NCJ Number
221190
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 69 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2007 Pages: 92-94
Date Published
December 2007
Length
3 pages
Annotation
In following up on a previous article that mentioned Idaho's investment in quality improvement in juvenile corrections and some expected benefits, this current article examines how the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections (IDJC) implemented these quality improvements, as well as the status and results of these efforts.
Abstract
What works principles have been firmly established as foundations for all IDJC programs; and virtually all State and contracted programs have consolidated their approaches to treatment into a more consistent and coordinated effort. The tools used to measure the quality of the application of what works principles have also been firmly established; however, full quality reviews, including corrections program checklists, cannot be completed on all programs on a regular basis due to resource limitations. The standardized contract compliance review tools developed have been effectively used to keep IDJC's management team aware of the status of contract implementation and issues related to each contract. Where quality reviews and checklists have been done, the overall scores show that most evaluated programs score in the "satisfactory" or higher range. In the three State facilities where performance-based standards are fully implemented, data collected twice annually consistently show improved levels of staff and youth safety. Recent findings on decreased reoffending have been encouraging. The benefits of quality improvement envisioned by the IDJC include risk management, more relevant allocation of resources, better compliance with rules and standards, and a better ability to demonstrate effectiveness. These objectives have promoted setting the following priorities for quality improvement: the promotion of juvenile correctional practice based on sound evaluations of what works, the promotion of practice that uses performance-based standards that are nationally accepted, and the promotion of the continued growth and development of the principles of quality improvement throughout the IDJC. 1 figure and 4 notes