Perceptions of Violence in the South Bronx

This research brief presents results from one of the first neighborhoods to be involved in John Jay College’s evaluation of Cure Violence. The results depict the respondents’ personal attitudes toward violence and their experiences with violence, as well as their awareness of local violence prevention efforts and their confidence in police and local agencies. Continue reading Perceptions of Violence in the South Bronx

Racial Disparities in Juvenile Drug Arrests

The enforcement of U.S. drug laws during the 1980s and 1990s had disparate impacts on black youth despite the fact that illegal drug use in the U.S. does not differ significantly by race. Even adolescent involvement in drug sales does not vary significantly by race. Studies find that black youth are only slightly more likely than white youth (6% vs. 5%) to be involved in any form of drug selling. According to the most recent national data available from the U.S. Department of Justice, however, drug arrest rates increased far more among black youth than among white youth in recent decades. Continue reading Racial Disparities in Juvenile Drug Arrests

New York’s “Close to Home” Initiative — Lessons Learned

The Research and Evaluation Center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice recently reviewed the outcomes of New York State’s Close to Home initiative. Researchers collected statistical information about the effort, interviewed some of the officials who designed and implemented it, and talked with private providers and advocates. Continue reading New York’s “Close to Home” Initiative — Lessons Learned

New York’s “Close to Home” Initiative – Did it Work?

The Research and Evaluation Center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice reviewed the outcomes of New York’s Close to Home initiative. Researchers collected statistical information about the effort, interviewed many of the officials who designed and implemented it, and talked with private providers and advocates about their impressions of the initative. The study suggests the effort successfully changed the youth justice system in New York City, and in the way intended by the designers of the reform. Continue reading New York’s “Close to Home” Initiative – Did it Work?

Violent Youth Arrests Continue to Fall Nationwide

According to national arrest estimates calculated with data released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), law enforcement agencies across the United States made about 53,000 violent crime arrests involving youth under age 18 in 2013, compared with more than 60,000 in 2012. The total number of violent youth crime arrests fell eight percent overall, led by a decline of 12 percent in arrests for aggravated assault. Continue reading Violent Youth Arrests Continue to Fall Nationwide

Out-of-Home Placements Falling Among Younger Juveniles

Before 1995, placement rates among all delinquency cases were somewhat similar, although the rate among 17-year-olds was not declining as much as the rate for younger youth. After 1995, placement rates for 17-year-olds remained stable, while the rate among youth ages 16 and younger continued to fall sharply. Among adjudicated cases and adjudicated cases involving person offenses, the difference was marked. Continue reading Out-of-Home Placements Falling Among Younger Juveniles

Crime Drop II – Young People are Leading the Newest Violent Crime Decline

During the 1980s and early 1990s, increasing numbers of arrests among juveniles and older youth were disproportionately responsible for the growing rate of violent crime. In recent years, however, young people contributed an even larger share to the declining rate of violent crime. In fact, young people appear to be leading a second crime drop in the United States. Continue reading Crime Drop II – Young People are Leading the Newest Violent Crime Decline

Is the Decline in Juvenile Incarceration Due to Reform or Falling Crime Rates?

Juvenile justice advocacy groups in the United States are celebrating the nation’s falling rate of juvenile incarceration. How do we explain this welcome trend? Some see it as evidence of reform, suggesting that cities and states around the country are handling more young offenders with community-based programs rather than with incarceration or other forms of out-of-home placement. Is this accurate? Continue reading Is the Decline in Juvenile Incarceration Due to Reform or Falling Crime Rates?

Violent Youth Crime Plummets to a 30-year Low

Violent crime arrests involving under-18 youth dropped considerably since 2008. The violent youth  arrest rate peaked in 1994, before falling through 2004. Violent arrests began to grow after 2004, however, reaching a rate of nearly 300 per 100,000 10-17 year-olds between 2006 and 2008. Between 2008 and 2011, the violent youth arrest rate fell sharply once again, plunging from approximately 300 to 200 arrests per 100,000 youth. In 2011, the violent crime arrest rate was 30 percent lower than it had been just three years earlier in 2008. Continue reading Violent Youth Crime Plummets to a 30-year Low

What’s the Evidence for Evidence-Based Practice?

Youth justice practitioners need to understand the basics of evaluation research, including the statistical methods used to generate evidence of program effectiveness. A study that reports statistically significant results is not necessarily evidence of effectiveness, and being evidence-based does not mean a program is guaranteed to work. In today’s youth justice system, understanding these basic principles of evaluation research is part of every practitioner’s job. Continue reading What’s the Evidence for Evidence-Based Practice?

Increasing Drug Arrests after 1980 had Disproportionate Effect on Women

The number of drug-related arrests reported by U.S. law enforcement agencies increased sharply between 1980 and 1995, and for some groups the volume of arrests did not decline significantly between 1995 and 2010. The largest relative growth in drug arrests occurred among adult women, especially those charged with drug possession offenses rather than sales or manufacture. Drug arrests involving male offenders still outnumbered those involving females in 2010, but arrests of women increased more since 1980. Continue reading Increasing Drug Arrests after 1980 had Disproportionate Effect on Women

Less Serious Offenses Account for 90 Percent of the Growth in Juvenile Placements

Juvenile court cases involving charges of obstruction of justice, simple assault, drug law violations, vandalism, and disorderly conduct combined accounted for 48,200 new placement cases in 2008, or more than 90 percent of all growth in out-of-home placements between 1985 and 2008. Continue reading Less Serious Offenses Account for 90 Percent of the Growth in Juvenile Placements

Violent Crime Rates Continue to Fall Among Juveniles and Young Adults

The declines in the rate of murder arrests involving juveniles and young adults completely reversed the increases seen prior to 1994, bringing murder arrest rates down to levels below those of 1980. In general, the changing arrest rates for older juveniles mirrored those of young adults during the 1990s and early 2000s. Robbery was the exception. Continue reading Violent Crime Rates Continue to Fall Among Juveniles and Young Adults