Transcript Harris County JDAI: Juvenile Justice and Detention Reform.pdf

Annie E. Casey Foundation
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI)
Harris County JDAI:
Juvenile Justice and
Detention Reform
Tom Brooks, Executive Director
Juvenile Probation
HCJPD Coordinator
[email protected]
713.222.4801
Nancy Baird, Site Coordinator
JDAI Harris County
[email protected]
713.680.1727
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative
Purpose:
To demonstrate that jurisdictions can establish more
effective and efficient systems to accomplish the
purposes of juvenile detention.
5 Core Objectives:
1)
Eliminate inappropriate or unnecessary use of secure
detention.
2)
Minimize failures to appear and incidence of delinquent
behavior.
3)
Redirect public finances to successful reform strategies.
4)
Improve conditions in secure detention facilities.
5)
Reduce racial and ethnic disparities.
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI)
JDAI: 8 Core Strategies
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Collaboration
Reliance on Data
Objective Admissions Criteria (RAI)
Alternatives to Secure Detention
Expedited Case Processing
6.
7.
8.
Strategies for “Special” Detention
Cases (VOPS, WRITS, Warrants, etc.)
Strategies to Reduce Racial Disparities
Rigorous Facility Inspections
Harris County JDAI Definition of Detention
“Detention is the temporary and safe custody of juveniles.
Generally, secure detention should be utilized for youth who by
nature of their offense(s) or conduct are found to be a danger to
self/others, or are believed to be a flight risk. Less restrictive
alternatives to secure detention are preferred.”
(Approved by JDAI Executive Steering Committee 07/22/08)
Our Horizon is as
distant as our mind’s
eye wishes it to be.
~Jim E. Casey~
Governing Structure of Harris County JDAI
Executive Steering Committee – Governing Body of Harris County JDAI
Ed Emmett
Chair
County Judge
Harris County
Sylvia R. Garcia
Vice-Chair
Commissioner
Harris County Commissioners Court
Sylvia Bolling
Member
Director
Aldine Y.O.U.T.H. Center
Tom Brooks
Member
Executive Director
Harris County Juvenile Probation
Rev. D.Z. Cofield
Member
Senior Pastor
Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church
Dr. Ralph Draper
Member
Superintendent
Spring Independent School District
Adrian Garcia
Member
Sheriff
Harris County
Ana Hernandez
Member
Representative
State of Texas, District 143
Harold Hurtt
Member
Chief of Police
Houston Police Department
Patricia Lykos
Member
District Attorney
Harris County
Ernest “Uche” Orieh
Member
Co-Founder
PEENA
Deacon Joe Rubio
Member
Vice President
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese
of Galveston-Houston
Dr. Steven Schnee
Member
Executive Director
Mental Health Mental Retardation
Authority of Harris County (MHMRA)
Michael Schneider
Member
Judge
315th District Court
Kay Sim
Member
Executive Director
Houston Bar Association
Governing Structure of Harris County JDAI
Management Oversight Committee
Governing Body of Harris County JDAI Task Forces
John Phillips
Chair
Judge
314th District Court
Thomas Brooks
Vice-Chair
Executive Director
Harris County Juvenile
Probation
Nancy H. Baird
Member
Site Coordinator
Harris County JDAI
Sylvia Bolling
Member
Director
Aldine Y.O.U.T.H. Center
Luis Gavito
Member
Director, Charter &
Safe Schools Initiative
Houston Independent School
District
Bill Moore
Member
Juvenile Division Chief
Harris County DA’s Office
Andrea
Hinckson
Member
Deputy Chief of Staff
State Senator Rodney Ellis
Ron C. Lewis
Member
Attorney
Marshall & Lewis LLP
Rev. Leslie
Smith
Member
CEO
Change Happens!
John Trevino
Member
Assistant Chief
Houston Police Department
8 Core Strategies – Activities & Results to Date
1. Collaboration – Committees and Task Forces
 Executive Steering Committee – Created and
Active
 Management Oversight Committee – Created
and Active
 Training Harris County staff and stakeholders
– Created and Active
 250 community stakeholders committed to
reforming Harris County’s juvenile justice
system.
8 Core Strategies – Activities & Results to Date
2. Reliance on Data – Active and Ongoing
 Establishing, gathering, and monitoring relevant
data for inclusion in JDAI reports and improved
services to juveniles.
 Ongoing submission of quarterly, progress, and
results reports to Annie E. Casey Foundation
JDAI.
8 Core Strategies – Activities & Results to Date
3. Risk Assessment Instrument (RAI) Task Force

Purpose: Develop objective Risk
Assessment Instrument (RAI) for Juvenile
Probation Intake to decide whether to detain
or a release a referred juvenile.

Chairs: Tim Broussard and Susan Bonich,
Juvenile Probation Administrators.

Status: Risk Assessment Instrument (RAI)
implemented on February 1, 2009.

Update: 32% reduction in detention
population since implementation of JDAI
(2007).
8 Core Strategies – Activities & Results to Date
4. Rigorous Facility Inspections – Self-Inspection Task Force

Purpose: Examine all aspects of Juvenile Detention’s
policies, practices, and programs to prepare a
comprehensive report on findings and implementation of
corrective action plans.

Chairs: Dennis Englade – Juvenile Probation Officer and
Malikah Marrus – Researcher, Southwest Juvenile Defender
Program, University of Houston.

Status: Self-Inspection completed, final report due
January 2010.
8 Core Strategies – Activities & Results to Date
5. Alternatives to Secure Detention Task Force
✓ Purpose: Develop a continuum of services for additional
alternatives to detention.

Chairs: Judge Beverly Malazzo – Juvenile Court
Referee
Rebecca DeCamara –
Projects Director, Juvenile Probation

Status: Initial meeting in October 2008.
✓
Update: Contract with Southwest Keys Program to open
Neighborhood Evening Reporting Center in January
2010.
8 Core Strategies – Activities & Results to Date
6. Case Processing Task Force
 Purpose: Expedite flow of cases through the juvenile justice system.
 Chairs: Helen Jackson – Retired H.C. Assistant District Attorney
Guadalupe Mendiola – Court Services, Juvenile Probation.
✓
Status: Initial Task Force meeting January 2009, and initial
recommendations submitted to Management Oversight Committee
October 2009.
8 Core Strategies – Activities & Results to Date
7. Strategies to Reduce Racial Disparities – DMC Task Force

Purpose: Develop strategies aimed at eliminating bias
and ensuring a level playing field for youth of color.

Chairs: Judge Mike Fields and Gloria Moreno –
Commissioner Sylvia Garcia’s office.

Status: Initial meeting February 2009, completed Burns
Institute training, and reviewing preliminary data.
8 Core Strategies – Activities & Results to Date
8. Strategies for “Special” Detention Cases (VOPS, WRITS, Warrants,)
✓ Purpose: Evaluate and develop new practices for youth in custody as a
result of probation violations, writs and warrants, and those
awaiting placement.
✓ Chairs: Julia Ramirez, Deputy Chief, Juvenile Probation & Eric Laird,
Constable, Precinct 1.

Status: Initial meeting May 2009, developing progressive
sanctions grid.
Harris County Juvenile Probation
Statistics
2007
2008
Change
Referrals to Juvenile
Probation
23,164
20,885
↓ 11%
Detention Admits
6,649
5,363 – males
1,276 – females
6,597
5,446 – males
1151 -- females
↓ 1/2%
Petitions Filed by
DA
15,706
14,608
Residential Facilities
4,098
515 – non-county
3,583 – county
3,654
633 – non-county
3,021 – county
TYC Commitments
533
299
Staff
1,500
1,511
↑ 1%
Law Enforcement
130
130
--
School Districts
26
26
--
Annual Budget
$ 95 Million
$ 105.5 Million
↑ 11%
↓ 8%
↓ 12%
↓ 78%
JDAI and Harris County
For Additional Information:
Nancy H. Baird, Site Coordinator, Harris County JDAI
[email protected]
713.680.1727
713.569-2469 (cell)
Tom Brooks, Executive Director, Harris County Juvenile Probation
[email protected]
713.222.4801
Annie E. Casey Foundation
JDAI Help Desk
http://www/jdaihelpdesk.org