Most young people who get into trouble with the law do not need to be formally processed or held in custody. In fact, such measures often do serious damage by disrupting the bonds that connect youth to their families and communities. Unfortunately, the juvenile justice system often errs on the side of formal handling and incarceration. Juvenile facilities are filled with low-level youth who could be safely and effectively managed in other settings. The confinement of low-level delinquents is costly for communities, and doesn’t serve public safety.
The Models for Change initiative worked to advance the health and safety of communities and youth by pursuing approaches to hold young people accountable in the most effective, least restrictive settings of care.
Featured publications
Initiative tools, research, knowledge, and innovations to promote reform
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Juvenile Diversion Guidebook
- Mar 1, 2011, Models for Change Juvenile Diversion Workgroup
- Programs that divert youth from involvement in the juvenile justice system have become more frequent in response to the growing recognition that such involvement often is not necessary to achieve…
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Risk Assessment in Juvenile Justice: A Guidebook for Implementation
- Nov 6, 2012, Gina M. Vincent
- The primary purpose of this guide is to provide a structure for jurisdictions, juvenile probation or centralized statewide agencies striving to implement risk assessment or to improve their current…
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Innovation Brief: Using Diversion Fairly, Consistently, and Effectively
- Dec 1, 2011, Juvenile Law Center
- Juvenile justice leaders in Pennsylvania wanted to create a model system to channel youths away from formal processing. The idea was to hold young offenders accountable withless costly and more…
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School-Based Diversion: Strategic Innovations from the Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network
- Apr 1, 2011, National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice
- This report provides a detailed update and summary on the work of the MH/JJ Action Network's School-Based Diversion Strategic Innovation Group. The four participating states (Connecticut, Illinois,…
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Intake Based Diversion: Strategic Innovations from the Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network
- Apr 1, 2011, The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice
- This report provides a detailed update and summary on the work of the MH/JJ Action Network's intake-based diversion strategic innovation group. The intention of the Action Network's Front-End…
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