Evaluating the Implementation of a Collaborative Juvenile Reentry System in Oakland, California

Traditional juvenile reentry systems often inadequately meet offenders' complex needs. Policymakers and researchers increasingly recognize the importance of a collaborative community- and development-based reentry system to improve recidivism, youth developmental outcomes, and public safety. Ye...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jain, Sonia (Author)
Contributors: Cohen, Alison K. ; Jagannathan, Priya
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2018
In: International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Keywords:
Collaboration
Community-based
Evaluation
Implementation
Jugendgericht
Juvenile justice
Reentry
Reintegration
Systems change
Description
Summary:Traditional juvenile reentry systems often inadequately meet offenders' complex needs. Policymakers and researchers increasingly recognize the importance of a collaborative community- and development-based reentry system to improve recidivism, youth developmental outcomes, and public safety. Yet, system-level process evaluations of integrated reentry systems are scarce. California's Alameda County juvenile reentry system implemented evidence-based strategies and practices to better serve reentry youth. We report findings from a process evaluation, using data from 15 key stakeholder interviews, focus groups with community-based providers, a reentry system-wide stakeholder survey, site visit observations, and document reviews. We identified strengths, challenges, and lessons learned. System-level strengths included increased multidisciplinary assessments, interagency collaboration, and specialty courts. Challenges included differing agency agendas, limited family and youth engagement, and data sharing. We recommend future researchers and practitioners to further examine and implement integrated system-level processes and organizational change, informed by the ecological-developmental perspective, to help promote positive outcomes for reentry youth.
ISSN:1552-6933
DOI:10.1177/0306624X18755480