Truth show.4.24.11

A Vision to Serve Youth

A few facts about the current system:
DYS served 8,249 Arkansas youth in 2009 through community-based providers. Of those, 636 were committed by a judge for residential treatment and confinement.
22% of youth committed to DYS in 2009 were found guilty of violent crimes; 36% of misdemeanor crimes.
86% of youth committed to DYS custody in 2010 were boys and 52% were African American.

The costs of youth crime:
The total cost of confining a child in an Arkansas lockup is approximately $131,000 per year.
• Every high-risk child who is prevented from living a life of crime can save Arkansas tax-payers $1.7 million to $2.3 million.

One face of juvenile justice
This is “Nina”

Truth #1: Good kids will make bad choices

Kids’ brains make them vulnerable to bad choices.
Brain systems that govern impulse control, planning, and thinking ahead don’t fully develop until mid-20s.
Youth are more vulnerable to thrill-seeking and peer pressure.

The law treats youth differently.
According to the U.S. Supreme Court, youth are not as blameworthy as adults for their irresponsible behavior because their characters and capacity for judgment are not fully developed.
Adolescents aren’t eligible to serve in the military, sit on a jury, drink or vote because they are not fully responsible in their decision making.

Truth #2: Change is hard but not impossible

Youth can change.
As youth develop, their impulsivity, thrill-seeking behavior and vulnerability to peer pressure decline naturally.
• Studies have found that most youth stop committing crimes on their own as they mature.

Truth #3: Community-based programs work for kids . . . and their communities!

Locking youth up hurts them more than it helps.
Although locking up serious offenders is sometimes necessary, studies show that incarcerating most kids provides no benefit to the children or the community.
Incarceration is counterproductive for low-risk youth because interaction with other troubled youth reinforces past behaviors, worsens anti-social tendencies and allows them to acquire more delinquent skills.

Examples of community-based programs and services:
After-school programs
Mentoring
Multi-systemic therapy offering intensive counseling to families on a 24/7 basis
Youth Advocacy Programs involving volunteers from the kids’ neighborhoods
Internships and supported work programs
Drug and alcohol treatment and support programs
Parent education programs
Community conferencing bringing offenders together with victims

Community-based services work
One Arkansas community-based re-entry program has had outstanding results. Of 175 youth participating, only 12 have committed another crime.
Community-based programs in Arkansas have been 93% successful in preventing future arrests.

More community-based results:
In one Arkansas community-based, multi-systemic therapy program, more than 75% of the youth who participated have been discharged from probation and now are engaged, contributing citizens.

Local successes:
Insert your own local facts or case study.
• Additional information goes here.

A juvenile case study
Meet “Eva”

Questions about Eva
What could have been done to keep Eva from being committed to DYS custody?
What kind of community services and supports could help her and her family?
How does the story of Eva change your perceptions about the juvenile justice system?

Community-based programs and services save money
In Florida, the state has saved taxpayers more than $36 million over 4 years by use of community-based treatment programs.
In Ohio, juvenile justice reform returned $45 for every $1 spent on community programs.
Texas saved $200 million by spending $100 million to strengthen community-based services.

What can you do to help?
Volunteer to help mentor a youth or offer an internship or work experience for an adolescent.
Work with your local school, law enforcement or community or religious groups to develop after-school programs for youth, parent supports or other programs for youth and families.
Share information with your state and local government officials to educate them on the effectiveness and cost efficiency of community-based support and services for youth.

They are our kids – and our future!

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Truth show.4.24.11

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Truth show.4.24.11 Presentation Transcript