Juvenile Justice Planning and Juvenile Justice Planning and Oversight Coordinating Council:Oversight Coordinating Council:

A joint presentation by:A joint presentation by:

Connecticut Juvenile Justice AllianceConnecticut Juvenile Justice AllianceJudicial BranchJudicial Branch

Department of Children and FamiliesDepartment of Children and Families

September 6, 2007

How did we get here and How did we get here and where do we go now?where do we go now?

HistoryHistory

CT is currently one of only 3 states CT is currently one of only 3 states that tries ALL 16- & 17-year-olds as that tries ALL 16- & 17-year-olds as adults, regardless of the charges. adults, regardless of the charges.

When youth are tried as adults, there When youth are tried as adults, there are poor outcomes for youth and are poor outcomes for youth and

community.community.

• receive fewer rehabilitative supports including: education, treatment receive fewer rehabilitative supports including: education, treatment and vocational training;and vocational training;

• are at risk of “school of crime” training, with unhealthy adult mentors.are at risk of “school of crime” training, with unhealthy adult mentors.

When they reenter, they…• are subject to increased stigma and labeling; • may have weakened ties to family and other support systems;• will have difficulty finding and keeping a job.

When youth are tried as adults they…

Trying Youth as Adults Does NOT Trying Youth as Adults Does NOT Prevent Them from Future OffendingPrevent Them from Future Offending

Youth in the adult system are more likely Youth in the adult system are more likely to reoffend than youth in the juvenile to reoffend than youth in the juvenile system --system --– They will reoffend more quickly and more They will reoffend more quickly and more

oftenoften– And for more serious offensesAnd for more serious offenses

“The weight of evidence shows that youth who are transferred from the juvenile court system to the adult criminal system are approximately 34% more likely than youth retained in the juvenile court system to be re-arrested for violent or other crime.” (2007). The Task Force on Community Preventive Services supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(see appendix a)

Community Support Community Support

350 community 350 community members filled the members filled the Capital Building in Capital Building in Hartford to show Hartford to show their support for their support for RTARTA

Public SupportPublic Support

“Gov. M. Jodi Rell vaulted Connecticut to the forefront of the juvenile justice reform movement when she signed a bill that removes 16- and 17-year-old offenders from the adult courts and puts them back into the juvenile justice system where they clearly belong.”

“One of the highlights of the General Assembly’s recent session was passage of a bill…that raises the age of adult incarceration from 16 to 18, except in those very infrequent cases where 16- and 17-year olds commit violent crimes.”

Juvenile Justice System More Juvenile Justice System More Appropriate for YouthAppropriate for Youth

IndividualizedIndividualized and a greater amount of and a greater amount of supervision, supervision, care, and treatmentcare, and treatment provided pursuant to an individual provided pursuant to an individual case management plan that case management plan that involves the familyinvolves the family of the of the juvenilejuvenile. .

School and community programs promoting School and community programs promoting prevention prevention and reentryand reentry. .

A statewide system of A statewide system of community-based servicescommunity-based services designed to designed to keep the juvenile in the home and keep the juvenile in the home and community community whenever possible.whenever possible.

The juvenile justice system in Connecticut is grounded in the concepts of restorative justice, emphasizing protection of the community, offender accountability, and rehabilitation. The goals of the system include:

Legislatively Mandated Committee 2006-2007Legislatively Mandated Committee 2006-2007

The The Juvenile Jurisdiction Planning and Juvenile Jurisdiction Planning and Implementation CommitteeImplementation Committee (JJPIC)(JJPIC) was created was created through legislation. through legislation. ““Pursuant to Pursuant to Public Act 06-187Public Act 06-187, section 16, the , section 16, the committee shall plan for the implementation of any committee shall plan for the implementation of any changes in the juvenile justice system that would be changes in the juvenile justice system that would be required in order to extend jurisdiction in delinquency required in order to extend jurisdiction in delinquency matters and proceedings to include sixteen-year-old and matters and proceedings to include sixteen-year-old and seventeen-year-old children within the Superior Court for seventeen-year-old children within the Superior Court for Juvenile Matters.”Juvenile Matters.”

History

Juvenile Jurisdictional Planning Juvenile Jurisdictional Planning and Implementation Committeeand Implementation Committee

http://www.cga.ct.gov/hdo/jjpic/http://www.cga.ct.gov/hdo/jjpic/

– Schedule of meetings Schedule of meetings

– Meeting agendas and minutesMeeting agendas and minutes

– Copies of PowerPoint presentationsCopies of PowerPoint presentations

Role of Contracted VendorsRole of Contracted Vendors

– Vera Institute – Project ManagementVera Institute – Project ManagementCo-led “Front-End” workgroupCo-led “Front-End” workgroup

– Hornby Zeller Associates – Service Needs / Gap Hornby Zeller Associates – Service Needs / Gap AnalysisAnalysis

Co-led “Services” workgroupCo-led “Services” workgroup– NCSC – Court Process and Staffing NCSC – Court Process and Staffing

Co-led “Court Issues” workgroupCo-led “Court Issues” workgroup

Three highly qualified, national groups Three highly qualified, national groups provided consultation and co-led three provided consultation and co-led three workgroups:workgroups:

JJPIC RecommendationsJJPIC Recommendations

Pass legislation in the 2007 session to Pass legislation in the 2007 session to raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction from raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction from 16 to 18.16 to 18.

Improve court diversion and pre-trial Improve court diversion and pre-trial detention practices.detention practices.

JJPIC RecommendationsJJPIC Recommendations

Establish Regional Youth Courts.Establish Regional Youth Courts. (see appendix b)(see appendix b)

Phase in an effective system of services Phase in an effective system of services and supports for 16- and 17-year-olds.and supports for 16- and 17-year-olds.

Establish a Policy and Operations Establish a Policy and Operations Coordinating Council.Coordinating Council.

Projected OutcomesProjected Outcomes

Lower re-arrest Lower re-arrest ratesratesFewer youth Fewer youth incarcerated, placed incarcerated, placed or hospitalizedor hospitalizedReduced use of illicit Reduced use of illicit substancessubstancesReduced minority Reduced minority representationrepresentation

More youth completing More youth completing schoolschoolIncreased engagement in Increased engagement in pro-social activitiespro-social activitiesBetter family functioningBetter family functioningImproved community Improved community safetysafety

Two Bills Resulted from JJPICTwo Bills Resulted from JJPIC

S.B. 1196—An Act Concerning Children S.B. 1196—An Act Concerning Children and Youth in Juvenile Matters and Youth in Juvenile Matters

H.B. 6285—An Act Concerning Children H.B. 6285—An Act Concerning Children and Youth in Juvenile Matters and the and Youth in Juvenile Matters and the Recommendations of the Juvenile Recommendations of the Juvenile Jurisdiction Planning and Jurisdiction Planning and Implementation CommitteeImplementation Committee

(see appendix c and d)(see appendix c and d)

Legislative Process Legislative Process

Bipartisan support for both bills Bipartisan support for both bills

Public hearingsPublic hearings

Informational sessionsInformational sessions

2007 Legislation2007 Legislation

What Happened: What Happened: The language from the The language from the two bills was carried over into the special two bills was carried over into the special legislative session and became Sections legislative session and became Sections 73 and following of the budget 73 and following of the budget implementer bill, HB 1500. implementer bill, HB 1500.

2007 Legislation 2007 Legislation

Implementer signed June 30, 2007 Implementer signed June 30, 2007 – Public Act 7-4 “…for purposes of delinquency Public Act 7-4 “…for purposes of delinquency

matters and proceedings, ‘child’ means any matters and proceedings, ‘child’ means any person (A) under eighteen years of age, or (B) person (A) under eighteen years of age, or (B) eighteen years of age or older who, prior to eighteen years of age or older who, prior to attaining eighteen years of age, has attaining eighteen years of age, has committed a delinquent act …”committed a delinquent act …”

– Goes into effect January 1, 2010Goes into effect January 1, 2010

(see appendix e)

Not ALL 16- and 17-year-olds will Not ALL 16- and 17-year-olds will return to juvenile systemreturn to juvenile system

16 and 17 year olds legally considered 16 and 17 year olds legally considered juveniles in all delinquency proceedings, juveniles in all delinquency proceedings, with the following exceptionswith the following exceptions– Motor vehicle infractions and violations Motor vehicle infractions and violations – Class A and B felonies Class A and B felonies – Prosecutorial discretion in all felony casesProsecutorial discretion in all felony cases

Transfer to Adult CourtTransfer to Adult Court

Juveniles age 14 or 15 charged with a Class A or B Juveniles age 14 or 15 charged with a Class A or B felony are automatically transferred to the adult criminal felony are automatically transferred to the adult criminal court.court.

Additionally, juveniles age 14 or 15 charged with a Class Additionally, juveniles age 14 or 15 charged with a Class C or D felony or with an unclassified felony may be C or D felony or with an unclassified felony may be transferred to the adult criminal court upon a motion by transferred to the adult criminal court upon a motion by the juvenile prosecutor and order of a Juvenile Matters the juvenile prosecutor and order of a Juvenile Matters Judge (discretionary transfers).Judge (discretionary transfers).

Juveniles charged with a Class B felony and the Juveniles charged with a Class B felony and the “discretionary transfers” can be returned to the Superior “discretionary transfers” can be returned to the Superior Court for Juvenile Matters upon order of a judge in the Court for Juvenile Matters upon order of a judge in the adult court.adult court.

Juvenile Justice Policy and Juvenile Justice Policy and Operation Coordinating CommitteeOperation Coordinating Committee

Sec. 88. (Sec. 88. (Effective from passageEffective from passage) (a) There is ) (a) There is established a Juvenile Jurisdiction Policy and Operations established a Juvenile Jurisdiction Policy and Operations Coordinating Council. The council shall monitor the Coordinating Council. The council shall monitor the implementation of the central components of the implementation of the central components of the implementation plan developed by the Juvenile implementation plan developed by the Juvenile Jurisdiction Planning and Implementation Committee, as Jurisdiction Planning and Implementation Committee, as set forth in subsection (f) of this section, and resolve set forth in subsection (f) of this section, and resolve issues identified by the committee, as set forth in issues identified by the committee, as set forth in subsection (g) of this section, concerning changes subsection (g) of this section, concerning changes required in the juvenile justice system to expand required in the juvenile justice system to expand jurisdiction to include persons sixteen and seventeen jurisdiction to include persons sixteen and seventeen years of age. years of age.

Recent SuccessesRecent Successes

The Connecticut Juvenile Justice System has The Connecticut Juvenile Justice System has undertaken significant reform efforts and undertaken significant reform efforts and achieved important gains in recent years, achieved important gains in recent years, resulting in better outcomes for children and resulting in better outcomes for children and the community.the community.

Success in Recent yearsSuccess in Recent years

Significant reduction in delinquency commitments Significant reduction in delinquency commitments

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005

Success in Recent yearsSuccess in Recent years

Joint work between DCF and Judicial:Joint work between DCF and Judicial:– Joint Juvenile Justice Strategic PlanJoint Juvenile Justice Strategic Plan– Emily J. Settlement AgreementEmily J. Settlement Agreement– Joint Case Planning and Service ProvisionJoint Case Planning and Service Provision– FWSN ReformFWSN Reform– Joint Investment in Evidence-Based and Joint Investment in Evidence-Based and

Promising PracticesPromising Practices

SuccessesSuccesses

Two examples of these joint programs:Two examples of these joint programs:

Flex Funding for Court-Involved ChildrenFlex Funding for Court-Involved Children

Work/LearnWork/Learn

Flex funding for Flex funding for court-involved childrencourt-involved children

Flex Funding is used to purchase a variety of services or goods, not otherwise contracted, but important for children’s and families’ success

DCF contracts for Flex funding, through a fiduciary agency, for:

Detention-involved children at risk for residential treatment

Court-involved children supervised in the community (through a joint project with CSSD)

Flex funding for Flex funding for court-involved childrencourt-involved children

Services purchased with flex funding include:Services purchased with flex funding include:– Mentoring and Therapeutic MentoringMentoring and Therapeutic Mentoring– Social and recreational programmingSocial and recreational programming– Educational Consultation, Advocacy & TutoringEducational Consultation, Advocacy & Tutoring– Assistance with food, clothing and furnishingsAssistance with food, clothing and furnishings– TransportationTransportation– Individual, family, and specialized therapiesIndividual, family, and specialized therapies

Work/Learn ProgrammingWork/Learn Programming

Skills and Interests InventoriesSkills and Interests Inventories

Academic AssessmentsAcademic Assessments

TutoringTutoring

Post-secondary Educational PlanningPost-secondary Educational Planning

In-House Youth Business and Training In-House Youth Business and Training

Employment AssistanceEmployment Assistance

Life Skills and Financial Literacy TrainingLife Skills and Financial Literacy Training

Community EngagementCommunity Engagement

Current Reforms UnderwayCurrent Reforms Underway

Who are the 16- and 17-year-olds in the Who are the 16- and 17-year-olds in the system?system?

What reforms are already happening to What reforms are already happening to ease their transition into the juvenile ease their transition into the juvenile justice system?justice system?

Profile of 16- & 17-year-old Profile of 16- & 17-year-old OffendersOffenders

12,633 total criminal cases12,633 total criminal cases11 (10,075 unique youth)(10,075 unique youth)

2,256 youth sentenced to probation2,256 youth sentenced to probation22

1,725 youth currently on probation1,725 youth currently on probation22 (as of 9/14/2006)(as of 9/14/2006)

1 Source: Judicial Branch Court Operations1 Source: Judicial Branch Court Operations2 Source: Court Support Services Division2 Source: Court Support Services Division

FY 2006 Data on Court-Involved 16- and 17-year-olds

16- & 17-year-olds Sentenced to Probation16- & 17-year-olds Sentenced to Probation

Judicial Branch’s Tenets for Judicial Branch’s Tenets for Program and System DevelopmentProgram and System Development

Community SafetyCommunity SafetyDevelopmentally Appropriate Developmentally Appropriate Strength BasedStrength BasedFamily InclusiveFamily InclusiveTrauma SensitiveTrauma SensitiveCommunity BasedCommunity BasedCulturally Competent & Gender ResponsiveCulturally Competent & Gender ResponsiveBased on Juvenile Need/Risk LevelBased on Juvenile Need/Risk Level

Judicial Branch’s Judicial Branch’s Four-Point PlanFour-Point Plan

1.1. Modify Probation Workforce (1/08)Modify Probation Workforce (1/08)

2.2. Adapt Juvenile Service Delivery Adapt Juvenile Service Delivery System (1/08)System (1/08)

3.3. Create New Programs for Youth (1/09)Create New Programs for Youth (1/09)

4.4. Establish Infrastructure to Ensure Establish Infrastructure to Ensure Positive Outcomes (On-Going)Positive Outcomes (On-Going)

Continuum of Services for Continuum of Services for New Haven Pilot ProgramNew Haven Pilot Program

Clinical EvaluationsClinical Evaluations– PsychiatricPsychiatric– PsychologicalPsychological– Substance AbuseSubstance Abuse– Sex OffenderSex Offender

Mental Health ServicesMental Health Services– Intensive In-Home Child and Adolescent Intensive In-Home Child and Adolescent

Psychiatric Services (IICAPS)Psychiatric Services (IICAPS)– 8 slots available at any given time8 slots available at any given time

Continuum of Services for Continuum of Services for New Haven Pilot ProgramNew Haven Pilot Program

In-patient Substance Abuse TreatmentIn-patient Substance Abuse Treatment– 4 dedicated slots for New Haven youth to add to the 4 dedicated slots for New Haven youth to add to the

statewide capacitystatewide capacity

Educational / Vocational ServicesEducational / Vocational Services– Work / Learn ModelWork / Learn Model– 20 slots available at any given time20 slots available at any given time

Continuum of Services for Continuum of Services for New Haven Pilot ProgramNew Haven Pilot Program

Youth Risk Reduction CenterYouth Risk Reduction Center– Aggression Replacement TherapyAggression Replacement Therapy– MET/CBT/FSNMET/CBT/FSN– VOICES and Girls CircleVOICES and Girls Circle– (Gun) Violence Prevention(Gun) Violence Prevention– TARGETTARGET– Family Violence Education ProgramFamily Violence Education Program– Brief Strategic Family TherapyBrief Strategic Family Therapy

Continuum of Services for Continuum of Services for New Haven Pilot ProgramNew Haven Pilot Program

Outcomes ResearchOutcomes Research Central CT State University won competitive Central CT State University won competitive

bidding process to evaluate NH YPI.bidding process to evaluate NH YPI.

CCSU will be reporting quarterly on the CCSU will be reporting quarterly on the progress of the New Haven Pilot Program, with progress of the New Haven Pilot Program, with a final outcome report expected in Spring 2009. a final outcome report expected in Spring 2009.

DCF Development PlanDCF Development Plan

Internal inter-bureau group to analyze:Internal inter-bureau group to analyze:– potential caseload and service needspotential caseload and service needs– Nationally recognized best and promising Nationally recognized best and promising

practicespractices– Impact of PA07-4 on other DCF bureausImpact of PA07-4 on other DCF bureaus

Child WelfareChild Welfare

Behavioral HealthBehavioral Health

Adolescent ServicesAdolescent Services

DCF Development PlanDCF Development Plan

Review of current DCF risk/needs dataReview of current DCF risk/needs data

Strategies for behavioral health servicesStrategies for behavioral health services

Strategies to address impact on DCF area Strategies to address impact on DCF area officesoffices

Study of 16 and 17 year olds at DoCStudy of 16 and 17 year olds at DoC– Program and service needsProgram and service needs– Housing needsHousing needs– Community SafetyCommunity Safety

Role of JJPOCCRole of JJPOCC

Public Act 7-4 section 16 (g) lists Public Act 7-4 section 16 (g) lists some questions for the JJPOCC to some questions for the JJPOCC to consider:consider:

What’s Left?What’s Left?

Disproportionate Minority ContactDisproportionate Minority Contact– How does DMC affect who is in the juvenile How does DMC affect who is in the juvenile

justice system?justice system?– How do we build a system that will eliminate How do we build a system that will eliminate

DMC?DMC?

What’s Left?What’s Left?

DCF/CSSD: Placement & TreatmentDCF/CSSD: Placement & Treatment– What is the need for out-of-home care?What is the need for out-of-home care?

Placement CapacityPlacement Capacity– Short term/long termShort term/long term

Specialization/Type of facility/careSpecialization/Type of facility/care– Current/projectedCurrent/projected

What’s Left?What’s Left?

Development of Diversion ProgramsDevelopment of Diversion Programs– What already exists? What already exists? – What needs to be created?What needs to be created?– Whose responsibility?Whose responsibility?

What’s Left?What’s Left?

CSSD/Judicial: Court Diversion and Pre-CSSD/Judicial: Court Diversion and Pre-trial Detention Practicestrial Detention Practices

Serious Juvenile OffensesSerious Juvenile Offenses– Should list of SJOs be reconsidered?Should list of SJOs be reconsidered?

Are there youth who enter detention now that Are there youth who enter detention now that might not have to? Are there related might not have to? Are there related policies/procedures that should be reviewed?policies/procedures that should be reviewed?

What’s Left?What’s Left?

Impact of 16 & 17 yr olds on state agencies Impact of 16 & 17 yr olds on state agencies such as:such as:– Department of Mental Health and Addiction ServicesDepartment of Mental Health and Addiction Services– State Department of EducationState Department of Education– Public DefendersPublic Defenders– ProsecutorsProsecutors– Department of LaborDepartment of Labor– Department of Social ServicesDepartment of Social Services– DCF DCF (Child Protective Services, Adolescent Behavioral Health System)(Child Protective Services, Adolescent Behavioral Health System)

– Judicial Branch Judicial Branch (CSSD, Court Operations)(CSSD, Court Operations)

Impact on Local/Municipal agencies such as Impact on Local/Municipal agencies such as police departmentspolice departments

What’s Left?What’s Left?

Now that 16 & 17 year olds are being Now that 16 & 17 year olds are being treated as juveniles in the justice system, treated as juveniles in the justice system, what other laws need to be reconsidered?what other laws need to be reconsidered?– Mandatory school attendance (signing out of Mandatory school attendance (signing out of

school at 16 years)school at 16 years)– Custodial interrogationCustodial interrogation

What’s Left?What’s Left?

DCF/CSSD: Assessment ToolDCF/CSSD: Assessment Tool– What are the pros/cons of current assessment What are the pros/cons of current assessment

tools at different decision-making points in the tools at different decision-making points in the system? system?

What’s Left?What’s Left?

Judicial: Regional Youth CourtsJudicial: Regional Youth Courts What will be the needs of the Judicial Branch What will be the needs of the Judicial Branch

regarding the following issues?regarding the following issues?– StaffingStaffing– FacilitiesFacilities– EquipmentEquipment– Automation Automation – OperationalOperational– LegalLegal

What’s Left?What’s Left?

Judicial/Legislative: Adult court elements Judicial/Legislative: Adult court elements imported to JJ systemimported to JJ system– Does Connecticut want to incorporate certain Does Connecticut want to incorporate certain

aspects of the adult court system (i.e. bond, aspects of the adult court system (i.e. bond, jury trial, fines, expungement, probationary jury trial, fines, expungement, probationary sentences, etc.) to the juvenile justice sentences, etc.) to the juvenile justice system?system?