Measuring Length of Stay in Juvenile Correctional Facilities

• In Event: Experiences of Incarcerated Juveniles

Abstract

Research demonstrates that for many juvenile offenders, lengthy placements in correctional facilities fail to produce better outcomes than alternative sanctions, and may even be counterproductive. A recent national survey of juvenile corrections agencies found that about 2 in 5 do not regularly collect and report length of stay data, and fewer use measures that provide a comprehensive picture of how long youths are staying in different types of facilities. Stronger data collection would give policymakers a better understanding of how their systems perform and also help identify strategies for improvement. The survey, conducted by the Pew Charitable Trusts’ public safety performance project and the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators, examined current practices in data collection, measurement, and reporting for juvenile length of stay.

Author

• Arna Carlock, The Pew Charitable Trusts