NCJ Number
238129
Date Published
December 2010
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This report from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy examines the funding mechanism used by the State's juvenile courts.
Abstract
In 2009, the Washington State Legislature passed legislation requiring the use of a new funding formula for the State's juvenile courts. The formula emphasizes that the funds should be administered as a block grant to local juvenile courts and be used for evidence-based programs and disposition alternatives. This report from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy examines the criteria used to allocate funding and report on participants in programs subject to the block grant. Six criteria are included in the formula used for allocating block grant funds: 1) the degree of at-risk population (10- to 17-year-olds) served - 38 percent; 2) the number of participants in evidence-based programs by risk level - 25 percent; 3) the size of the minority population targeted - 18 percent; 4) the assessed risk level of juvenile court population - 15 percent; 5) the number of participants in the Chemical Dependency Disposition Alternative - 3 percent; and 6) the number of participants in the Mental Health Disposition Alternative or Suspended Disposition Alternative - 2 percent. The analysis found that the number of participants in evidence-based programs increased following the legislature's decision to invest more money into these programs in order to avoid future prison construction. In addition, the analysis found that local juvenile courts have prioritized block grant funds for evidence-based programs as required by the 2009 legislation. A brief overview of policy reforms instituted by the State legislature is included in the report. Tables and appendixes