Juvenile Detention: How is MA Doing?

The Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) is a national group working "to reform the use of detention in the juvenile justice system JDAI’s mission is to ensure that “the right youth is in the right place for the right reasons ”

This July, JDAI updated and re-released the JDAI Measuring Equity In Juvenile Detentions Data Dashboard.

The goal of the Dashboard is to bring JDAI collaborators, system stakeholders, and members of the public up to date, accurate data about detention trends across the Commonwealth.

The Dashboard is interactive and allows users to filter and compare the data across a number of categories, including race, age, and county. Training on how to navigate the data dashboard will be offered by JDAI in the fall.

-https://www.mass.gov/info-details/measuring-equity-in-juvenile-detentions

Below and on the next page are some infographics from the Dashboard. We encourage you to check it out yourself. You can click the visuals to go directly to the Dashboard. Remember, it's interactive!

Length of Stay: The number of days (for a particular detention stay) a youth is in detention prior to posting bail or release by the court. from JDAI Dashboard Key Terms and Families (DCF) involvement means that, at the time of their admission to detention, a youth has an open case in the juvenile courts with DCF - either a Care and Protection order or a Child Requiring Assistance matter. from JDAI Dashboard Key Terms

Reasons Our Youth Are Held Without Bail

We know that involvement in the juvenile court system is difficult-- many of us at PPAL have been there! Please reach out to us at info@PPAL.net if you are looking for support.