By Alison Lawrence
Three states have used a “justice reinvestment” process to develop and enact data-driven reforms in the juvenile justice system.
Georgia, Hawaii and Kentucky followed successful adult sentencing and corrections reforms with recent laws to improve their juvenile justice systems.
Two other states, South Dakota and West Virginia, reconvene with policy recommendations developed during the interim for legislative consideration in 2015.
Georgia’s 2013 law created an incentive program to support local evidence-based programs in lieu of sending youth to state-run corrections facilities. Since then, the state has awarded $5.6 million in FY14 and $6.8 million in FY15 to counties.
Hawaii included an appropriation of $1.26 million for FY2014-15 in its 2014 law, including for delinquency prevention programs and mental health and substance abuse treatment services for adjudicated youth.
Kentucky’s 2014 law is expected to reduce out-of-home placements and result in savings of up to $24 million over five years, some of which will be used to support supervision of juveniles in local communities.
Similar recommendations developed by bipartisan, cross-governmental task forces are before lawmakers in South Dakota and West Virginia. South Dakota is currently considering a bill (Senate Bill 73) based on recommendations to improve outcomes and prevent deeper involvement in the juvenile justice system of youth adjudicated of lower-level offenses. Recommendations in West Virginia focus residential beds on higher-risk youth and expand early intervention options. They are expected to be considered by the Legislature during the 2015 session.
Learn more about states’ adult justice reinvestment and related juvenile reforms on NCSL’s Justice Reinvestment State Resources page. The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Public Safety Performance Project supports many of these state efforts.
Alison Lawrence is a senior policy specialist in NCSL’s criminal justice program.
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