As juvenile justice reform continues to spread across the United States, many probation departments are wary about investing scarce resources on reforms that may be short lived. Their reluctance is reasonable considering the plethora of programs in the past several decades that have been “innovative” and “effective,” but have little proof of long-term impacts. However, the Probation System Review process led by the Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice has built on lessons of the past to enhance programs, practices, and policies to demonstrate long-term impacts on key goals of juvenile probation systems – reducing costs, protecting the community, and improving youth outcomes. The new Practice Brief by John S. Ryals, Jr. (Evaluation/Treatment Supervisor, Jefferson Parish Department of Juvenile Services, Louisiana & member of the Probation System Review Practice Network), highlights the most recent results of ongoing tracking of the impact of reforms undertaken in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, and the key principles of sustainability that have contributed to the continued success of the Parish’s reforms.
Sustaining the Momentum of Probation System Reforms in Jefferson Parish is available online at: https://rfknrcjj.org/resources/