NYC Succeeding With A Better Approach to Juvenile Justice

By TChris, Section Juvenile Offenders
Posted on Wed Feb 20, 2008 at 11:35:40 PM EST
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Further evidence that the country is finally coming to its senses: the punitive approach to juvenile justice that fails to recognize the difference between children and adults is giving way to a philosophy that reduces recidivism without damaging kids.

About a year ago, New York City started an alternative sentencing program called the Juvenile Justice Initiative. Instead of locking kids up in residential "treatment" centers or detention facilities, nonviolent offenders are sent home where a therapist provides intense intervention to restore order to the family. The program "helps parents learn how to supervise and manage their adolescents so that they act responsibly instead of engaging in dangerous behaviors," according to a city official.

After a year, there is evidence that the program works:

The city said that in the year since the program began, fewer than 35 percent of the 275 youths who have been through it have been rearrested or violated probation. State studies found that more than 80 percent of male juvenile offenders who had served time in correctional facilities were rearrested within three years of their release, usually on more serious charges.

The program takes kids who are a drain on society and makes them productive, saving huge tax dollars in the process: [more...]

[A]t roughly $17,000 per child, such in-home therapy programs cost a fraction of the annual expense of keeping a child in secure detention, which can be $140,000 to $200,000.
In fact, the financial incentive is such that both the city and state are rapidly moving away from residential detention. Gladys Carrión, the commissioner of the state’s Office of Children and Family Services, recently announced that she would close six nonsecure facilities, a cut that will save the state $16 million a year.

Kudos to any politician who decides to be smart on crime instead of posturing as tough on crime. It's about time.

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NYC Succeeding With A Better Approach to Juvenile Justice | 7 comments (7 topical)

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Good news (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by sonya on Wed Feb 20, 2008 at 11:58:03 PM EST

Hopefully other jurisdictions will look at this and choose to do what's in the best interests of the child. The next thing I'd like to see is the end of charging children as adults.

Even more (none / 0) (#2)
by PlayInPeoria on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 07:59:43 AM EST

saving in that the "family dynamic" can efect generation after generation... there is a hiden cost savings in the stablizing of generations to come..... and a chance at better life. It's a win win for all involved.

That's using our noodle..... (none / 0) (#3)
by kdog on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 08:04:53 AM EST

I always questioned the logic of locking up kids...they go into juvie a car thief and come out violent potential criminals, or worse, broken shells of human beings due to the physical/sexual abuse prevalent in juvie.

Programs like this seem to be an infinitely smarter, more humane option.

that is wonderful news (none / 0) (#4)
by athyrio on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 09:47:53 AM EST

and about time we learned that the "lock em up and throw away the key" method doesn't work....

I agree. I dig the whole idea... (none / 0) (#5)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 11:58:55 AM EST

...despite the fact that your quote does not support it's efficacy:

The city said that in the (1) year since the program began, fewer than 35 percent of the 275 youths who have been through it have been rearrested or violated probation. State studies found that more than 80 percent of male juvenile offenders who had served time in correctional facilities were rearrested within (3) three years of their release, usually on more serious charges.

My bolds and numericals.

Despite the weird, non-supporting quote, I'd dig the idea even if it were proven to be no more effective than the detention facility or whatever alternative.

: even if the numbers (none / 0) (#6)
by Jen M on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 03:55:13 PM EST

are closer together, I bet there will still be a positive difference. We'll see in a couple of years

Diversion and rehabilitation works much (none / 0) (#7)
by JSN on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:55:11 AM EST

better for juvenile offenders than for adult offenders in cases where there is strong community support for the the offender and the family. If the problem is so serious that the juvenile is incarcerated the chances of making a difference are significantly reduced.

Churches and other NGOs can help a lot in dealing with such problems. Unfortunately many of these problems are discovered at school and the schools have to either move the problem to the juvenile justice system or divert scarce resources to deal with a dysfunctional family. How it is done depends on the school system.