Recalibrating Juvenile Detention: Lessons Learned from the Court-Ordered Reform of the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center

Recalibrating Juvenile Detention chronicles the lessons learned from the 2007 to 2015 landmark US District Court-ordered reform of the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) in Illinois,following years of litigation by the ACLU about egregious and unconstitutional conditions of confinement. The book includes an analysis of a major evaluation research report by the University of Chicago Crime Lab and explains for scholars,practitioners,administrators,policymakers,and advocates how and why this particular reform of conditions achieved successful outcomes when others failed.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 558 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Recalibrating Juvenile Detention is a comprehensive account of the landmark US District Court-ordered reform of the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) in Illinois from 2007 to 2015. This reform was a result of years of litigation by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) against egregious and unconstitutional conditions of confinement. The book not only explains the implications of the Court's actions but also includes an analysis of a significant evaluation research report by the University of Chicago Crime Lab. This report provides valuable insights into the factors that contributed to the successful outcomes of this particular reform, which have been replicated in other jurisdictions.

The author, Professor Roush, argues that the Chicago Crime Lab findings are the gold standard evidence-based research (EBR) in pretrial detention. He suggests that the observed firsts for juvenile detention, such as the implementation of cognitive-behavioral programming (CBT) and the reduction in in-custody violence and recidivism, have the potential to transform all custody practices. The findings validate a new model of institutional reform based on CBT, which has been shown to have statistically significant reductions in these outcomes.

One variation of short-term secure custody, in particular, has been shown to positively influence certain life outcomes for Chicago's highest-risk and most disadvantaged youth. The book is endorsed by the Presidents Council of Economic Advisors and published by the Quarterly Journal of Economics. It serves as a reverse engineering of these once-in-a-lifetime events, providing valuable insights into the implications for the future of juvenile justice practice.

Recalibrating Juvenile Detention is an essential reading for graduate students in juvenile justice, criminology, and corrections, as well as practitioners, judges, and policymakers. It sheds light on the challenges faced by juvenile justice systems and offers practical solutions based on evidence-based practices. The book's insights and recommendations will help to improve the outcomes for vulnerable youth and promote the well-being of communities.

Weight: 828g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367530013