NCJ Number
181599
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 63 Issue: 2 Dated: December 1999 Pages: 16-24
Editor(s)
Ellen W. Fielding
Date Published
1999
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) was launched in 1993 as a multi-year, multi-site project to demonstrate that jurisdictions can reduce reliance on secure detention without sacrificing public safety.
Abstract
The JDAI had four basic objectives: (1) Eliminate inappropriate or unnecessary use of secure detention; (2) Minimize failures to appear and the incidence of delinquent behavior; (3) Redirect public finances from building new facility capacity to responsible alternative strategies; and (4) Improve conditions in secure detention facilities. An evaluation of the JDAI at five sites in Illinois, Wisconsin, Oregon, New York, and California demonstrated collaboration is difficult but well worth the effort, judicial leadership is essential, juvenile detention reform efforts must be enhanced, adequate data on characteristics of the detained population are needed, significant change is possible, and the process of juvenile detention reform can be fragile. Details on the evaluation of the five sites are presented that illustrate various pathways to juvenile detention reform and lessons learned. 3 notes and 9 figures