DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE UPDATE

Presented to: The Georgia Association of Homes and Services for Children

The Mission

MISSION

• Public Safety

• Accountability

• Competency Skills

Community CorrectionsGwendolyn B. Skinner, Deputy Commissioner#2 Peachtree St., 5th Floor, Atlanta 30303

404-657-2430

Bonnie Teal, Admin. Assist.404-657-2430

Margaret Smith, Clerk404-463-6927

VACANT, Operations Analyst404-463-7690

Cheryl J. Dresser, Ast. Deputy Comm. 404-657-2416

Don Nix, Reg. Admin.225 W Line St., Ste.5

Calhoun 30701706-624-1175

Stella BrowneOperations Analyst

404-657-2433

Micki Smith, Reg. Admin.1833 L’ville Hwy.

Decatur 30033-5728404-679-4949

Wanda LoveOperations Manager

404-657-2432

District 1 Chris West, D.D.1513 Cleveland Ave., Bldg. 100-A

East Point 30344404-559-4200

District 3 Preben Heidemann, D.D.692 N. Glynn St., Ste. 300

Fayetteville 30214770-460-2450

District 5, Clayton Mims, D.D.1500 Gillionville Rd., Albany 31702

912-430-4238

District 6, Adam Kennedy, D.D.Courthouse Sq., Reidsville

912-557-7910

District 4, Cameron Kelsey, D.D.180 Emery Hwy., Macon 31208

912-751-6313

District 2, Kip Mann, D.D.855 Sunset Dr., Ste. 18

Athens 30606706-369-5764

Donna Shaw, Budget Analyst404-463-8240

PROPOSED DISTRICTS

PROPOSED REGIONS

Case Management and Court Services

• Case Managers:

Juvenile Probation and Parole Specialists 330.5

Case managers funded by grants 25.5

Case managers funded by counties 10.0

Privatized aftercare case managers 22.0

TOTAL 388.0

Youth involved in Court Services have more than doubled over the past 9 years

FY90 FY91 FY92 FY93 FY94 FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY990

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

26,718 27,597 28,993 30,630

35,43437,750

46,904

52,49855,761

53,966

Profile of Youth in the DJJ System

• About 40% of all youth supervised or in custody of DJJ are eligible for special education services

• Of those screened:– Nearly half (46%) are classified as “emotionally

or behaviorally disordered” – About 10% are classified as “severely

emotionally disturbed” – 17% are classified as “learning disabled”

Profile of Youth in RYDCs

• 79% boys / 21% girls

• 62% African-American

• Average age = 15

Profile of Youth in DJJ Long Term Facilities

90-day programs: 79% boys / 21% girls

58% African-American Average age = 16

Regular YDC placement94% boys / 6% girls74% African-AmericanAverage age = 17

Georgia Experience 1990-1998:

• 123% increase in juvenile arrests

• 17% increase in “high risk” age group

Juvenile Arrests in Georgia byGender: 1990 through 1999

8947

19002

2239124755

2156

27387 26647 26647 26647

26647

28108

57097259 8027

9714 9988 10529 10529 10529

10529

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Male Female

Georgia Juvenile Arrests For Violent Crimes, Ages 10-17, 1980-98

(murder, manslaughter, rape, agg. assault, robbery)

Georgia Juvenile Arrests For Major Property Crimes, Ages 10-17, 1980-98

(burglary, larceny, auto theft)

80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 980

4,000

8,000

12,000

16,000

-24%1995-98

Georgia Total Juvenile Part II Arrests, 1980-98

80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 980

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000 +200% 1990-98

Juvenile Part II Arrest Rates (1991-1998)

• Status offenses + 54%

• Public order + 55%

• Drug possession + 190%

RYDCs are Straining to Meet the Demands of the System

•RYDCs are overcrowded

•Physical plants are outdated and poorly designed

•Facilities are understaffed

RYDC Annual Admissions, 1990-99

90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 990

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000+102%1990-99

Most (71%) youth admitted to RYDCs during FY99 came in on Property, Public Order, or Violation of

Probation offenses

Property24%

Public Order22%

Drug Selling2%

Status6%

Drug Use7%

Weapons3%

Traffic1%Victimless

0%

Violent Sex2%

Sex Non-Violent

1%

Violent7%

VOP/VOAC/VOAP25%

Georgia Total Part II Juvenile Arrests, By Urban/Rural 1980-98

80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 980

3,000

6,000

9,000

12,000

15,000

18,000

Metro Atlanta

Non-Metro Atlanta Urban

Rural

+380% 1990-98

+96% 1990-98

+135% 1990-98

Why are so many kids held in secure detention?

• Admission Practices

• Absence of a continuum of detention alternatives

• Differing opinions on the appropriate use of secure detention

RYDC Projections (2000-2005)

• More growth in commitments (+16%) than non-commitments (+4%)

• More growth in females (+30%) than males (+1%)

Alternatives to Secure Detention

Non-Secure Detention/Emergency Shelter

Contract Home

Multi-Service Center

Housebound Detention

Behavior Aides

Tracking

Conditional Release

Wrap-Around Services

Initiatives

• Lorenzo Benn 27 Bed Non-Secure Detention• Weekend Sanction Programs• Multi-Systemic Family Therapy• Chatham 12 Bed Non-Secure Detention • 8 Bed Girls Group Home• 33 Bed Wilderness Program (SE Georgia)• Addition of 108 staff• Assumption of RYDCs