Why Raise the Age?

Keeping kids in the juvenile system prevents crime•Lower recidivism vs. peers in adult system

Juvenile system often holds kids more accountable•Crimes that appear minor in adult court get attention here•Must go to school, participate in counseling, other services mandated by the court

Where do states stand?

• Two (NY, NC) set adulthood at 16• Connecticut is one of 11 states that sets

it at 17• Federal law is moving toward protecting

anyone under 18 as a juvenile

The law in Connecticut

• As of January, 2010, 16-year-olds joined the juvenile system

• As of July, 2012, 17-year-olds will join the juvenile system

• (Kids charged with A and B felonies are still treated as adults)

Finding Room

Even after adding16-year-olds, the system

is still smaller today than it was just a few years ago

We made thechange when …

… court referrals were down …

We made thechange when …

… detention numbers were down …

… court referrals were down …

Source: Judicial Branch

… and the CJTS census was low

2009 203 admissions 2008 201 admissions 2007 189 admissions 2006 215 admissions

We made thechange when …

… detention numbers were down …

Source: DCF CJTS Reports to Legislature, 06-09

The impactof 16-year-olds

• Projected system increase: 40%• Actual system increase: 22%• And remember:

The system is still smallerthan it was just a few years ago.

Source: Judicial Branch

Even with 16-year-olds court referrals are below 06-07

levels

FY 06-07 Delinquency, FWSN, YIC 19,242

CY 2010 Delinquency, FWSN, YIC 16,275

Even with 16-year-olds,detention is below ’06 levels

Source: Judicial Branch

2010 211 admissions2009 203 admissions 2008 201 admissions 2007 189 admissions 2006 215 admissions

CJTS admissions have not yet seen a major impact

Source: DCF CJTS Annual Reports to Legislature 06-10

Unspent money to implement Raise the Age

FY2010 $7.1 million

Estimated unspentin FY2011 $4.7 million

Total $11.8 million

Financial impactless than anticipated

Source: Office of Fiscal Analysis

Why is the systemshrinking?

• Smart investments in prevention• FWSN reform, Family Support Centers• Home-based interventions• A commitment to serve kids in the least

restrictive environment

What’s been the resultof this new approach?

Good for public safety

Source: Judicial Branch

What’s been the resultof this new approach?

Good for the budget

Avg. daily cost

Detention $377

Secure residential $562

CJTS $774

Raise the Age is goodfor the adult system

• Removed 4,000 16-year-olds from the adult system in 2010

• Will remove 6,000 17-year-olds from the adult system in 2012

Remember, kids tried in juvenile system show lower recidivism rates than those tried in adult system

System continues to “right size”

• Number of youth under 16 in juvenile justice system reduced 10% between 2009 and 2010

• These outcomes with only 4 FWSN Family Support Centers open

• Shrinking trend will continue

Source: Judicial Branch

More FSCsMore Kids Served

More Diversion

Source: Judicial Branch

What does all this mean?

There was room to absorb 16-year-olds

There IS much more room to absorb 17-year-olds than we anticipated

Raise the Age has provento be a policy that

• Costs less than anticipated• Is manageable for the state and

municipalities• Does no harm to public safety now• Leads to future crime prevention• Addresses concerns about the adult

system

Moving ahead withRaise the Age in 2012

• Continuing commitment to diversion will keep the system small

• As we’ve seen with 16-year-olds, the system can absorb change

– Smart– Fair– Economical