Governor's Crime Commission juvenile age study : a study of the impact of expanding the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention : final report to the Governor of North Carolina and to the 2009 session of the General A - Page 100 |
Previous | 100 of 227 | Next |
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
All (PDF)
|
This page
All
|
91
Cost Mitigation Strategies for Implementation
This section describes opportunities for reducing the costs associated with changing the age of
juvenile jurisdiction based on other states’ experiences. North Carolina State agencies that would
stand to benefit from these cost mitigation strategies include the Department of Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention (DJJDP) and the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).
The implementation plan included in this report is based on the assumption that all of the cost
mitigation strategies would be implemented. Changes include implementing evidence-based
practices, employing a financial incentive system to reduce secure confinement use, and
eliminating the use of secure detention for undisciplined youth. A discussion of an additional
strategy that could be used to reduce the burden placed on local law enforcement by a change to
juvenile court jurisdiction is also included.
Evidence-Based Practices
The implementation of evidence-based practices that employ proven programs can help DJJDP
achieve lower recidivism (re-offense) rates. Incorporating evidence-based practices throughout
an organization is a combination of providing the programs that are proven to have positive
outcomes and ensuring that youth receive only the services they need, as suggested by the results
of needs assessments. Providing youth with services not tailored to their needs may have a
negative effect on their future outcomes (including the potential to re-offend); providing services
to youth who do not demonstrate sufficient need may be damaging as well.
If DJJDP is able to reduce recidivism rates, the system will pay less to detain, supervise, and
confine persons. A number of evidence-based programs for juveniles have shown a significant
reduction in recidivism, including multi-systemic therapy, functional family therapy, and
aggression replacement therapy. A recent study by the Washington State Institute for Public
Policy has shown reductions in recidivism from the use of these programs of up to 38.1 percent.
If the State were to implement the programs along with integrated case management to ensure
that youth only receive the most appropriate services, the overall re-arrest rate could be reduced
from 41 to 31.5 percent.
If DJJDP implements evidence-based programs and reduces recidivism by 25 percent, by year 6
of implementation the Department could save an estimated $20.4 million. As shown in Exhibit 5,
a 25 percent reduction in recidivism (which yields about a 5 percent reduction in total arrests
per year among juveniles) reduces the number of YDC beds needed in Year 6 by 45.
Local incentives to Reduce Secure Confinement
Other states have used financial incentive structures to reduce the number of commitments
served in secure confinement. Implementation of a similar structure could significantly reduce
the costs incurred by DJJDP, as YDC confinement is one of the primary cost drivers of
implementing a change to juvenile court jurisdiction. Despite only being used as a disposition for
about 2 percent of the juveniles, YDC commitment costs DJJDP more than any other service
annually (32 percent of total expenditures in fiscal year 2008). YDC placement costs nearly 25
times the amount to provide community-based services.
Object Description
Description
| Title | Governor's Crime Commission juvenile age study : a study of the impact of expanding the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention : final report to the Governor of North Carolina and to the 2009 session of the General A - Page 100 |
| Full Text | 91 Cost Mitigation Strategies for Implementation This section describes opportunities for reducing the costs associated with changing the age of juvenile jurisdiction based on other states’ experiences. North Carolina State agencies that would stand to benefit from these cost mitigation strategies include the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (DJJDP) and the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The implementation plan included in this report is based on the assumption that all of the cost mitigation strategies would be implemented. Changes include implementing evidence-based practices, employing a financial incentive system to reduce secure confinement use, and eliminating the use of secure detention for undisciplined youth. A discussion of an additional strategy that could be used to reduce the burden placed on local law enforcement by a change to juvenile court jurisdiction is also included. Evidence-Based Practices The implementation of evidence-based practices that employ proven programs can help DJJDP achieve lower recidivism (re-offense) rates. Incorporating evidence-based practices throughout an organization is a combination of providing the programs that are proven to have positive outcomes and ensuring that youth receive only the services they need, as suggested by the results of needs assessments. Providing youth with services not tailored to their needs may have a negative effect on their future outcomes (including the potential to re-offend); providing services to youth who do not demonstrate sufficient need may be damaging as well. If DJJDP is able to reduce recidivism rates, the system will pay less to detain, supervise, and confine persons. A number of evidence-based programs for juveniles have shown a significant reduction in recidivism, including multi-systemic therapy, functional family therapy, and aggression replacement therapy. A recent study by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy has shown reductions in recidivism from the use of these programs of up to 38.1 percent. If the State were to implement the programs along with integrated case management to ensure that youth only receive the most appropriate services, the overall re-arrest rate could be reduced from 41 to 31.5 percent. If DJJDP implements evidence-based programs and reduces recidivism by 25 percent, by year 6 of implementation the Department could save an estimated $20.4 million. As shown in Exhibit 5, a 25 percent reduction in recidivism (which yields about a 5 percent reduction in total arrests per year among juveniles) reduces the number of YDC beds needed in Year 6 by 45. Local incentives to Reduce Secure Confinement Other states have used financial incentive structures to reduce the number of commitments served in secure confinement. Implementation of a similar structure could significantly reduce the costs incurred by DJJDP, as YDC confinement is one of the primary cost drivers of implementing a change to juvenile court jurisdiction. Despite only being used as a disposition for about 2 percent of the juveniles, YDC commitment costs DJJDP more than any other service annually (32 percent of total expenditures in fiscal year 2008). YDC placement costs nearly 25 times the amount to provide community-based services. |
