In 2017, DJJ partnered with the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) to adopt their Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). We serve as the Lead Agency in reducing overreliance on detention and improving outcomes for the youth in the state.
Since the 1990s, AECF has worked to create a system that locks up fewer youth and relies more on proven, family-focused interventions that create opportunities for positive youth development. The definition of JDAI has expanded to include system improvement efforts for the juvenile justice continuum, from the front door through out-of-home placements.
The JDAI model aligns with the State’s reform agenda to make our Juvenile Justice system the best it can be for our most vulnerable population. It directly aligns with DJJ's mission of protecting the public and reclaiming youth by:
- eliminating inappropriate/unnecessary use of detention.
- minimizing failure to appear and incidences of delinquent behavior.
- redirecting public finances to more effective reform strategies.
- reducing racial/ethnic/gender/geographical/offense disparities and advancing equity.
- improving conditions in secure detention facilities.
8 Core Strategies of JDAI
Using a model rooted in eight core strategies, JDAI proves effective in helping participating jurisdictions create alternative programs for juvenile offenders, thus safely reducing their detention populations.
- Collaboration
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Eliminating Disparities
- Objective Admissions Screening
- Alternatives to Detention
- Case Processing
- Special Detention Populations
- Conditions of Confinement