Using the Practice Guide on Detention Reform for Girls Missouri

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Using the Practice Guide on Detention Reform for
GirlsMissouri

• JDAI Inter-Site ConferenceAugust 5 - 7, 2009
• Washington, DC

Denny Atherton Director, Assessment and
Development JDAI Site Coordinator Jackson
County, Missouri
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Theoretical Questions

• Are detention patterns for girls in four Missouri
  sites similar to national study results
• High percentage are overrides
• Automatic detention/policy-driven factors
• Warrants
• Technical violations of probation
• Court orders ?

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Research Approach

• Collect and report data on the outcomes of our
  state RAI disaggregated by ethnicity/gender
• Teams at local sites examine data through a
  gender lens
• Analyze and summarize quantitative and
  qualitative data results
• Identify themes from text data
• Develop detention reform work plan

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Initial Data Results

• Disparity 76 females were African American
• More females than males detained for non-criminal
  behavior 67 vs. 46
• More females than males detained with no prior
  history 38 vs. 18
• Overrides into detention were significantly
  greater for females than males 11 vs. 26
• More females than males detained on warrants 52
  vs. 43
• Yes, no, yes, yes, yes.

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What needs further analysis

• Objective Admissions, Special Cases
• Violations of probation
• Warrants
• Overrides
• None category

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Qualitative Analysis Focus

• Research question
• What are the text data for girls placed in
  detention? Peeling back the onion by retrieving
  data from case files. Data text examples
• 1. Demographic data, LOS, RAI score,
  detention returns
• 2. Living with, released to, services
  (past present), other systems
  involved, nature of VOP/warrant or court order,
  override reasons, screener, most serious
  offense, length of probation

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Qualitative Analysis Focus Cont

• Research question
• What themes are present reflecting patterns in
  each detention category analyzed - any dominate
  themes? Missouri sites
• 1. Majority African American
• 2. Detained females had fewer priors than
  males
• 3. Females detained in higher proportion
  than males for misdemeanors and rule violations
• 4. Female detention override rate higher
  than males
• 5. More females than males override reason
  was no least restrictive alternative

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Qualitative Analysis Focus Cont

• Research question
• What themes are present reflecting patterns in
  each detention category analyzed - any dominate
  themes? Kansas City
• 1. Most girls were of color and older
• 2. High incidence of incarcerated or
  deceased parent
• 3. Many in child protection or mental
  health agency
• 4. Most overridden score was release 1
  screener
• 5. Most frequent override reason was no
  least restrictive alternative
  with no accompanying criminal charge
• 6. Most frequent criminal charge was assault
• 7. Frequently detained for protection
  needs vs. risk

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Qualitative to Quantitative Analysis

• Research question (Kansas City)
• Quantify themes that are present reflecting
  patterns in each detention category analyzed
• 1. Over 75 of girls were of color and older
  (16 yrs)
• 2. 45 of VOPs had incarcerated or
  deceased parent
• 3. 50 in child protection or mental
  health agency
• 4. 60 overrides scored release 1
  screener
• 5. 38 of overrides for no least restrictive
  alternative and no
  accompanying criminal charge
• 6. Most frequent criminal charge was assault
  40
• 7. Frequently detained for protection
  needs vs. risk

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Detention Reform Work Plan Missouri

• Some Key Female Reform Items
• 1 Collaboration include Childrens Division
  and Youth Services in stakeholder groups
• 2 Data deepen research on warrants types,
  events, geography
• 3 Objective Admissions review automatic
  detention policies and reduce number develop
  other solutions
• 4 ATDs develop protocols when CD youth
  presented to detention same as parent

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Detention Reform Work Plan Missouri

• Some Key Female Reform Items
• 5 Case processing map case processing
  timeline for impact on girls
• 6 Special Cases develop female state
  response grid for rule violations
• 7 Conditions of Confinement supplement
  by concentrating on conditions for girls
• 8 Race/Gender Disparities drill down on
  warrants

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Detention Reform Work Plan Kansas City

• Some Key Female Reform Items
• 1 Collaboration engage stakeholders in
  girls issues
• 2 Data collect data on family situations
  court ordered detentions
• 3 Objective Admissions score all detained
  youth
• 4 ATDs develop family respite program
  
• 5 Case processing what is impact of CP
  goals
• 6 Special Cases involve FS/MH in
  collaborative solutions on joint cases
• 7 Conditions of Confinement improve
  environment
• 8 Race/Gender Disparities drill down on
  warrants

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Detention Reform Plan Progress Kansas City

• Some Reform Item Status
• 1 Collaboration engaged stakeholders in
  girls issues and constituted a work group
• 2 Data collecting data on family situations
  court ordered detentions
• 3 Objective Admissions administered RAI to
  all youth presented analyzed risk of
  warrants, VOPs, court order
• 4 ATDs contractual respite group home
  for girls pull GH staff into training in
  female responsive programming

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Detention Reform Plan Progress Kansas City

• Some Reform Item Status
• 5 Case processing developed VOP docket
  and collecting data on impact
• 6 Special Cases involve CD/MH in
  collaborative solutions on joint cases
• 7 Conditions of Confinement moved girls
  to new team area better environment
• 8 Race/Gender Disparities drilling down
  on warrants