March 28, 2024
Juvenile justice systems vary widely between courts, and these cases are handled differently than others. Two recent Institute for Court Management Fellows research papers examine the impact of current and changing juvenile justice structures.
Imprisonment to Empowerment: Utilizing a Family-Centered Approach in Ohio Juvenile Courts focuses on the Department of Youth Services’ and the state legislature’s recommendations over the past 30 years that have resulted in many courts shifting from strictly punitive practices in juvenile cases to rehabilitation programs that involve families and communities in the offender’s reintegration process. By introducing resources such as the Reasoned and Equitable Community and Local Alternatives to the Incarceration of Minors (RECLAIM) program and the Behavioral Health/Juvenile Justice (BHJJ) initiative, Ohio has seen a decrease in the number of juvenile felony arrests. In 1994 there were 14,487 juvenile arrests, while in 2020 there were 3,075. It is likely that these programs played a significant role in this 79% decrease.
Most children entering the legal system have undergone a form of trauma, and studies have proven that youths with close familial relationships have increased mental health and higher predicted social and economic success. Knowing this, many Ohio courts have tested community-centered therapies such as Functional Family Therapy (FFT), which involves a therapist working closely with offenders and their families to develop a treatment plan. With a pilot of 900 cases, FFT resulted in a 34.9% decrease in felonies and a 30% decrease in violent crimes. Additionally, there has been a marked increase in assessment centers, which work with families to provide proactive assessments to help divert children from entering the court system. A lack of community support and economic barriers still prevent many Ohio courts from implementing these proven practices.
Length of Probation’s Impact on Juvenile Recidivism: Does a Ninety (90) Day Probation Termination Effect Juvenile Recidivism? examines the positive impact of providing children with a clear 90-day probation period despite many courts not giving a definitive timeline for probation. In a sample of 1,337 juvenile cases in Brevard County, Florida, this study found that when juveniles were instructed that their probation would be terminated if they met the probation conditions for 90 days, only 18% made this primary benchmark. However, 83% of the successful children had no reoffenses for the next year. Furthermore, there were decreases in the number of times children had to be transported to court, arrests, and detentions, and costs of supervision for families. Before defined probationary periods were implemented, no juveniles had been able to complete their probation in less than eight months.
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