NCJ Number
244839
Date Published
2013
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This report provides strategies for those States seeking to improve their own juvenile justice systems.
Abstract
Georgia was faced with high juvenile justice expenditures (around $90,000 per bed per year) and a juvenile offender recidivism rate of 50 percent. This report provides various strategies used in the State of Georgia to improve the performance within their juvenile justice system. Topics addressed in this publication include: an overview of the problem; highlights; background; key findings; and the 2013 legislative package which endorsed strategies and issued recommendations that focus State facilities on higher-level offenders; reduce recidivism by investing in evidence-based programs and practices; and improve government performance by requiring data collection and performance-based contracting. These 2013 initiatives are expected to save Georgia nearly $85 million through 2018 and avoid the need to open two additional juvenile residential facilities. Additionally, these initiatives should allow the State to reinvest a portion of the savings to expand community-based programs and practices proven to reduce recidivism. Figures and endnotes