The Issue
Youths who “slip through the cracks” may remain in the criminal justice system throughout their lives even though some would have chosen a better path if effective policies had been available during pivotal developmental stages. Cost-effective interventions that leverage the strengths of families and communities to reform troubled youths are critical to an effective juvenile justice system. Funds should only be spent on evidence-based programs, and risk and needs assessment should be utilized to ensure that youths who would be most successful in non-residential programs are not placed in costly confinement.
The Impact
If a juvenile program can prevent a delinquent youth from becoming a career criminal, it means safer neighborhoods and more productive citizens. Research suggests that low-risk youths who are incarcerated have higher re-offending rates compared to similarly situated youths who receive alternative punishments to confinement, as it co-mingles low-risk offenders with more serious offenders while fraying ties to family and community. While some youths need to be held accountable in a residential setting to ensure public safety, youth lockups can also be a drain on state budgets. In Texas, for example, incarceration in a state juvenile facility costs approximately $440 per day, while diversion or supervision programs range from $14 to $76 per day. Funds saved from reducing unnecessary incarceration can be reinvested in less costly approaches for reforming other youths and preventing delinquency, or returned to taxpayers.