NCJ Number
216397
Date Published
June 2006
Length
56 pages
Annotation
This "Implementation Guide" shares the experiences of the National Demonstration Project, which tested a set of measures for the performance of four jurisdictions in meeting juvenile justice goals defined by the American Prosecutor Research Institute, the Criminal Justice Institute's Balanced and Restorative Justice Project, and the National Center of Juvenile Justice.
Abstract
The National Demonstration Project showed that it is possible and feasible to measure the performance of juvenile justice systems. The project team continues to promote performance measures and reports to juvenile justice professionals and policymakers from communities across the country. The intention of this Implementation Guide is to share the experiences of the National Demonstration Project so that other jurisdictions may develop or improve their performance measurement strategies. In measuring the furtherance of community safety, the jurisdictions participating in the National Demonstration Project measured the juvenile crime rates, law-abiding behavior, and subsequent adult criminal convictions of individuals involved in the juvenile justice system. Ensurance of offender accountability was measured by performance in the provision of restitution to victims and the community, work service, and crime-victim satisfaction. The development of youth competency was measured by offenders' resistance to drugs and alcohol abuse, school participation, employment, and volunteer/citizen participation. Over a 6-month period, jurisdictional teams collected data on these 10 performance measures and presented their findings in a systemwide "report card." The report cards were then given to key system actors, policymakers, and citizens through newspapers, Web sites, or other appropriate means. Appended report card form and report cards from the participating jurisdictions