futures sites. The endeavor is a public-private partnership supported with funding from the North
Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, and The Duke Endowment.
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
Global Appraisal of Individual Needs (GAIN) Assessment Findings
N = 5,082 | Data Source: NC-JOIN, Accessed 01-15-12
High (8.4%)
Moderate (14.2%)
Low (77.4%)
14
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
15
Risk Assessments
Facility Operations
The Division of Juvenile Justice operates nine juvenile detention centers and six youth development centers.
Detention Services
Youth who are alleged to have committed offenses that would be a felony if committed by an adult, who are
alleged to have assaulted people, who are runaways, or who have been adjudicated delinquent, may be placed in
a juvenile detention center pending a court hearing or waiting for a dispositional placement. The Division of
Juvenile Justice operates nine regional juvenile detention centers and monitors the operation of three
county-run detention centers. Detention centers are locked, secure facilities with structured programming. All
youth are provided on-going education services by licensed teachers and receive medical and mental health
screenings to inform appropriate, individualized care for each youth during their short-term stay.
Youth are placed in a detention center as the result of a court order and have periodic court hearings to
review the necessity of continued secure custody. The Division of Juvenile Justice has a transportation section to
provide for secure transport to and from court hearings in the county of jurisdiction.
Youth Development Centers
Youth development centers are locked, secure facilities that provide care, treatment, education and
programming to meet the individual needs of youth committed to the Division of Juvenile Justice as the most
intensive disposition for a youth in juvenile court. Youth who are adjudicated delinquent for serious or violent
offenses or who have a history of delinquent adjudications for offenses they committed prior to their 16th birthday
may be placed with the division by court order and assigned to a youth development center. The minimum stay is
six months; however, the average length of stay in 2011 was 13 months. Juveniles committed to the division may
be under the court’s jurisdiction until at least the youth’s 18th birthday, but juveniles committed for violent
offenses may be under the court’s jurisdiction until age 21.
When a youth is admitted to a youth development center, a battery of assessments and screenings are
completed to inform an individual service plan that includes individualized plans for education, mental health
treatment, skills acquisition, transition and plans to meet special needs that are identified. There are monthly
meetings with the multidisciplinary service planning team that includes the parent, the youth, the court counselor
and stakeholders from the youth’s community as well as staff from the youth development center.
During 2011, two older youth development centers, Swannanoa and Samarkand, were closed, leaving a
total of five youth development center campuses – three larger campuses (Jackson, Dillon and Dobbs which
includes the Lenoir building) and two small centers (Edgecombe and Chatham.) The total number of beds were
reduced from 407 to 329 beds.
The division has worked to prepare for the anticipated roll-out of the Prison Rape Elimination Act’s (PREA)
juvenile justice standards in April of 2012. In 2011, all Division of Juvenile Justice employees participated in a
web-based training providing an overview of the Act. Policies, manuals, practices, and operations have been
scrutinized, and adjustments are in progress, to ensure that the division will be in full compliance.
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
Facility Operations
Facility Operations
Youth at two youth development centers participated in 100 hours of state-of-the-art pycho-educational
group programming aimed at gang intervention and prevention, as well as transition programming addressing
the specialized needs of gang-involved youth. The battery of psychometric tests used in psychological
evaluations of all committed youth was revised to include the most current versions of validated instruments to
assess mental health and criminogenic needs. Electronic treatment planning and clinical record software was
introduced for use by all licensed mental health clinicians. In addition, evidence-based principles of effective
programming were used to design a treatment program that was pilot tested at Dobbs Youth Development
Center in late 2011, in anticipation of broader release in 2012.
16
Youth Development Centers, cont.
Youth committed to youth development centers in 2011 presented with many needs. Forty-four percent
(44%) of those committed were either known gang members, or regularly associated with gang members. Eighty
percent (80%) had histories of serious school behavior problems (truancy, suspensions, expulsions), with an
average of 36 days of suspension in the year prior to their commitment. With one in four of the youth committed in
2011 having documented histories of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or neglect, it is not surprising that 89%
were found to have a diagnosable mental health problem above and beyond conduct disorder, with 70% having
more than one diagnosis. In order, the most frequent diagnoses among youth committed in 2011 were substance
abuse disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
depression, and oppositional-defiant disorder. Certain psychosocial deficits were observed across all of these
difficulties, including difficulty in recognizing, tolerating, and recovering from extreme distress, poor self-awareness
of sensations and bodily states, interpersonal problems marked by a tendency to erroneously perceive innocuous
social interactions as being hostile in intent, an inability to self-soothe, and a tendency to use self-harm as a means
of managing overwhelming distress. Snapshot of Youth Development Center
Committed Youth
Age as of November 1, 2011, N=302
15 and Under (42%)
16 and Older (58%)
Division staff worked diligently to target the
needs identified above. A technical assistance grant
allowed consultants from the National Center for
Trauma-Informed Care to provide guidance in
making changes in programming, practices,
training, and operations so that the psychosocial needs
of abused and neglected, and otherwise traumatized
juveniles are more effectively addressed. Training was
offered at youth development centers and at all
detention centers in principles of trauma-informed care,
with the youth development center housing female
juvenile offenders benefiting from more intensive
support and training. Licensed mental health clinicians
from five youth development centers participated in an
intensive learning collaborative through the North
Carolina Child Treatment Program, successfully
mastering an evidence-based intervention for trauma
disorders, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy,
(TF-CBT).
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
Youth Development Center Commitments
0
250
500
750
1,000 975
660 605
478 473
428
486
437
365
469
357
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
307
34.5% decrease in youth development
center commitments between 2008
and 2011.
Data Source: NC-JOIN, Accessed 2-21-12
Youth Development Center Commitments by Age, Race/Ethnicity and Gender: 2011
Data Source: NC-JOIN, Accessed 2-21-12
Female
Male
12 13 14 15 16 17 20 Total
0 0 3 7 6 0 0 16
0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
0 0 0 1 2 0 0 3
0 0 3 8 11 0 0 22
0 0 1 3 0 1 0 5
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
2 9 36 83 58 17 0 205
0 1 0 6 6 0 0 13
0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2
0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2
1 4 4 24 17 6 1 57
3 14 41 119 82 25 1 285
3 14 44 127 93 25 1 307
Black or African American
Hispanic/Latino
Unknown
White
Female Total
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African American
Hispanic/Latino
Two or More Races
Unknown
White
Male Total
Grand Total
Youth Development Center Commitments by
Offense Class Group
Felony F-I
Serious,
60% (185)
Misdemeanor A1 Serious, 14% (44)
Misdemeanor Class 1-3
Minor (Priors Required for
Commitment) 5% (14)
Class A-E Felony
Violent 21% (64)
N = 307 | Data Source: NC-JOIN, Accessed 2-21-12
Facility Operations
17
Youth Development Centers
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
10,000
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
18% decrease in detention
admissions from 2010 to 2011
Detention Center Data
2005 - 2011 Juveniles Detained and Detention Admissions
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
Juveniles Admissions by Age in 2011 (By Percentage)
2011 Juvenile Admissions by Race/Ethnicity
Juveniles Detained Detention Admissions*
*In 2011, data include 14 distinct juveniles and 17
admissions from Native American reservations.
5,052
7,394
5,237
7,839
4,875
7,234
4,752
7,105
4,342
6,604
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 and
older
<1 1 3
9
22
40
19
5
Data Source: NC-JOIN, Accessed 2-21-12
N = 5,240 | Data Source: NC-JOIN, Accessed 2-21-12
Percentages will not sum due to rounding.
Data Source NC-JOIN, Accessed 2-21-12
Total
97
30
3,183
362
6
91
47
1,424
5,240
Percentage
2
<1
61
7
<1
2
1
27
100
Detention
Juvenile Admissions
by Gender in 2011
24% (1,271)
Female
N = 5,240 | Source: NC-JOIN, Accessed 2-21-12
76% (3,969)
Male
18
6,380
4,221
10 and
under
5,240
3,522
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African American
Hispanic/Latino
Pacific Islander
Two or More Races
Unknown
White
Total
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
Treatment and Education
19
Education Services
Since 2001, all youth development centers have participated in the ABC’s of
Public Education for accountability. The youth development centers’ ABC status is based
on achievement data (end-of-course, end-of-grade testing) and three “local options”
specified in their school improvement plans and approved by their local boards of
education. Sixty-seven percent of Division of Juvenile Justice Schools achieved High
and/or Expected Growth for the 2010-2011 school year.
Youth in detention centers receive instruction in core academic areas according to
the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Teachers utilized a variety of
educational resources and instructional strategies including web-based curriculum
software, thematic teaching, team teaching, cooperative learning, audio/visual
presentations, and hands-on activities. In 2011, a major emphasis was placed on using
data to create an individualized learning experience for all students placed in
short-term care.
Education Services
While youth are placed in a detention center or youth development center, the division abides by all state and
federal mandates of a traditional school system. Instruction in youth development centers follows the North Carolina
Standard Course of Study delivered over four 90-minute blocks daily. Students’ abilities are assessed upon enter-ing
and leaving the youth development center, with each youth receiving a personal education plan. Youth identified
as exceptional receive an Individual Education Plan developed according to the federal IDEA guidelines. Youth may
earn a high school diploma or GED while admitted to the school system. In 2011, 85 youth earned GEDs and 5 youth
earned high school diplomas.
Funding from the federal Workforce Investment Act—American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided for a
revitalization of vocational programming in youth development centers. Over the two-year funding period ending in
2011, 279 youth development center youth were trained and employed either on or off campus earning minimum
wage. Partnerships were formed and/or strengthened with ten local workforce development boards across the state,
seven community colleges, seven 4-H Club Cooperative Extension Programs, and a host of other collaborations
ncluding Job Corps. Approximately 120 on-campus student internships were created in these occupation categories:
stock/warehouse, custodial, cafeteria, kennel management, horticulture, car wash, retail stocker, teacher assistant,
and clerical assistant. This program worked to increase the percentage of youth who successfully re-entered school,
the world of work, and the community after being released from a youth development center.
A major initiative in the school system during the 2011 school year was the creation of a partnership between
Dobbs Youth Development Center and Lenoir Community College to produce course offerings leading to certification
in auto mechanics and horticulture. This is one example of the school system’s commitment to enable all students
to be prepared for life in the 21st century.
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
Top 25 Offenses
Treatm ent and Education
20
Offense
Simple assault
Larceny
Simple affray
Disorderly conduct at school
Breaking and/or entering
Injury to real property
Communicating threats
Injury to personal property
Possession stolen goods/property
Breaking or entering a motor vehicle
Resisting public officer
Larceny after breaking or entering
Weapons on educational property / aid
Assaulting government official/employee
Injury to personal property in excess of $200
Possess drug paraphernalia
Shoplifting concealment goods
Breaking or entering
Possess marijuana up to 1/2 oz
Simple possession (up to 1/2 oz of marijuana, etc.)
Larceny
Second degree trespass
Disorderly conduct by engaging in fighting, etc.
No operator’s license
Possession of stolen property
Totals
Delinquent Complaints
4,122
2,971
1,802
1,567
1,387
1,385
1,094
1,034
862
823
793
784
769
712
657
621
610
562
560
466
414
385
343
315
314
27,352
Percentage of All
Delinquent Complaints
12%
9%
5%
5%
4%
4%
3%
3%
3%
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
76%
Top 25 Offenses of 2011
Data Source: NC-JOIN, Accessed 2-21-12.
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice - 2011 Annual Report | www.ncdjjdp.org
Conclusion
Conclusion
This 2011 Annual Report reflects the hard work and accomplishments of many. Despite very
significant reductions in state appropriations over the past four years that have markedly reduced
programming, staff, as well as community-based services, the results are quite positive overall. The
Division of Juvenile justice continues to achieve better public safety outcomes as evidenced by reductions
in the juvenile crime rate across the state. Crime rates are but one indicator of success. The division has
implemented a range of new evidence-supported programming in community-based services, a stepped
up focus on best practices and peer-driven accountability in court services, and has continued to
strengthen center-based services relative to safety, security, clinical, educational and other aspects of
center programming. As these improvements come on line, there is a purposeful focus on strategically
moving forward. Our strategic plan emphasizes continuity of care and planning across the gamut of
division services. We will continue to work toward improving this planning and the implementation of
service plans that incorporate science-supported public safety practices and programs. The division will
also continue to evaluate itself internally and make future decisions based on objective data, seeking
strategies to align resources in the most efficient, effective ways possible in order to meet its statutory
expectations.
21
Contact Information
Mailing Address:
4212 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4212
Phone: 919-733-3388
Management Team
Linda W. Hayes
Chief Deputy Secretary
Robin Jenkins, PhD
Deputy Director
Kathy Dudley, Facility Operations
Deputy Director
Michael Rieder, Court Services
Assistant Director
Teresa Price, Community Programs
Assistant Director
Martin Pharr, PhD, Education
Assistant Director
Physical Location:
3010 Hammond Business Place
Raleigh, NC 27603
Website: www.ncdjjdp.org
Annual Report Committee
Megan Howell
Data Analyst
William Lassiter
Community Programs Administrator
Catherine Anderson
Facility Operations
Judy Stephens
Court Services Administrator
For additional information about the Division of Juvenile Justice,
please visit our website at: www.ncdjjdp.org
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile
Justice is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Contact Information Contact Information