Jan 03, 2016
Why Raise the Age?
Keeping kids in the juvenile system prevents crime•Lower recidivism vs. peers in adult system
Juvenile system often holds kids more accountable•Crimes that appear minor in adult court get attention here•Must go to school, participate in counseling, other services mandated by the court
Where do states stand?
• Two (NY, NC) set adulthood at 16• Connecticut is one of 11 states that sets
it at 17• Federal law is moving toward protecting
anyone under 18 as a juvenile
The law in Connecticut
• As of January, 2010, 16-year-olds joined the juvenile system
• As of July, 2012, 17-year-olds will join the juvenile system
• (Kids charged with A and B felonies are still treated as adults)
Finding Room
Even after adding16-year-olds, the system
is still smaller today than it was just a few years ago
We made thechange when …
… detention numbers were down …
… court referrals were down …
Source: Judicial Branch
… and the CJTS census was low
2009 203 admissions 2008 201 admissions 2007 189 admissions 2006 215 admissions
We made thechange when …
… detention numbers were down …
Source: DCF CJTS Reports to Legislature, 06-09
The impactof 16-year-olds
• Projected system increase: 40%• Actual system increase: 22%• And remember:
The system is still smallerthan it was just a few years ago.
Source: Judicial Branch
Even with 16-year-olds court referrals are below 06-07
levels
FY 06-07 Delinquency, FWSN, YIC 19,242
CY 2010 Delinquency, FWSN, YIC 16,275
2010 211 admissions2009 203 admissions 2008 201 admissions 2007 189 admissions 2006 215 admissions
CJTS admissions have not yet seen a major impact
Source: DCF CJTS Annual Reports to Legislature 06-10
Unspent money to implement Raise the Age
FY2010 $7.1 million
Estimated unspentin FY2011 $4.7 million
Total $11.8 million
Financial impactless than anticipated
Source: Office of Fiscal Analysis
Why is the systemshrinking?
• Smart investments in prevention• FWSN reform, Family Support Centers• Home-based interventions• A commitment to serve kids in the least
restrictive environment
What’s been the resultof this new approach?
Good for the budget
Avg. daily cost
Detention $377
Secure residential $562
CJTS $774
Raise the Age is goodfor the adult system
• Removed 4,000 16-year-olds from the adult system in 2010
• Will remove 6,000 17-year-olds from the adult system in 2012
Remember, kids tried in juvenile system show lower recidivism rates than those tried in adult system
System continues to “right size”
• Number of youth under 16 in juvenile justice system reduced 10% between 2009 and 2010
• These outcomes with only 4 FWSN Family Support Centers open
• Shrinking trend will continue
Source: Judicial Branch
What does all this mean?
There was room to absorb 16-year-olds
There IS much more room to absorb 17-year-olds than we anticipated
Raise the Age has provento be a policy that
• Costs less than anticipated• Is manageable for the state and
municipalities• Does no harm to public safety now• Leads to future crime prevention• Addresses concerns about the adult
system
Moving ahead withRaise the Age in 2012
• Continuing commitment to diversion will keep the system small
• As we’ve seen with 16-year-olds, the system can absorb change
– Smart– Fair– Economical