Minnesota Juvenile Justice Forum June 19, 2008 Elizabeth K. Drake

1. Lessons Learned in Washington State: Implementing and Sustaining Evidence-Based Juvenile Justice Programs Minnesota Juvenile Justice Forum June 19, 2008 Elizabeth K. Drake Washington State Institute for Public Policy www.wsipp.wa.gov ekdrake@wsipp.wa.gov 360.586.2767

2. Washington State Institute for Public Policy • Created in 1983 by the state Legislature • Mission: Carry out non-partisan research on projects assigned either by the legislature or the Institute’s Board of Directors. • 8 legislators • 4 higher education provosts or presidents • 4 state agency directors 1 of 17

3. Quality Assurance Costs & Benefits Lessons Learned Overview Research Presentation Outline • Discuss Washington State’s experience with evidence-based juvenile justice programs 2 of 17

4. Quality Assurance Costs & Benefits Lessons Learned Overview Research Juvenile Justice System in WA • Determinate sentencing since 1977 • Current offense • Criminal history • Decentralized system • County - juvenile court, detention, probation • State - juvenile correctional institutions, parole; distributes state funds to counties (Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, JRA) 3 of 17

5. Quality Assurance Costs & Benefits Lessons Learned Overview Research Evidence-Based Initiative • Intensive probation program in 1995. • Institute conducts outcome evaluation and results are not good. • Community Juvenile Accountability Act (CJAA) was passed in 1997. • Goal: Reduce crime, cost-effectively, by establishing “research-based” programs in the juvenile court. 4 of 17

6. Quality Assurance Costs & Benefits Lessons Learned Overview Research CJAA • A CJAA committee was established. • Institute examined literature to identify programs that reduce recidivism. • Meta-analysis • Four CJAA programs were selected. • Functional Family Therapy (FFT) • Aggression Replacement Training (ART) • Coordination of Services (COS) • Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) 5 of 17

7. Quality Assurance Costs & Benefits Lessons Learned Overview Research Assessment • The Institute worked with Juvenile Court Administrators to develop the WA State Juvenile Court Assessment • Assessment • Measures risk and protective factors. • Classifies youth as low, moderate, or high risk for reoffense. • Screens youth for program eligibility. • Program implementation began in 1999. 6 of 17

8. Quality Assurance Costs & Benefits Lessons Learned Research Overview Two Types of Research • Meta-analysis • Combines the results of many studies. • Studies must meet a standard of rigor. • Results of meta-analysis produce an effect size. • Outcome evaluation • Valid comparison group. • Intent to treat (not just completers). 7 of 17

9. Quality Assurance Costs & Benefits Lessons Learned Research Overview 35% Program (Competent Therapists) 30% 32% Control 25% 27% 27% 25% Program (Not Competent Therapists) 20% Recidivism Rate 19% 15% 17% 10% 5% 1% 3% 0% FFT ART COS 8 of 17

10. Quality Assurance Costs & Benefits Lessons Learned Research Overview • Experts • Statewide quality assurance steering committee • Statewide program experts • Regional consultants • Training • On-going consultation, feedback, and training • Assess therapists’ level of competent program delivery 9 of 17

11. Costs & Benefits Quality Assurance Lessons Learned Research Overview Evidence-Based Public Policy Options to Reduce Future Prison Construction (2006) • “Study options to stabilize future prison populations.” • “Study the net short-run and long-run fiscal savings to state and local governments of implementing… • evidence-based treatment human service and corrections programs and policies, including prevention and intervention programs” • “Project total fiscal impacts under alternative implementation scenarios.” 10 of 17

12. Costs & Benefits Quality Assurance Lessons Learned Research Overview Evidence-Based Programs for Juvenile Offenders: Selected Results Expected Change In Crime (# of EB Studies) Benefits Minus Costs (per-person, life cycle) Juvenile Program FFT-18.1% (7) $49,776 MDTFC (foster care)-17.9% (3) $88,953 ART-8.3% (4) $23,015 Restorative Justice (low risk) -8.0% (21) $8,702 MST -7.7% (10) $17,694 Intensive Probation (surveillance)0.0% (3) -$1,650 Scared Straight+6.1%(10) -$17,470 11 of 17

13. Costs & Benefits Quality Assurance Lessons Learned Background Research What Does This Mean? • Many juvenile justice options produce favorable long-run economic returns. • Reduce need for up to two prisons if an aggressive portfolio of evidence-based options were implemented. • In 2007, the Legislature expanded funding for evidence-based programs. • $26.2 million • One future prison eliminated from agenda. 12 of 17

14. Lessons Learned Quality Assurance Costs & Benefits Research Overview • Research • Select programs scientifically shown to work. • Conduct a valid outcome evaluation. • Assessment • Develop an assessment to identify appropriate program for each youth. • Quality Assurance • Implement standards to ensure adherence to the model. 13 of 17

15. Lessons Learned Quality Assurance Costs & Benefits Research Overview • Costs and Benefits • Determine if the investment produces positive returns to taxpayers. • People • Develop relationships with stakeholders. • People make decisions, not reports. 14 of 17

16. Juvenile Justice History in WA Intensive probation program funded. Intensive probation outcomes are not good. Determine if evidence-based programs exist that can be implemented in Washington State juvenile courts. Move funding from intensive probation to evidence-based programs in juvenile courts: Aggression Replacement Training (ART) and Functional Family Therapy (FFT). Preliminary evidence-based program outcomes are positive and emphasize competent delivery (Doc. No. 02-08-1201). Develop adherence and outcome standards for evidence-based programs. Cost-benefit analyses of prevention and intervention programs beyond juvenile offenders. 1995 1996 1997 1998 2002 2003 15 of 17

17. Juvenile Justice History in WA (cont’d) Outcome evaluation of Washington State’s research-based programs for juvenile offenders. ART, FFT, & COS. Benefits and Costs of Prevention and Early Intervention Programs for Youth - 6 outcomes of interest. Reinvesting in Youth legislation: State reimburses counties for implementing evidence-based programs. Evidence-Based Public Policy Options to Reduce Future Prison Construction, Criminal Justice Costs, and Crime Rates. Expanded Funding for evidence-based programs: ART, FFT, MST, COS, MDTFC, FIT, Restorative justice for low risk offenders, and drug courts. Working on increasing the number of youth served by evidence-based programs and tracking agency implementation of expansion dollars. 2004 2006 2007 Today 16 of 17

18. Institute Reports of Interest Aos, S., Lieb, R., Mayfield, J., Miller, M., & Pennucci, A. (2004). Benefits and costs of prevention and early intervention programs for youth. Aos, S., Miller, M. & Drake, E. (2006). Evidence-based public policy options to reduce future prison construction. Barnoski, R. (1999). The Community Juvenile Accountability Act: Research-proven interventions for the juvenile court. Barnoski, R. & Aos, S. (2004). Outcome evaluation of Washington State’s research-based programs for juvenile offenders. Barnoski, R., Aos, S. & Lieb, R. (2003). Recommended quality control standards: Washington State research-based juvenile offender programs. 17 of 17