NCJ Number
236603
Date Published
2011
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This 2011 annual report from the Alaska Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee presents an overview on the status of Alaska Native youth recidivism in the State's juvenile justice system.
Abstract
Review of information from Alaska's Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) indicates that the recidivism rate for Alaska Native youth involved with the State's juvenile justice system is related to the disproportionate minority contact problem where minority youth, in this case Alaska Native youth, are more likely to be detained and petitioned than White youth. In fiscal year 2010, the recidivism rate for Alaska Native youth released from secure treatment was 55.2 percent, compared to a recidivism rate of 38.1 percent for all youth released from secure treatment. In addition, the recidivism rate for Alaska Native youth on probation was 35.5 percent, compared to a recidivism rate of 27.9 percent for all youth released on probation. This report from the Alaska Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (AJJAC) presents an overview of the problem of recidivism among Alaska Native youth involved in the State's juvenile justice system. The report includes five recommendations to deal with the continued high rates of recidivism among Alaska Native youth. These recommendations are: AJJAC and DJJ should partner with an Alaska Native youth justice group as a means for working collaboratively with respected Alaska Native Elders, leaders, parents, youth, and communities; Federal monies should be targeted to be spent in rural areas to prevent Alaska Native youth from entering the juvenile justice system, and to provide intervention programs for these youth; DJJ and the State system as a whole should realign their efforts and systems to promote delinquency prevention efforts by rural communities; DJJ should improve its opportunities for juveniles to obtain effective alcohol/substance abuse treatment; and the Department of Health and Social Services, DJJ, and Alaska Native youth justice groups should review their intervention and treatment efforts currently being delivered to Alaska Native youth. Tables