1. CYDL Project One Symposium
Justice and Corrections Systems Experiences of Albertan Youth
Christine Werk, PhD
October 1, 2012

2. CYDL Overview
The CYDL is a research facility that links and analyzes administrative data from five child- and youth-serving ministries in Alberta
The data are anonymous and population-wide
The research results make unique contributions to the knowledge base, and can be used for integrated policy and program development and evaluation
A key outcome of CYDL’s work is to inspire further policy-relevant research
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3. Project One Overview Data were from a single year (2008/09)
713,830 youth aged 12 to 24 years were included in the analyses
Data came from 10 databases held by 5 ministries
Several key indicators were available for each youth:
age gender
region of residence socio-economic status
mental health status educational achievement
health service use
Other indicators were database-specific
Within- and cross-ministry analyses were carried out
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4. Context Justice and Solicitor General Process Justice: courts
Solicitor General: police and correction services
Process
Police contact, charge(s), extrajudicial sanctions, remand, trial, sentencing (custody and/or community), probation
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5. Context
Risk factors
Being male, older, low SES, poor school engagement/performance, early aggression, family problems, peer problems, mental health
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6. Context Protective factors
High SES, staying in school/good performance, positive social attitudes, social and problem solving skills, family strengths, and absence of substance abuse
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7. Population Description
307,703 aged 12 to 17 years and living in Alberta in 2008/09
6,311 (2.1%) were charged with an offence
5,178 (1.7%) were involved in corrections
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8. Number of Charges
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9. Corrections Involvement
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10. Age-
Number of charges
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11. Gender-
Number of charges
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12. Type of corrections involvement
Gender-
Type of corrections involvement
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13. Socio-economic Status-
Number of charges
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14. Socio-economic Status- Type of corrections involvement
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15. Educational Achievement-
Number of charges
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16. Educational Achievement- Type of corrections involvement
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17. Mental Health Status-
Number of charges
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18. Mental Health Condition- Type of corrections involvement
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19. Health Service Use-
Number of charges
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20. Type of Hospital Service-
Cross-service use
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21. Intervention Services-
Cross-service use
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22. Population Description- Aboriginal Status
5,178 youth aged 12 to 17 years were involved in corrections in Alberta in 2008/09
1,257 (24%) were Aboriginal
3921 (76%) were non-Aboriginal
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23. Aboriginal Status
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24. Socio-economic Status
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25. Educational Achievement
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26. Mental Health Status
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27. Intervention Services
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28. Summary
Youth with risk factors were more likely to have charges or be involved in corrections
Aboriginal youth were more likely to experience these risk factors
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29. Acknowledgements
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30. Discussion Questions:
 Session A
Do you have further questions related to these project findings?   
Are there data from the presentation that you find surprising or contrary to your perceptions? Why?
What might these findings mean for specific populations that your ministry serves?
Elaborating on the above, what implications or potential for policy or program improvements do you see arising from this presentation?
Are there findings that you think might not tell the whole story? Do you think there are data that may require more context?

31. Discussion Questions:
  Session B
How do you think things may have changed since these results from 2008/2009?
Are you aware of ways that your Ministry has been addressing some of the less favorable findings discussed in this presentation? Please share with the group.
Please share some of the emerging and persistent issues that you face in your policy, program, or service delivery area. Which of these may relate to issues for other ministries as well?
Do you see opportunity for additional analysis that may help address these?
What else do you need to know?
Elaborating on the above, what ideas for further research or questions would you like to see explored in future projects?