Goals for Change

Recognition of Youth Potential

All youth are capable of change and growth. A model system recognizes this central developmental fact, and acts upon it. It works to help young people begin to realize their full potential. It is literally forward-looking: rather than focusing primarily on sanctioning juveniles for past offenses, it seeks to provide them with the structure and tangible help they need to become law-abiding and productive in the future.

A juvenile justice system that is forward-looking in its outlook and rehabilitative in its aims will feature certain practices, including assessment that identifies juveniles’ needs/strengths, intervention that responds to identified needs/strengths, and performance measurement that determines the extent to which juveniles exit the system more capable, connected, and productive than when they entered it:

Assessment

• Structured assessments that identify juveniles’ delinquency-related strengths and needs as basis for case planning

Intervention

• Case plans that assist offenders in overcoming problems, building on strengths, acquiring living/learning/working skills
• Specialized treatment for mental health, substance abuse and other problems
• Training/employment/job readiness and other skills programs/services
• Advocacy that addresses school failure and fosters school success
• Re-entry programs/practices that help post-incarcerated youth adjust and succeed

Measurement

• Documentation of outcomes (services provided, progress achieved, restitution paid, community service performed, etc.) at case-closing
• Ongoing program monitoring and evaluation
• Funding and other mechanisms for assessing aggregate needs and developing programs to accommodate them

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