The project began with four demonstration sites collecting data on each benchmark and incorporating this information into an annual Juvenile Justice System Report Card that gauges system performance on those benchmarks. The report cards are available to communities, practitioners, policy makers and funding sources as a tool for improving local performance on the benchmarks. Pilot report cards can be seen by clicking here.

APRI and its partners have documented and analyzed the experiences of the demonstration sites, i.e., obstacles to implementation, data collection issues and problem-solving techniques. This information has been used to improve the performance measurement strategies and report cards, and to provide national guidance for juvenile justice performance measurement and planning.

Seventeen additional jurisdictions have attended our Performance Measures trainings since the completion of the pilot project. Each showed a great deal of enthusiasm and are at various stages in the implementation process. To request updates on jurisdiction progress and for copies of their most recent report cards, contact NJJPC.

The performance measures in this project were developed by practitioners and citizens. They reflect the values, needs and expectations of victims, offenders and communities while pragmatically capturing the work of practitioners. Additionally, the value of measuring these benchmarks is apparent almost immediately. The jurisdictions participating in this project have demonstrated the utility of measuring the performance of juvenile justice systems to help:

• Reduce juvenile crime;
• Serve crime victims;
• Hold offenders accountable to repair the harm experienced by victims and communities; and
• Develop the competencies of offenders and communities to assist juvenile offenders to become responsible, productive citizens.

These measures are intended to inform management decisions, guide resource allocation and inform citizens about the successes and challenges of juvenile court. Information about restitution, school participation, resistance to drugs and alcohol, victims satisfaction and community service, in addition to simply crime rates and recidivism are readily available.

To request additional information on participating jurisdictions, project updates, technical assistance, software or to request a copy of the Guide to Developing and Implementing Performance Measures in the Juvenile Justice System, please contact APRI’s National Juvenile Justice Prosecution Center.