Administering Services for Dual System Youth: A Comparison of Processes Across Three Midwestern Jurisdictions

• In Event: Contemporary Issues in Youth Justice: A Selection of Unique and Impactful Contributions

Abstract

Existing research on youth involved in both the juvenile justice and child welfare systems has mainly focused on outcomes such as delinquent behavior, homelessness, and residential placement. However, the internal workings and delivery of services within these systems have been largely overlooked. Building on previous research, organizational theory, and the increasing focus on punishment within the criminal justice system, this paper aims to better understand how the juvenile justice and child welfare systems manage youth involved in both systems at an organizational level. Using qualitative interview and focus group data from 36 practitioners across three jurisdictions in the Midwest, this paper seeks to answer the question: What are the current organizational processes of the juvenile justice and child welfare systems in response to youth involved in both systems? The findings reveal that each jurisdiction in the study operates differently, sometimes independently, and there is wide variation in how they administer services. Future studies could use these findings as a framework to categorize different administrative methods and use them as predictors for quantitative analyses to understand how they affect outcomes such as recidivism, permanency, types of placement, and more.

Author

• Lauren Morgan, Dartmouth College - REACH Lab