STANFORD FORUM ON JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM

STANFORD FORUM ON STANFORD FORUM ON JUVENILE JUSTICE JUVENILE JUSTICE

REFORMREFORM

Not your father’s youth authority…Not your father’s youth authority…

For example:

71% of youth in DJJ institutions last November were committed for violent offenses

43% used a weapon during their commitment offense

71% of the boys, and 63% of the girls, were 18 or older

86% were minority; half Hispanic

The California Department of The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - Division Corrections and Rehabilitation - Division

of Juvenile Justiceof Juvenile Justice

Most DJJ facilities were built decades ago for Most DJJ facilities were built decades ago for a population that no longer existsa population that no longer exists

Primary Offense on First CommitmentPercent of Admissions: 1960-2004

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04

Violent

Property

Drug

Other

Year

Source: CDCR Office of Research

The increase in violent offenses has been The increase in violent offenses has been accompanied by an increase in the average accompanied by an increase in the average length of staylength of stay

Average Length of Stay (months) 1986 - 2005

18.821.5

26.5 25.6 26.1 27.125.6

24.2 25.026.8 27.5

29.8

33.936.2 35.8

37.5 38.135.8 34.7

36.3

13.7 14.4 13.6 14.1 13.6 13.4 12.810.8

9.07.6

22.124.2

26.227.5 27.8 28.8 29.2

26.3 25.5

22.8

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Initial CommittmentParole Violators

All Youth

Source: Planning team analysis of data provided by CDCR Office of Research

Unusual features of the California Unusual features of the California Juvenile Justice systemJuvenile Justice system

California has the longest extended age for juvenile court California has the longest extended age for juvenile court jurisdiction (age 24) in the nation. Only 6 states extend jurisdiction (age 24) in the nation. Only 6 states extend jurisdiction beyond the age of 20jurisdiction beyond the age of 20

California is one of 6 states where length of stay is based California is one of 6 states where length of stay is based on an indeterminate commitment with a maximumon an indeterminate commitment with a maximum

California is one of 11 states which have the juvenile California is one of 11 states which have the juvenile authority within an adult corrections agencyauthority within an adult corrections agency

California is one of 7 states with a juvenile parole boardCalifornia is one of 7 states with a juvenile parole board

As part of the Farrell lawsuit, the parties As part of the Farrell lawsuit, the parties visited various states identified as exemplaryvisited various states identified as exemplary

MissouriMissouri FloridaFlorida TexasTexas ColoradoColorado WashingtonWashington

We made a few comparisons of California to these states …

Compared to these states, California houses Compared to these states, California houses a low percentage of committed youth in its a low percentage of committed youth in its state facilitiesstate facilities

Percent of Committed Youth in State or State Contracted Facilities - Selected States 2003

36.2%

55.1% 59.7%69.7% 74.4% 78.1% 80.8%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

California Florida UnitedStates

Colorado * Washington Texas Missouri

* 36% of Colorado’s committed youth are excluded from this analysis due to data limitations

Source: OJJDP Census of Juveniles in Residential Placements, 2003

The state “incarceration rate” for youth in The state “incarceration rate” for youth in California is the lowest among the California is the lowest among the comparison statescomparison states

Committed Youth in State or State Contracted Facilities per 1,000 Youth Age 12 to 17 - Selected States 2003

1.251.43 1.60 1.68 1.73

2.242.51

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

California Colorado * United States Washington Missouri Texas Florida

* 36% of Colorado’s committed youth are excluded from this analysis due to data limitations

Source: OJJDP Census of Juveniles in Residential Placements, 2003

Why do DJJ institutions Why do DJJ institutions cost so much?cost so much?

DJJ institutions cost more than DJJ institutions cost more than $120,000 per youth in FY 05-06$120,000 per youth in FY 05-06

2005-06 Expenditures *2005-06 Expenditures *Juvenile operationsJuvenile operations $178,589,000$178,589,000

Juvenile education & programsJuvenile education & programs $138,523,000$138,523,000

Juvenile paroleJuvenile parole $ 40,468,000$ 40,468,000

Juvenile healthcareJuvenile healthcare $ 56,135,000$ 56,135,000

TotalTotal $413,715,000$413,715,000

Less paroleLess parole $ 40,468,000$ 40,468,000

Total for institutionsTotal for institutions $373,247,000$373,247,000

Average daily population for 2005Average daily population for 2005 3,100 3,100

Cost per bed per yearCost per bed per year $ 120,402$ 120,402

* Source: Governor’s Budget, Budget Year 2006/07* Source: Governor’s Budget, Budget Year 2006/07

Other states cost far lessOther states cost far less

The five comparison states that The five comparison states that were visited generally cost less were visited generally cost less than half of DJJ costs.than half of DJJ costs.

Missouri $57,170

Washington * $68,564

Florida $57,998

Texas $56,582

Colorado (waiting for data)

* Washington costs do not include education

How can this be?How can this be?The analysis in not complete but preliminary The analysis in not complete but preliminary findings findings (subject to refinement)(subject to refinement) show that: show that:

In Washington State, the average salary for the position equivalent to a Youth Correctional Officer (YCO) is 55% of that earned by a typical YCO in California.

Adjusting for wage differences, the same program in California would cost about $113,000 per youth per year – a figure which does not include educational costs.

The average for the position equivalent to a Youth Correctional Counselor (YCC) is 67% of a YCC in California.

Cost comparison continuedCost comparison continued

In Missouri, the average salary for the position equivalent to a Youth Correctional Counselor is 41% of that earned by a typical YCC in California. (Missouri does not employ Youth Correctional Officers.)

Adjusting for wage differences, the same program in California would cost about $141,000 per youth per year. (This calculation also subject to refinement.)

How can cost be so high?How can cost be so high?

While additional work is needed, it appears that the While additional work is needed, it appears that the primary reason is that California pays youth correctional primary reason is that California pays youth correctional officers and counselors much more than other states.officers and counselors much more than other states.

Additional analysis (e.g. staffing levels) may explain Additional analysis (e.g. staffing levels) may explain other cost differences.other cost differences.

This does not explain why outcomes in California – This does not explain why outcomes in California – such as parole revocations and recidivism - fail to such as parole revocations and recidivism - fail to measure up to those in the exemplary comparison measure up to those in the exemplary comparison states.states.