Findings from a Juvenile Justice Policy Scan Study

• In Event: Improving Outcomes for Youth in the Juvenile Legal System: Status Offenses, Community Supervision, and Workforce Development

Abstract

Objective: Probation is the most commonly used disposition in juvenile courts, affecting hundreds of thousands of youths each year. There is growing attention toward research-informed probation policy and practice, but juvenile probation policies and practices differ across states and localities. Knowledge about variation in state and local policy, practice, and funding structures is limited. Understanding these differences and their implications for policy, practice, and reform efforts is critical to developing targeted strategies to improve outcomes for justice-involved youth. Data/Methods: To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted research through a state census and local survey of agencies overseeing and providing juvenile probation to understand variation within and across states in juvenile probation policy and practice. Results: Findings from the state census and local survey will be discussed in this paper. Conclusion: These findings will inform the local survey and the field’s understanding of variation in probation across states.

Authors

• Erica Henderson, Urban Institute

• Lily Robin, Urban Institute

• Arielle Jackson, Urban Institute

• Janine Zweig, Urban Institute