Promising Approaches to Juvenile Justice. Two Examples in Los Angeles County

Transcription

1 Promising Approaches to Juvenile Justice Two Examples in Los Angeles County

2 The Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation Outcomes Study Denise Herz, Ph.D. CSULA David Mitchell, District 1 Bureau Chief, Probation Melissa Nalani, Advancement Project Study made possible through the support of the W.M. Keck Foundation and the California Wellness Foundation.

3 The Probation Outcomes Study Project Team Data Accessibility Research & Analysis Collaboration & Partnership with Key Agencies : Probation, DCFS, DMH, and LACOE Researchers with Expertise & System Trust (CSULA, USC and Research Roundtable Partners) Project Accountability & Outside-System Perspective Advocacy Community Representation (AP & Children s Defense Fund)

4 Study Background 2010/2011 Advancement Project (AP) Meets with Researchers and Probation to Discuss Possible Study 2011 AP Applies for Keck Funding 2012 AP Receives Keck Funding & Data Permissions Sought 2013 Data Collection Begins and Continues through 2014

5 OVERVIEW OF STUDY STRUCTURE & DATA SOURCES The Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation Outcomes Study What was the study time frame for case file data collection?

6 GENDER & RACE/ETHNICITY YOUTH CHARACTERISTICS (N=100) FAMILY HISTORY PROBATION CHARACTERISTICS

7 YOUTH CHARACTERISTICS (N=100) 60% Males 40% Females NOTE: Females were oversampled. Original distribution was 10% in Camp and 20% in Suitable Placement. The Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation Outcomes Study

8 STUDY TIME FRAME FOR CASE FILE DATA COLLECTION (N=100) Original Arrest (Note: Not always youth s first time or first contact with Probation) Preceding Arrest/Petition That Led to Study Placement Study Placement in Suitable Placement or Camp One Year After Exit or Jurisdiction Terminated - Whichever Came First Exit from Study Placement The Original Arrest and the Preceding Arrest can be the same if the disposition for the Original Arrest resulted in the study placement. The Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation Outcomes Study What are the characteristics of these youth?

9 Family (Mother, Father, and/or Siblings) Had a History of Any of the Following Based on Self-Report to the Probation Officer: Public Assistance Substance Abuse Arrest/Incarceration Gang Involvement 56% 60% SUITABLE PLACEMENT CAMP 38% 30% SUITABLE PLACEMENT CAMP 68% 60% SUITABLE PLACEMENT CAMP 22% 20% SUITABLE PLACEMENT CAMP The Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation Outcomes Study

10 Average Age at the Original Arrest SUITABLE PLACEMENT CAMP Average Length in Study Placement % Placed Home on Probation within 1 Year Prior to Study Placement 72% 76% SUITABLE PLACEMENT CAMP % of Study Placements Resulting from a Probation Violation 76% 62% SUITABLE PLACEMENT CAMP Average Age at Time of Placement SUITABLE PLACEMENT CAMP % Under Probation Supervision at Time of Study Placement 90% 92% SUITABLE PLACEMENT The Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation Outcomes Study CAMP What was their involvement other systems?

11 DCFS CONTACT MULTISYSTEM INVOLVEMENT LACOE/EDUCATION DMH SERVICES

12 DCFS Contact Based on 500 cohort youth, 18 cases not included (N=482) The Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation Outcomes Study

13 DMH Services Based on 100 case file youth, 2 cases not included (N=98) The Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation Outcomes Study What behavioral health treatment services did youth receive across the study time frame?

14 LACOE/Education Based on 100 case file youth, 4 cases not included (N=96) The Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation Outcomes Study

15 RECIDIVISM FOR ALL COHORT CASES (N=500) NEW JUVENILE ARRESTS AND SUSTAINED PETITIONS AFTER STUDY PLACEMENT EXIT Note: Data does not include adult arrests.

16 New Juvenile Arrest 1 Year After Study Placement Exit The Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation Outcomes Study How do youth with more positive outcomes compare to those with more challenging outcomes?

17 CASES WITH MORE POSITIVE OUTCOMES RISK & RESILIENCY FACTORS IDENTIFIED BY DEPUTY PROBATION OFFICERS IN CASE NARRATIVES (N=8) CASES WITH MORE CHALLENGING OUTCOMES

18 Suitable Placement The Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation Outcomes Study

19 Camp The Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation Outcomes Study

20 Study Implications for Probation This study has illuminated the fact for Probation that good data and research should drive practice. Probation must improve our data tracking and research. Probation s success with these youth is dependent upon every agency that serves them, including but not limited to Education, DMH and DHS. Probation has implemented best practices in Placement, Placement aftercare and RTSB and CCTP, subsequent to this study, including but not limited to; MDTS, Intensive aftercare services. These practices should improve our outcomes for youth coming out of Camp or Placement. A follow up study is being conducted to determine if our outcomes have improved.

21 Study Implications for Juvenile Justice Reform in Los Angeles County AP Urban Peace Focus: Improving Outcomes in High-Violence Communities Community-Level Transformation System-Level Transformation Accountability Transparency Data-Driven Policy & Practice

22 Study Implications for Juvenile Justice Reform in Los Angeles County Consensus: First Step Toward Improve Youth Outcomes Credible & Accessible Data Data Sharing Across Systems

23 Study Implications for Juvenile Justice Reform in Los Angeles County Establish an ongoing forum with agency representatives as well as other key stakeholder groups, including youth and family. Report findings as starting point for discussion Connect data and findings to practices that address the risks and needs of these youth Develop policies to support the implementation of these practices across agencies.

24 Study Implications for Juvenile Justice Reform in Los Angeles County Establish a Cross-Departmental Juvenile Justice Data Systems Task Force Assess data system capacity Survey best practices and effort alignment Develop set of shared outcomes Develop framework for data-sharing across departments Develop joint plan to achieve an integrated data system that can: Produce data on system decisions and operations Produce data on individual level Track youth positive development Produce program data for evaluation Interface with other data systems Provide user-friendly functionality Ensure data elements are quantifiable

25 The City of Los Angeles Gang Reduction and Youth Development/Probation Reentry Program Partnership Anne Tremblay, GRYD Director Marybeth Walker, Director of the Camp Community Transition Program (CCTP), Probation David Mitchell, District 1 Bureau Chief, Probation Jorja Leap, Ph.D., UCLA, Department of Social Welfare

26 Project Background Second Chance Act Juvenile Reentry 2013 Award Recipient, supporting the implementation of a GRYD Juvenile reentry program in four GRYD Zones The Juvenile reentry strategy focus: engaging youth, ages on probation, returning from Juvenile Hall, or Juvenile Probation Camp & gang involved or classified as been gang involved by law enforcement, and reside within proposed GRYD zones Partner Agencies: Homeboy Industries (Cypress Park/Northeast) and Soledad Enrichment Action- SEA (Florence/Graham 77 th, 77 th (II), & Watts Regional Strategy)

27 Overview of GRYD Reentry Family Case Management (FCM) Referrals must meet the following eligibility criteria: Age Reside in the GRYD Reentry Eligible Zone, attend a school that is considered an in-zone school, or have a significant presence in the zone, including youth residing outside City of LA boundary (County) Member or affiliate of a gang or crew (as determined by the contractor)

28 Overview of Probation s Camp Community Transition Program (CCTP) The purpose of CCTP is to work with minors transitioning from camp to community, and to promote successful rehabilitation through: Family Engagement Assessment Case Planning Involvement of Community Partners. Recognizing Multiple Risk Factors such as: Gang Involvement Substance Abuse Problems Educational Issues Aftercare (CCTP) begins servicing the youth once they are ordered camp and continues until the youth is released from camp. The CCTP Deputy acts as an Agent of Change empowering minors and their families. Our role is to instill trust and hope, motivate, and engage the family.

29 Overview of the Camp Process DPO sends referral to GRYD Reentry at 90 days prior to release. Note: Youth s Primary DPO is located in camp.

30

31 Process and Outcome Evaluation Number of clients and demographics of clients What happened with clients while in they were in the program Impact of services on clients over time Feedback from service providers staff and GRYD staff Feedback from clients and families

32 GRYD Reentry: Progress So Far. Referrals to GRYD (N=55) GRYD CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS (N=25) TOTAL REFERRALS ASSESSED (N=32) REFERRALS WHO BEACME CLIENTS (N=25, 78%) 96% Males LATINO (60%) AFRICAN-AMERICAN (36%) 4% Females OTHER (4%) REFERRALS PENDING FOLLOW-UP (N=23) Client Age at Referral 17 years old 40% Admits to being a gang member 32% Identified as gang member: Cal-gangs or LAPS gang unit Has gang tattoos 8% 8% Has been arrested for gang activity Hangs out with identified gang members On probation for crime consistent with gang activity 24% 32% 36% 4% Active tagbanger Family has multigenerational gang involvement 16%

33 Feedback from clients and families UCLA Evaluation Team plans to interview 25 men/women and their families. Pre interviews will be conducted at roughly 3/4-months after release Post interviews will be conducted at roughly 7-months after release Participation is voluntary and participant/families will receive a gift card for completing the interview. Evaluation Team will record (with permission) all interviews and code them using an open coding process. Themes discussed by at least 1/3 of the sample will be presented in the final report.

34 Methodology for Client & Family Interviews The qualitative component of this evaluation draws upon a case study approach. Case studies are used to understand: Broad questions given complex circumstance Current rather than historical issues Research that includes qualitative and quantitative data Qualitative data will be collected through in-depth semi-structured interview. In-depth interviews allow researchers to rely on the exact language of those who experienced the program they are considered the experts. Interviews will provide individual anecdotes, key themes, and cultural context unaccounted for by the quantitative aspects of the study.

35 An Overview of Interview Content Protocol will guide semi-structured interview through the following areas: Life Trajectory: key moments, successes, and challenges Camp Experience: benefits, challenges, and lessons learned DPO and multi-disciplinary team Family involvement Aftercare Community Reentry: transitioning back into the home/community - what's different?

36 An Overview of Interview Content Continued Protocol will guide semi-structured interview through the following areas: Support System: diagramming/drawing how they envision their support network. Youth Needs: problems they are facing and areas in which they need help. GRYD: like most/like least and relationship with case manager. Additional Programs: is family participating and other recommendations. Probation/Other Systems: support from Probation, DMH, DCFS, School, etc. Goals/Desires: life in 5 years, dreams for the future, and support system needs.

37 Significance of Partnership for GRYD City/County Collaboration, Evaluation and Community-Based Partnerships Juvenile Reentry within the GRYD Comprehensive Strategy community and law enforcement/probation engagement Youth desistance/differentiation from gang and delinquent activity Increase in school enrollment and reduction in recidivism Addressing juvenile detention and impediments to successful Reentry

38 Significance for Probation/CCTP Youth and families are both connected to services while the youth is in camp. GRYD Reentry starts with the family early on. This is invaluable. Collecting data provides an opportunity for Deputy Probation Officers to see how youth and families are doing in the program. Data is connecting the research and practice together. Bigger Picture: The success of the program would led to county-wide operations through a continuation of care after release. This is the future of how we serve our clients.

39 Questions?