Monroe County, Indiana

Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI)

1. Collaboration between juvenile justice agencies, other governmental entities, and community organizations. 
2. Use of accurate data to diagnose the system's problems and to assess the impact of programs and reforms.  
3. Objective admissions decisions including use of validated risk assessment instruments. 
4. New or enhanced alternatives to secure detention to increase the options available for arrested youth.
5. Expedited case processing through the system. 
6. “Special case” processing (probation violations, warrants, youth awaiting placement) to minimize detention time. 
7. Reducing racial, ethnic and gender disparities to eliminate bias and ensure a level playing field for all youth.
8. Improving conditions of confinement.  

The Monroe County Community System Assessment Report contains recommendations that include a JDAI Steering Committee to be chaired by Judge Galvin in addition to various work groups to develop recommendations related to JDAI’s eight core strategies.  

Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) Brochure 2022

Monroe County JDAI Project Committees: (all committees meet quarterly)

• Steering Committee – Discusses progress of the entire JDAI project and the work of all JDAI committees.
• Detention Alternatives and Admissions – Committee was formerly Purpose of Detention and Alternatives to Detention Workgroup. The Alternatives and Admissions Committee monitors the use of the Detention Risk Assessment Instrument and Alternatives to Detention. 
• Data Workgroup – Monitors statistics and provides information to the committees in order to make data-driven decisions.
• Race, Ethnicity, and Inclusion (REI) – Work is completed to advance equal opportunities for all and to improve outcomes for children, families, and the community. As part of REI, a REI data workgroup and a community engagement workgroup were formed.  The REI data workgroup will work to identify areas of disproportionality while the REI community engagement workgroup will assist in identifying community values through community collaboration.

• 2022 JDAI Alternative Program Highlights:

  • Anti-racism Trainings – More than 21 hours of training were provided to staff and community members on racial justice.
  • REI Community Engagement Book Club – Twelve staff and community members meet regularly to discuss books on race and equity.
  • Alliances to Disseminate Addiction Prevention and Treatment (ADAPT) – The local JDAI initiative joined a partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine and Centerstone to develop and study the efficacy of substance abuse education through local mental health facilities.
  • Center for Children’s Law and Policy (CCLP) – Collaboration to explore how our community can best support youth and families, and particularly youth and families of color, without relying on referrals to law enforcement and the juvenile justice system.  This resulted in the submission of a comprehensive report in 2021 and the work continued in 2022.
  • Lucas County, Ohio Site Visit – Local stakeholders traveled to this site to witness the transformative work in working with youth that include diversion and restorative justice efforts.  In June 2022, a site visit/road trip to Lucas County, Ohio (Toledo) was conducted by Juvenile Probation staff, the Chief Probation Officer, community partners from the Community Justice and Mediation Center (CJAM), and a state JDAI strategist.  This site visit was recommended by JDAI consultants Center for Children’s Law and Policy (CCLP) to help Monroe County Juvenile Justice System leaders learn more about restorative justice programs that have been shown to be effective for front-end diversion from the juvenile justice system. 
  • Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) – Provided training to leadership and staff regarding the impact of trauma on brain development and behavior.
  • Race, Equity, and Inclusion (REI) Assessment of Juvenile Probation Conditions – Staff participated in the creation new language for probation conditions while viewing each condition through an REI lens for impact on various populations served.  Work continues in 2023.
  • Truancy Termination Partnership Program – Provided support to the Youth Services Bureau for incentives for youth and families who demonstrate progress in the program.
  • Youth Engagement with Laura Furr – Efforts to create a pilot youth and family engagement workgroup moved forward.  This workgroup is designed to allow for authentic engagement throughout youth justice reform efforts.
  • City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Children and Youth and Commission on the Status of Black Males – Provided support for one day event for middle and high school aged youth to focus on strengths and successes of Black and Latino local and national communities to inspire, support, and motivate youth.
  • Monroe County Childhood Conditions Summit – Provided financial support to include accessibility services for the summit that includes closed captioning, American Sign Language interpretation, and other supportive options.

• Minutes
   
  
• Meetings
   
  
• Useful
  Links