Policy Research Shop Support for the Policy Research Shop is provided by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education. Policy Research Shop New Hampshire’s Juvenile Justice System: An Investigation of Current Practices for Handling Youth in the Criminal Justice System Prepared by: Aislinn McLaughlin ’14 Megan Bogia ‘15 Ayesha Dholakia ’15 Grace Hart ‘13 The contents of this report were developed under grant P116B from the U.S. Department of Education. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Policy Research Shop Overview Options available to youth in New Hampshire Juvenile Justice System (JJS) Probation and recidivism High-risk youth in JJS Case studies – Vermont and Massachusetts – Best practices nationwide Implications for New Hampshire

Policy Research Shop Options in the NH JJS Return home; variety of types of programs Community- Based Programs SYSC and YDSU Secure Treatment and Detention Facilities Educational programs Not on permanent record Diversion Programs

Policy Research Shop Community-Based Programs Youth returns home and completes program in the community Variety of types of programs, and judge selects the option they see as most appropriate

Policy Research Shop Secure Treatment and Detention John H. Sununu Youth Services Center (SYSC) – Residential treatment facility for youth Youth Detention Services Unit (YDSU) – Housing for youth prior to disposition from court Small portion of youth involved in JJS placed in secure detention Service Delivery to Youth in the New Hampshire JJS,

Policy Research Shop Diversion Programs Youth rerouted from the court system and sent to a diversion program Allow youth to complete certain requirements in communities instead of being adjudicated Funding is a primary concern

Policy Research Shop Probation and Recidivism Youth are assigned a JPPO who prepares Parole Supervision Plans Recidivism rate in NH is 51.7 percent – Difficult to compare to other states because of inconsistent definitions of recidivism

Policy Research Shop High-Risk Groups of Youth Children with emotional, cognitive or other mental health issues Concerns about funding CHINS Screening process during arraignments Access to counsel Special Needs Treated as adults in New Hampshire Developmental and budgetary concerns 17 Year-Olds

Policy Research Shop Case Study: Vermont Balanced and Restorative (BARJ) Philosophy Emphasis on community-based and diversion programs – Probation options overlap with BARJ programs Lack of recidivism data

Policy Research Shop Case Study: Massachusetts Major reforms in 1970s shifted focus from large-scale detention facilities to community programs – Lower recidivism rates Massachusetts Probation Service Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument- Second Version Court clinic system

Policy Research Shop Best Practices Nationwide Juvenile Assessment Centers (JACs) Growing Up FAST (Families and Adolescents Surviving and Thriving)  family-based Washington’s TeamChild Program

Policy Research Shop Implications for New Hampshire Increase support for community- based options Provide support for diversion programs Modify treatment of high-risk youth