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?
Staying Connected
When justice systems are “realigned,” youth are supervised by local agencies and placed with locally operated programs rather than being sent away to state facilities. New York’s “Close to Home” (or C2H) initiative is a prominent example of youth justice realignment. With primary support from the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation and additional funds from the Pinkerton Foundation, the Research & Evaluation Center reviewed the design and implementation of the initiative. Continue reading Staying Connected
Albany Times Union—Juvenile Justice Changes ‘Successful,” John Jay College Study Shows
Jeffrey Butts, a report author, criticized removing a young person from his neighborhood “in hopes that you can eliminate some of the negative influences when at the same time destroying the positive influences.” He said nothing is added by keeping the youths too far away from home. Butts, the director of John Jay’s Research and Evaluation Center, cautioned against reading too much into the numbers. Juvenile crime has been declining nationally for years and detention placements, among other factors, also declined. However, the report said, the program was successful in changing the culture of the juvenile justice system by enhancing the role of families and communities in the rehabilitation process. Continue reading Albany Times Union—Juvenile Justice Changes ‘Successful,” John Jay College Study Shows
AECF Evaluation Projects
The Research and Evaluation Center worked with two progressive youth service agencies as part of the Evidence Generation Initiative to document their routine practices, to create rigorous theories of change and logic models, and to explore the measures necessary to organize mission-relevant data. Continue reading AECF Evaluation Projects
JeffreyButts.net 