Youth Intervention Works
Getting tough on crime does not need to mean more incarcerations. In Washington County, the Department of Community Corrections joined with several local nonprofits to develop effective community based interventions with juvenile offenders. In central and south Washington County, the YSB is instrumental in helping the county achieve remarkable success.
According to Tom Adkins, the Director of Community Corrections, Washington County has 50% less out of home placements per capita than other Minnesota counties of comparable size and income. In addition the county has significantly fewer youth on probation. By using community based diversion programs, Washington County is able to be tough on crime at just a fraction of the cost incurred by most Minnesota counties.
According to Vanderbilt University Economist Mark Cohen, the calculated cost to American taxpayers when a young person embraces a life of crime and drug use is almost $2 million. This includes costs incurred by victims, the criminal justice system, expenses related to drug abuse and lost wages.
At the YSB, community justice programs cost just $246 per client during 2002. Under current funding formulas, the county and state contribute a large portion of these costs in recognition of the overall effectiveness of diversion. Local communities, United Ways, foundations, and individual donors, who recognize the cost effectiveness and citizen building impact of intervention activities, contribute additional needed resources.
In contrast, a juvenile court intervention typically costs a county about $1,140 per youth. Costs escalate tremendously for out of home placements: $36,000 per year for each child placed for a group home; $43,000 a year for a residential treatment facility; and $48,000 a year for a juvenile correctional facility. The vast majority of these costs are paid, using tax dollars. “In Washington County, we are holding down placements and costs of placements by using community based services,” reports Community Corrections Director Tom Adkins.
In addition to saving money, community based youth intervention programs also are effective in helping youth choose positive behaviors. 85% of the youth who complete community justice programs at the YSB do not re-offend during the critical six months following completion of agency services. According to Adkins, “With community based programs, we can keep young first offenders separated from habitual offenders and their criminal thinking.
“It is rewarding,” claims former Board President and law enforcement professional Dave Knefelkamp, “to see business owners and local leaders who were once YSB clients. I believe we made a difference—by helping them become assets instead of burdens to our community.”
Resources:
Cohen, Mark A., "The Monetary Value of Saving a High Risk Youth," Journal of Quantitative Criminology, vol. 14, no. 1 (1998), pp. 5-33.
Statewide averages for Minnesota based on data collected and distributed by the Youth Intervention Programs Association. (2003)
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