1. Harris County JDAI: Juvenile Justice and Detention Reform
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI)
Harris County JDAI: Juvenile Justice and Detention Reform
Tom Brooks, Executive Director
Juvenile Probation
HCJPD Coordinator
Nancy Baird, Site Coordinator
JDAI Harris County

2. Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative
Purpose:
To demonstrate that jurisdictions can establish more effective and efficient systems to accomplish the purposes of juvenile detention.
5 Core Objectives:
1) Eliminate inappropriate or unnecessary use of secure detention.
2) Minimize failures to appear and incidence of delinquent behavior.
3) Redirect public finances to successful reform strategies.
Improve conditions in secure detention facilities.
Reduce racial and ethnic disparities.

3. Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI)
JDAI: 8 Core Strategies
Collaboration
Reliance on Data
Objective Admissions Criteria (RAI)
Alternatives to Secure Detention
Expedited Case Processing
6. Strategies for “Special” Detention Cases (VOPS, WRITS, Warrants, etc.)
7. Strategies to Reduce Racial Disparities
8. Rigorous Facility Inspections

4. Harris County JDAI Definition of Detention
“Detention is the temporary and safe custody of juveniles. Generally, secure detention should be utilized for youth who by nature of their offense(s) or conduct are found to be a danger to self/others, or are believed to be a flight risk. Less restrictive alternatives to secure detention are preferred.”
(Approved by JDAI Executive Steering Committee 07/22/08)
Our Horizon is as distant as our mind’s eye wishes it to be.
~Jim E. Casey~

5. Governing Structure of Harris County JDAI
Executive Steering Committee – Governing Body of Harris County JDAI
Ed Emmett
Chair
County Judge
Harris County
Sylvia R. Garcia
Vice-Chair
Commissioner
Harris County Commissioners Court
Sylvia Bolling
Member
Director
Aldine Y.O.U.T.H. Center
Tom Brooks
Executive Director
Harris County Juvenile Probation
Rev. D.Z. Cofield
Senior Pastor
Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church
Dr. Ralph Draper
Superintendent
Spring Independent School District
Adrian Garcia
Sheriff
Ana Hernandez
Representative
State of Texas, District 143
Harold Hurtt
Chief of Police
Houston Police Department
Patricia Lykos
District Attorney
Ernest “Uche” Orieh
Co-Founder
PEENA
Deacon Joe Rubio
Vice President
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Dr. Steven Schnee
Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County (MHMRA)
Michael Schneider
Judge
315th District Court
Kay Sim
Houston Bar Association

6. Governing Structure of Harris County JDAI
Management Oversight Committee Governing Body of Harris County JDAI Task Forces
John Phillips
Chair
Judge
314th District Court
Thomas Brooks
Vice-Chair
Executive Director
Harris County Juvenile Probation
Nancy H. Baird
Member
Site Coordinator
Harris County JDAI
Sylvia Bolling
Director
Aldine Y.O.U.T.H. Center
Luis Gavito
Director, Charter & Safe Schools Initiative
Houston Independent School District
Bill Moore
Juvenile Division Chief
Harris County DA’s Office
Andrea Hinckson
Deputy Chief of Staff
State Senator Rodney Ellis
Ron C. Lewis
Attorney
Marshall & Lewis LLP
Rev. Leslie Smith
CEO
Change Happens!
John Trevino
Assistant Chief
Houston Police Department

7. 8 Core Strategies – Activities & Results to Date
1. Collaboration – Committees and Task Forces
Executive Steering Committee – Created and Active
Management Oversight Committee – Created and Active
Training Harris County staff and stakeholders – Created and Active
250 community stakeholders committed to reforming Harris County’s juvenile justice system.

8. 8 Core Strategies – Activities & Results to Date
2. Reliance on Data – Active and Ongoing
Establishing, gathering, and monitoring relevant data for inclusion in JDAI reports and improved services to juveniles.
Ongoing submission of quarterly, progress, and results reports to Annie E. Casey Foundation JDAI.

9. 8 Core Strategies – Activities & Results to Date
3. Risk Assessment Instrument (RAI) Task Force
Purpose: Develop objective Risk Assessment Instrument (RAI) for Juvenile Probation Intake to decide whether to detain or a release a referred juvenile.
Chairs: Tim Broussard and Susan Bonich, Juvenile Probation Administrators.
Status: Risk Assessment Instrument (RAI) implemented on February 1, 2009.
Update: 32% reduction in detention population since implementation of JDAI (2007).

10. 8 Core Strategies – Activities & Results to Date
4. Rigorous Facility Inspections – Self-Inspection Task Force
Purpose: Examine all aspects of Juvenile Detention’s policies, practices, and programs to prepare a comprehensive report on findings and implementation of corrective action plans.
Chairs: Dennis Englade – Juvenile Probation Officer and Malikah Marrus – Researcher, Southwest Juvenile Defender Program, University of Houston.
Status: Self-Inspection completed, final report due January 2010.

11. 8 Core Strategies – Activities & Results to Date
5. Alternatives to Secure Detention Task Force
✓ Purpose: Develop a continuum of services for additional alternatives to detention.
Chairs: Judge Beverly Malazzo – Juvenile Court Referee Rebecca DeCamara – Projects Director, Juvenile Probation
Status: Initial meeting in October 2008.
✓ Update: Contract with Southwest Keys Program to open Neighborhood Evening Reporting Center in January

12. 8 Core Strategies – Activities & Results to Date
6. Case Processing Task Force
Purpose: Expedite flow of cases through the juvenile justice system.
Chairs: Helen Jackson – Retired H.C. Assistant District Attorney Guadalupe Mendiola – Court Services, Juvenile Probation.
✓ Status: Initial Task Force meeting January 2009, and initial recommendations submitted to Management Oversight Committee October 2009.

13. 8 Core Strategies – Activities & Results to Date
7. Strategies to Reduce Racial Disparities – DMC Task Force
Purpose: Develop strategies aimed at eliminating bias and ensuring a level playing field for youth of color.
Chairs: Judge Mike Fields and Gloria Moreno – Commissioner Sylvia Garcia’s office.
Status: Initial meeting February 2009, completed Burns Institute training, and reviewing preliminary data.

14. 8 Core Strategies – Activities & Results to Date
8. Strategies for “Special” Detention Cases (VOPS, WRITS, Warrants,)
✓ Purpose: Evaluate and develop new practices for youth in custody as a result of probation violations, writs and warrants, and those awaiting placement.
✓ Chairs: Julia Ramirez, Deputy Chief, Juvenile Probation & Eric Laird, Constable, Precinct 1.
Status: Initial meeting May 2009, developing progressive sanctions grid.

15. Harris County Juvenile Probation
Statistics
2007
2008
Change
Referrals to Juvenile Probation
23,164
20,885
↓ 11%
Detention Admits
6,649
5,363 – males
1,276 – females
6,597
5,446 – males
females
↓ 1/2%
Petitions Filed by DA
15,706
14,608
↓ 8%
Residential Facilities
4,098
515 – non-county
3,583 – county
3,654
633 – non-county
3,021 – county
↓ 12%
TYC Commitments
533
299
↓ 78%
Staff
1,500
1,511
↑ 1%
Law Enforcement
130 --
School Districts 26
Annual Budget
$ 95 Million
$ Million
↑ 11%

16. JDAI and Harris County For Additional Information:
Nancy H. Baird, Site Coordinator, Harris County JDAI
(cell)
Tom Brooks, Executive Director, Harris County Juvenile Probation
Annie E. Casey Foundation
JDAI Help Desk