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California’s ‘Close to Home’ Programs Must Invest in Communities, Not Corrections
Originally posted in the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange (JJIE).
CJCJ Communications and Policy Analyst Renee Menart authors an Op-Ed in the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange (JJIE) about two California grant programs that provide nearly $280M for local services, and how these funds can be better spent through community-based programming.
From the article:
Juvenile justice reinvestment, which shifts funding from corrections-based approaches toward cost-effective community-based services for youth, has gained momentum in states throughout the U.S. in recent years. Amid national declines in youth crime and the high costs of youth incarceration, opportunities for juvenile justice reinvestment have become more and more appealing to states.
…
California’s investment in youth services at the county level is grounded in the recognition that youth are best served close to home. But “close to home” programming relies on more than just geographic proximity to be effective. Detaining youth, whether at a local or state facility, can actually deepen their justice involvement in the future. Further, probation supervision with an emphasis on monitoring and surveillance is problematic for youth within their communities. Instead, community-based programs that support youth’s ranging needs in areas including education, family, housing, mental health and personal development contribute to the success of youth and their communities.
Read the full article on Juvenile Justice Information Exchange (JJIE) »
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