Across the past decade, the juvenile justice community has been shifting its thinking from being “tough on crime” to being “smart on crime.” This change has been largely attributed to an enhanced understanding of both youth development and the effectiveness of interventions to reduce recidivism and promote positive outcomes for youth.

This is because incarceration can negatively influence young people’s mental health, stunt their cognitive and social-emotional development, disrupt the development of healthy, pro-social relationships, and interfere with key developmental milestones (such as the completion of schooling and entrance into the workforce) that are essential for successful transition to adulthood. Despite this substantial body of research, on any given day, there are just over 54,000 youth incarcerated in residential facilities throughout the United States, the majority of whom (76 percent) are nonviolent offenders.

Therefore, we need strategies that encourage jurisdictions to implement evidence-based programs and select appropriate programs that align with their resources and needs. In support of these efforts, Child Trends, with support from  the National Institute of Justice, is exploring when and how judges and attorneys engage research in juvenile justice proceedings. We hope this research will provide valuable insight to inform policies and practices in the juvenile justice system.

To read the essay by Kelly Murphy, Senior Research Scientist and simultaneously published in the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, please click here.