Goals for Change

Recognition of Individual Differences

A model system does not treat all juveniles alike. It has mechanisms for identifying pertinent individual differences—including differences in development, culture, gender, needs and strengths—and taking them into account in decision-making.

A juvenile justice system that preserves its commitment to distinguishing between individuals and responding appropriately to those distinctions will have certain characteristic features and practices. It will assess youth. It will make decisions on the basis of those assessments. And it will develop the programs and services necessary to respond to the needs it uncovers.

Assessment and decision-making practices:

• Structured screening and assessment at key stages
• Structured decision-making criteria and protocols
• Professional training in screening and assessment
• Developmental training for judges, attorneys, probation officers, etc.
• Policies and procedures that strike a balance in favor of individualized over purely offense-based decision-making

Service/program development practices:

• Ongoing data collection and other mechanisms for assessing aggregate need and developing services and programs for special populations
• A continuum of program and service options capable of providing flexibility to accommodate individual differences

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