Consultants hired by Pulaski County began a systemwide review of the juvenile detention system on Wednesday.
The review is an initial step toward creating an overhaul plan for the system.
Last year, county officials signed a contract with the Center for Children's Law and Policy, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit organization that focuses on juvenile justice systems, including reducing lockup numbers without threatening public safety. Since 2014, the organization has worked in Benton and Washington counties, as well as in more than 12 other states around the country.
The group will examine data and policies on juvenile arrests, the county's juvenile courts, how youths are processed through the detention system and how frequently they are committed to the state's Division of Youth Services. The review will also include the county's community-based services and diversion programs, and will investigate how they affect recidivism rates.
"We don't want this to be an assessment that just sits on a shelf and is an academic study. We're really trying to pinpoint concrete things that stakeholders can do within Pulaski County to make the system work better for young people and their families," said Jason Szanyi, deputy director of the Center for Children's Law and Policy.
Through their work, consultants often find improvements can be made in probation conditions.
"Oftentimes, the response is, 'let's lock them up for a probation violation,' but there are often lots of creative ways we can hold young people accountable. Make sure there is a consequence, but also motivate them to do better," Szanyi said.
The Pulaski County Juvenile Detention Center has a capacity of 48 beds and holds youths between the ages of 10 and 18 who are sentenced by the county's three juvenile courts. The Pulaski County Circuit Court's three divisions that handle juvenile cases are Judge Wiley Branton's 8th division, Judge Joyce Warren's 10th division, and Judge Patricia James' 11th division.
The group's review will include sitting in on the court proceedings and determining ways they could be more efficient. Consultants will also collect interviews from youths who have gone through the system in the past.
"We are expecting recommendations from a broad view by looking at youth services, community services, juvenile detention and the juvenile court," said county spokesman Cozetta Jones. "We want to have long-term results to produce the best outcomes for youth, treat underlying symptoms of delinquency and, for those youth who become delinquent, we want to reduce recidivism rates."
"We don't just want to look at the detention system only, or youth services only. We want to take a holistic approach and look at all the areas that service youth and how they fit together."
The review period will last through Sept. 30, according to the agreement, although the contract can be extended. Pulaski County will pay $18,000 to the Center for Children's Law and Policy.
Metro on 02/02/2017