US Rates of Incarceration: A Global Perspective (FOCUS)

This fact sheet makes simple side-by-side comparisons of the most reliable and current statistics from around the world to illuminate the extreme use of incarceration in the United States

And Justice for Some: Differential Treatment of Youth of Color in the Justice System

This report details the accumulated disadvantage for youth of color as they move through the juvenile justice system and, too often, into the adult system

Bed Space Forecast for Baltimore Youth Detention Facility

This report describes the National Council on Crime and Delinquency's forecast of future bed space needs for youth detained in the adult criminal justice system in the City of Baltimore, Maryland. These youth are processed and, if necessary, detained in the adult system-currently in the Juvenile Unit of the Baltimore City Detention Center (BCDC)-after either being charged with certain crimes that require their automatic involvement in the adult justice system (known as an automatic waiver) or being sent to the adult system by a juvenile court judge (known as a judicial waiver).The State is currently considering options for housing these youth, as the present facility is inadequate. A new facility is in the planning stages and is designed to hold 180 youth, based on a forecast completed by the State in 2007. In a 2010 report by NCCD, the earlier forecast was found to overestimate the number of beds needed in a new facility. Subsequently, the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Corrections Services (DPS), along with two local foundations, the Open Society Institute-Baltimore and the Annie E. Casey Foundation, asked NCCD to perform this new forecast to assist in the decision-making process

Critique of Maryland's Population Forecast: No Call for a New Youth Detention Facility

NCCD, one of the nation's oldest and most respected criminal justice research organizations, has reviewed the bed space needs forecast reported in Maryland's Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPS) Project Program for New Youth Detention Center (Revised December, 2007) and found serious methodological fl aws that put into question the accuracy of its projections. A forecast based on a sound method would almost certainly produce substantially different estimates of future bed space needs for youth transferred to the adult system in Baltimore.DPS projected that a new youth detention center would require at least 180 cells for youth who are awaiting trial in the adult criminal justice system. The new facility design creates a capacity of 230 youth.After a brief summary of findings, this NCCD report describes shortcomings of the DPS forecast in the light of best practices in the field.Summary of FindingsNon-current data.The forecast was made in 2007 and therefore does not account for changes in the past three years. The DPS forecast assumes rises in key factors which actually have been dropping in recent years, such as Baltimore's youth population and youth arrests.Inappropriate aggregate analysis.The DPS forecast attempts to estimate bed space needs in two facilities -- one for youth, one for women -- using a single forecast. Youth and women differ in many ways relevant to the system and therefore should be analyzed separately.Incorrect population data.The DPS projection uses aggregate population data, including youth of all ages and adults. Instead, the forecast should be based only on the segment of the Baltimore population eligible for the proposed youth facility.Incorrect arrest data.The DPS forecast uses a single level of analysis based on arrests for all ages, including adults. The forecast should be based on system data only for the types of offenders the facility will serve.Apparent lack of an independent researcher.The DPS report does not indicate who conducted the forecast; no outside consultant is mentioned. Research and analysis by independent researchers provides the best assurance possible that no unintentional bias impacts the process.No consideration of alternatives.The DPS forecast does not consider changes in policy and practice that would most likely reduce commitments and length of stay such as: risk assessment and standardized decision making in detention decisions; court processing reforms; diversion for substance abusers and mentally ill youth; and increased use of alternatives such as community supervision, house arrest, and electronic/GPS monitoring.NCCD concludes that the DPS forecast cannot be relied upon to accurately estimate future facility needs in Baltimore. Perhaps the strongest indication that the 2007 DPS forecast is unreliable is that recent population trends in the current facility -- that is, the number of youth being held at the Baltimore City Detention Center -- show a strong decline. While DPS projected a need for 178 beds by 2010, as of May of this year there were just 92 youth held in the current facility, just over 50% of the DPS forecast.1 We strongly recommend that DPS conduct a new forecast using current, youth-specific data, and more reliable methodology

Arkansas Youth Justice: The Architecture of Reform

This report is offered to shine a light on the collective efforts underway in Arkansas to transform the state's juvenile justice system. It describes the work that has been done to build reform over the past four years under the steady and skilled stewardship of Ron Angel, Director of the Division of Youth Services (DYS). It also suggests additional changes in policy and practices that might further "revolutionize" youth services, as is called for in the division's strategic reform plan

Attitudes of US Voters toward Nonserious Offenders and Alternatives to Incarceration

In April, 2009, NCCD commissioned Zogby International to conduct a national public opinion poll about American voter attitudes toward our nation's response to nonviolent, nonserious crime. The results showed that striking majorities favor using methods other than incarceration to respond to nonserious crime

Fact Sheet: Youth Under Age 18 in the Adult Criminal Justice System

This fact sheet presents statistics and issues related to persons under the age of 18 involved in the adult criminal justice system in the US, regardless of whether their state considers them adults or juveniles

Fact Sheet: The Nation's Most Punitive States for Women

NCCD looks at which US states have the highest and lowest rates of incarceration, probation, and parole for adult and juvenile women

Native American Youth and Juvenile Justice System (FOCUS)

This FOCUS presents an analysis of the differential treatment of Native American youth in the nation's juvenile justice system