NCJ Number
212987
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 41 Issue: 3 Dated: 2005 Pages: 93-122
Date Published
2005
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This study analyzed the economic impact of youths’ 12-month post-program recidivism on the Florida juvenile justice system across five different juvenile diversion programs.
Abstract
Results confirmed the findings of previous research on 6-month recidivism rates and costs to the juvenile justice system. Lower rates of recidivism and corresponding lower costs to the juvenile justice system were associated with participation in the community-based Juvenile Alternative Service Program (JASP) compared to the other four alternative juvenile programs. The findings suggest that the Florida legislature was misguided in its decision to eliminate funding for the JASP if the goal of criminal justice policy is to maximize outcomes while minimizing costs. The programs that replaced the JASP are associated with increases in post-program recidivism and higher direct costs to the justice system. The evaluation came about as a result of Florida legislature budget cuts that eliminated the community-based JASP in 2000 and replaced it with juvenile justice based diversion programs such as the Walker Plan and expanded arbitration programs that allow greater penetration into the juvenile justice system. This allowed for a comparison of the costs associated with participant recidivism across five different diversion programs. Data were drawn from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and included arrest history, current charges, and information on program participation and compliance. Participants were selected from December 1999 through May 2000 as they entered 1 of the 5 diversion programs: JASP (n=180), expanded arbitration (n=46), IDDS (n=105), Prodigy (n=74), and the Walker Plan (n=179). Future research should consider replicating this finding in other States where similar budget cuts have impacted juvenile diversion programming. Tables, figures, references, notes