NCJ Number
241618
Date Published
November 2012
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Recognizing that determining the costs associated with each stage of the juvenile justice process is a critical part of the development of cost-effective policies, this toolkit focuses on how to calculate costs associated with a youth's arrest.
Abstract
The proposed approach provides reformers with a simple formula that produces consistent, accurate, and conservative results. The formula consists of multiplying a law enforcement officer's average hourly rate (including benefits, support costs, and overhead costs) by the average number of hours it takes to arrest a youth. The sections of this toolkit use budget data for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to walk the reader through locating budget information, calculating an officer's average hourly rate, determining the number of hours per arrest, and estimating the cost of arrest. Detailed instructions are provided on each of the five steps involved in determining the cost of arrests. The first step is to locate budget information. The second step is to identify law enforcement officers' salaries, benefits, support, and overhead costs. The third step is to identify the number of full-time employees. The fourth step is to determine the average hour need to arrest a youth. The concluding step is to do the mathematical calculations that will determine the cost of an arrest. The concluding statement notes that understanding how money is spent in a police task can be instrumental in demonstrating that more resourceful spending is often associated with the use of more humane, effective, and appropriate responses to youth who commit crimes. 3 figures and contact information for technical assistance