NCJ Number
240315
Date Published
December 2010
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This paper reviews the features and cost-effectiveness of major juvenile justice reforms in Connecticut over the past decade, and it outlines key challenges that remain.
Abstract
Connecticut's juvenile justice reforms have kept children who have committed no crimes out of the courts; reserved restrictive, expensive sanctions for those who committed serious offenses; diverted children to community-based services; and addressed behaviors that underlie their offenses. These reforms have reduced juvenile court caseloads, along with the number of juveniles incarcerated, without undermining public safety. The reforms have also reduced costs associated with expensive and often counterproductive case processing and increased cost-effectiveness by using cheaper and more effective programs and services. Juvenile crime overall has declined, and juveniles have committed fewer violent crimes. Recidivism rates have declined, largely due to the impact of affordable community-based programs. Five challenges remain, however, in Connecticut's efforts to improve its juvenile justice policies. First, children and youth of color are over-represented in the juvenile justice system, and they are sanctioned more harshly than White juveniles for the same offenses. Second, arrests for crimes committed by youth in schools are too common. Third, many juveniles still enter the system unnecessarily. Fourth, all 17-year-olds are still inappropriately processed in the adult criminal justice system. Fifth, too many Connecticut children and youth are placed in out-of-State facilities. 7 figures, 2 tables, and 18 notes