This report reviews the implementation activities and achievements of Phases I and II of Charlottesville/Albermarle County's (Virginia) Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI), whose objectives were to reduce reliance on the local jail and reinvest resulting cost savings in evidence-based case management in the community.
Charlottesville-Albermarle applied for and was accepted as a Phase One JRI site in the fall of 2011. Phase-One planning began in December 2011, when the JRI Workgroup was established. Work done in Phase One included the creation of workgroups that deliberated on the development of feasible options for reducing jail populations, reducing costs, and improving outcomes. Agreement was reached on how to reinvest the savings expected from the policy changes. In addition, work was done in establishing an information system with the ability to collect data relevant to the measurement of the implementation and outcomes of the JRI. Phase Two of the Charlottesville-Albermarle JRI relied on JRI technical assistance in developing a web-based Administrative Response Matrix (ARM) to address probation violations and rewards for prosocial behavior. The ARM allows for swift, consistent, least restrictive, and transparent responses. Overall, JRI funding and technical assistance have been instrumental in helping Charlottesville-Albemarle examine its jail population drivers and identify practical solutions for reducing its jail populations and improving outcomes for those admitted to and diverted from jail. 1 figure