For over a decade, juvenile crime rates and arrests have declined, but some jurisdictions still struggle to reach a corresponding reduction in the number of young people sent to secure detention. New Jersey has seen a dramatic 60% reduction in its use of secure detention since the implementation of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s JDAI. While nationally JDAI is operational in 40 states, New Jersey is the only state to be designated as a national model for detention reform by the Casey Foundation. New Jersey receives funding from the Casey Foundation to support JDAI, and specifically to conduct two-day working sessions with delegations from other states interested in replicating New Jersey’s JDAI success. In addition to Georgia, delegations from Arizona, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Nebraska, Washington State, South Dakota, New York State, and Pennsylvania have attended the workshops as a part of New Jersey’s JDAI “Model Site” Program.

Juvenile detention is a temporary placement of a youth accused of a delinquent act, while awaiting the final outcome of his or her case in court. The purpose of detention is to house youths who, by virtue of their alleged offenses or documented prior histories, pose serious threats to public safety or represent a flight risk. A primary goal of JDAI is to make sure that secure detention is used only in cases involving serious and chronic youthful offenders, and that effective alternatives are available for other youths who can be safely supervised in the community while awaiting final court disposition. In addition to reducing the inappropriate use of secure detention while maintaining public safety, the initiative also provides a framework of strategies that help reduce the disproportionate use of detention for minority youth.

“We know both from research and direct experience that incarceration is one of the strongest predictors of re-offense,” said Acting Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino. “JDAI has provided New Jersey with the tools to avoid unnecessary detention of low-level juvenile offenders by delivering appropriate rehabilitative services in their communities. The rehabilitative services provided through JDAI help young people avoid the risk-taking behaviors that often come with adolescence, and also keep our communities safe.”

As the lead agency in the New Jersey collaborative, the JJC works in partnership with the Judiciary, and other state and local agencies through the statewide Council on Juvenile Justice System Improvement (CJJSI) which guides the statewide initiative. Each participating county also relies on a local county council for collaboration, leadership, and data to make improvements in the county juvenile justice system.

“In New Jersey, we have remodeled the juvenile justice system to focus on prevention services and developmentally appropriate treatment. We are redesigning the juvenile justice maze to ensure that alternatives to detention and services exist instead of carving a direct path to incarceration. It has been proven that whenever possible keeping young people in their communities is optimal for rehabilitation and better serves our communities,” said Kevin M. Brown, Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission.

“We are pleased to welcome colleagues from Georgia to discuss our efforts to implement JDAI statewide,” Chief Justice Stuart Rabner said. “The JDAI initiative has brought about positive changes for individuals, families, and communities in New Jersey. We hope that our experience can be helpful to others and look forward to exchanging ideas about juvenile justice reforms during the upcoming visit.” 

“The first and most important lesson taught by New Jersey is that success is possible,” said Nate Balis, Director of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Juvenile Justice Strategy Group. “New Jersey has demonstrated that states can play a central and invaluable role in spreading the JDAI model and in helping detention reform succeed at the local level."

To date, 19 New Jersey counties are participating in JDAI, including Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren.

Georgia currently uses JDAI in two counties and is seeking to expand its JDAI implementation. Their delegation will include the State JDAI Coordinator; the chair of Georgia’s State JDAI Committee; Executive Director of the Council of Juvenile Court Judges and juvenile judges; and a representative of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of Georgia.

For more information on JDAI, please visit:
www.aecf.org/blog/juvenile-justice-reforms-in-new-jersey-chronicled-in-annie-e-casey-foundat/

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