1. Youth First Initiative National Survey Results and Analysis

2. Survey Methodology Survey conducted January 19 – 24, 2016 1,000 interviews among adults online using a web-based panel. Care was taken to ensure that the sample is representative of the U.S. adult population. Margin of error +/- 3.1 percentage points at 95% confidence level 1 Figure 1

3. Figure 2 Punishment vs. Prevention

4. Americans Overwhelmingly Favor Prevention and Rehabilitation Over Punishment and Incarceration Figure 3 While taking this survey, when you read the term "youth justice system," it refers to the government agencies that handle truant or runaway youth and youth accused of acts of delinquency, including courts, correctional facilities, probation and parole departments, detention centers and other out-of-home confinement facilities. Compared to the way things are now, when it comes to the youth justice system, do you think there should be more focus on punishment and incarceration or more focus on prevention and rehabilitation?

5. Support for Prevention and Rehabilitation Crosses Gender and Partisan Lines Figure 4 Compared to the way things are now, when it comes to the youth justice system, do you think there should be more focus on punishment and incarceration or more focus on prevention and rehabilitation?

6. Support for Prevention and Rehabilitation Strong Across the Country Figure 5 Compared to the way things are now, when it comes to the youth justice system, do you think there should be more focus on punishment and incarceration or more focus on prevention and rehabilitation?

7. Youth Justice System Focus By Experience With Criminal Justice System Punishment and incarceration Prevention and rehabilitation FAMILY OR FRIEND TIME IN PRISON Yes2080 No2476 FAMILY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT Yes2377 No2377 CRIME VICTIM Yes2080 No2476 6 Whether you know someone impacted by the criminal justice system, been a victim of crime, or have a family member in law enforcement support is consistent for a focus on prevention and rehabilitation Figure 6

8. Figure 7 Youth Justice Reform Proposals

9. Broad Support for Youth Justice Reform Agenda Close youth prisons and redirect the savings to community-based programs including intensive ones designed for youth who pose a serious threat to public safety Design treatment and rehabilitation plans that include a youth's family in planning and services Require states to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the youth justice system Increase funding to provide more public defenders who represent children in court Provide financial incentives for states and municipalities to invest in alternatives to youth incarceration, such as intensive rehabilitation, education, job training, community services, and programs that provide youth the opportunity to repair harm to victims and communities Figure 8

10. Total Favor by Key Groups for Youth Justice Reform Policies Figure 9 % Total Favor Include Family Alternatives Reduce Racial Disparities Provide More Public Defenders Close Youth Prisons/Open Community Programs GENDER Men8778676952 Women9087737055 RACE White8981666851 African American9183898066 Latino8889727158 PARTY Democrats9186837764 Independents8883717351 Republicans8778525344 Support strongest with African Americans and Democrats, weakest with whites and Republicans

11. Figure 10 % Total Favor Include Family Alternatives Reduce Racial Disparities Provide More Public Defenders Close Youth Prisons/Open Community Programs AGE Under 308780777867 30-399089737258 40-49898274 52 50-648880646246 65+9182666446 REGION East8882717056 South8982686752 Midwest8880697252 West8987747155 VICTIM OF VIOLENT CRIME Yes9084697152 No8883726955 Support for Closing Youth Prisons Strongest with Younger People, Weakest with Older

12. Strong Support for Reform Proposals for Youth Who Pose a Risk to Public Safety 11 Require facilities that incarcerate youth to let youth see their families at least once a week Create an independent commission of community leaders tasked with ensuring that youth are protected from abuse while in state or local custody Require that incarcerated youth are placed in facilities within 60 miles of their families Figure 11 Require that youth are placed in facilities with no more than 30 other youth

13. Figure 12 % Total Favor Protect from Abuse See Families Close to Families No More Than 30 Other Youth GENDER Men85 7667 Women90868376 RACE White87868069 African American97918082 Latino82817873 PARTY Democrats92908576 Independents85847670 Republicans85827767 Some Differences by Gender, Race, Party Identification

14. Minor Differences on Some Proposals Based on Relationship to Law Enforcement and Prison Figure 13 % Total Favor Protect from Abuse See Families Close to Families No More than 30 Other Youth FAMILY OR FRIEND TIME IN PRISON Yes88 8175 No87847970 FAMILY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT Yes80797864 No88868072

15. Figure 14 Principles

16. Strong Support for Basic Principles Underlying Reform 15 Technical violations of probation and other types of supervision, such as missing curfew or testing positive for drug use, should not result in placement in a youth prison Teaching youth who commit an offense to take responsibility for his or her actions does not require incarceration Youth should not be placed in juvenile corrections facilities for offenses that would not be crimes if they were adults, such as skipping school or running away from home When it comes to youth offenders, what is most important is that the system does a better job of making sure that he or she gets back on track and is less likely to commit another offense Figure 15

17. Those Connected to Law Enforcement Less Likely to Agree on Technical Violations, but Other Results Similar Figure 16 % Total Agree for Youth Justice Reform Proposals Focus on rehab Not crimes if adult Take responsibility Technical violations FAMILY OR FRIEND TIME IN PRISON Yes93877764 No91817158 FAMILY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT Yes89817248 No92847362

18. Strong Support for Rehabilitation Over Incarceration Figure 17 (REHAB BEST) When it comes to youth who have committed delinquent acts, the best thing for society is to rehabilitate them so they can become productive members of society.. (INCARCERATE BEST) When it comes to youth who commit delinquent acts, the best thing for society is to incarcerate them so that our streets are safer Which of the following statements do you agree with more?

19. Clear Belief that Most Youth Have the Potential for Positive Change Figure 18 (CAPABLE OF GROWTH Most youth who commit delinquent acts are capable of positive growth, and they have the potential to change for the better. (UNLIKELY TO CHANGE) Most youth who commit delinquent acts are unlikely to change for the better, and they will likely continue a life of illegal behavior Which of the following statements do you agree with more?

20. Opportunity Trumps Punishment Figure 19 (PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY) The youth justice system should provide youth with more opportunity to better themselves. (FOCUS ON PUNISHMENT) The youth justice system should focus on punishing youth who have committed delinquent acts Which of the following statements do you agree with more?

21. Agreement on Effectiveness and Cost Savings of Rehabilitation Figure 20 (REHAB WORKS) Rehabilitation programs like counseling and education for youth who have committed delinquent acts helps prevent future delinquent acts. (REHAB DOESN’T WORK) Rehabilitation programs like counseling and education do little to prevent youth who have committed delinquent acts from committing future delinquent acts. (REHAB SAVES MONEY) Rehabilitation programs like counseling and education for youth who have committed delinquent acts will SAVE tax dollars in the long run. (REHAB COSTS MONEY) Rehabilitation programs like counseling and education for youth who have committed delinquent acts will COST tax dollars in the long run. Which of the following statements do you agree with more? 1 st statement much closer 2 nd statement much closer 2 nd statement total closer 1 st statement total closer