Probation—almost as old as the juvenile court itself—is today’s most common intervention imposed by youth courts. For most of the history of the juvenile court, youth offenders faced one of two outcomes: out-of-home placement in a congregate care institution, such as a youth prison, or supervised probation, anchored by a set of standard conditions and enforced by escalating sanctions, including incarceration.
Although more humane and effective community-based and in-home supports have become preferred alternatives to institutional placement, probation services and processes remain essentially unchanged. In too many jurisdictions, a substantial proportion of youth are in locked institutions, not for new crimes, but rather for technical violations of the conditions of their probation.
New models of probation are now emerging. These models are informed by the science of adolescent development and by decades of evaluation research. They are community-based, family-focused, and youth-centered
This virtual convening offers lessons from cities and counties across the U.S. that have transformed their approach to juvenile probation. The webinar will include opportunities for participants to raise questions and offer their own insights.