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Why Raise the Age?

Why Raise the Age?. Keeping kids in the juvenile system prevents crime Lower recidivism vs. peers in adult system Juvenile system often holds kids more accountable Crimes that appear minor in adult court get attention here

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Why Raise the Age?

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  1. Why Raise the Age? Keeping kids in the juvenile system prevents crime • Lower recidivism vs. peers in adult system Juvenile system often holds kids more accountable • Crimes that appear minor in adult court get attention here • Must go to school, participate in counseling, other services mandated by the court

  2. Where do states stand? • Two (NY, NC) set adulthood at 16 • Connecticut is one of 11 states that sets it at 17 • Federal law is moving toward protecting anyone under 18 as a juvenile

  3. The law in Connecticut • As of January, 2010, 16-year-olds joined the juvenile system • As of July, 2012, 17-year-olds will join the juvenile system • (Kids charged with A and B felonies are still treated as adults)

  4. Finding Room Even after adding16-year-olds, the systemis still smaller today than it was just a few years ago

  5. We made thechange when … … court referrals were down …

  6. We made thechange when … … court referrals were down … … detention numbers were down … Source: Judicial Branch

  7. We made thechange when … … and the CJTS census was low … detention numbers were down … 2009 203 admissions 2008 201 admissions 2007 189 admissions 2006 215 admissions Source: DCF CJTS Reports to Legislature, 06-09

  8. The impactof 16-year-olds • Projected system increase: 40% • Actual system increase: 22% • And remember:The system is still smallerthan it was just a few years ago. Source: Judicial Branch

  9. Even with 16-year-olds court referrals are below 06-07 levels FY 06-07 Delinquency, FWSN, YIC 19,242 CY 2010 Delinquency, FWSN, YIC 16,275

  10. Even with 16-year-olds,detention is below ’06 levels Source: Judicial Branch

  11. CJTS admissions have not yet seen a major impact 2010 211 admissions 2009 203 admissions 2008 201 admissions 2007 189 admissions 2006 215 admissions Source: DCF CJTS Annual Reports to Legislature 06-10

  12. Financial impactless than anticipated Unspent money to implement Raise the Age FY2010 $7.1 million Estimated unspent in FY2011 $4.7 million Total $11.8 million Source: Office of Fiscal Analysis

  13. Why is the systemshrinking? • Smart investments in prevention • FWSN reform, Family Support Centers • Home-based interventions • A commitment to serve kids in the least restrictive environment

  14. What’s been the resultof this new approach? Good for public safety Source: Judicial Branch

  15. What’s been the resultof this new approach? Good for the budget Avg. daily cost Detention $377 Secure residential $562 CJTS $774

  16. Raise the Age is goodfor the adult system • Removed 4,000 16-year-olds from the adult system in 2010 • Will remove 6,000 17-year-olds from the adult system in 2012 Remember, kids tried in juvenile system show lower recidivism rates than those tried in adult system

  17. System continues to “right size” • Number of youth under 16 in juvenile justice system reduced 10% between 2009 and 2010 • These outcomes with only 4 FWSN Family Support Centers open • Shrinking trend will continue Source: Judicial Branch

  18. More FSCsMore Kids ServedMore Diversion Source: Judicial Branch

  19. What does all this mean? There was room to absorb 16-year-olds There IS much more room to absorb 17-year-olds than we anticipated

  20. Raise the Age has provento be a policy that • Costs less than anticipated • Is manageable for the state and municipalities • Does no harm to public safety now • Leads to future crime prevention • Addresses concerns about the adult system

  21. Moving ahead withRaise the Age in 2012 • Continuing commitment to diversion will keep the system small • As we’ve seen with 16-year-olds, the system can absorb change • Smart • Fair • Economical

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