• 1 in 5 of all violent crimes with juvenile victims occurs between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on school days.

    1 in 5 of all violent crimes with juvenile victims occurs between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on school days.

  • Students are more apt to be victims of serious violent crime away from school than at or on the way to school.

    Students are more apt to be victims of serious violent crime away from school than at or on the way to school.

  • A juvenile is a youth at or below the upper age of original jurisdiction in a State.

    A juvenile is a youth at or below the upper age of original jurisdiction in a State.

  • As of 2009, 45 States and the District of Columbia had statutes allowing transfer to criminal court via judicial waiver.

    As of 2009, 45 States and the District of Columbia had statutes allowing transfer to criminal court via judicial waiver.

  • All States have provisions for trying certain juveniles as adults in criminal court.

    All States have provisions for trying certain juveniles as adults in criminal court.

  • As of 2009, 14 States and the District of Columbia had concurrent jurisdiction provisions that gave prosecutors discretion to file certain cases in juvenile or criminal court.

    As of 2009, 14 States and the District of Columbia had concurrent jurisdiction provisions that gave prosecutors discretion to file certain cases in juvenile or criminal court.

  • In 2008, courts with juvenile jurisdiction disposed nearly 1.7 million delinquency cases.

    In 2008, courts with juvenile jurisdiction disposed nearly 1.7 million delinquency cases.

  • Delinquency offenses are acts committed by juveniles that would be crimes if committed by adults.

    Delinquency offenses are acts committed by juveniles that would be crimes if committed by adults.

  • The 2008 juvenile court delinquency caseload was more than 4 times the caseload in 1960.

    The 2008 juvenile court delinquency caseload was more than 4 times the caseload in 1960.

  • In 2008, nearly 90% of young adults had completed high school, a slight increase since 1975 when it was 84%.

    In 2008, nearly 90% of young adults had completed high school, a slight increase since 1975 when it was 84%.

  • In 2009, the juvenile male arrest rate for Violent Crime Index Offenses was 4.3 times the rate for females.

    In 2009, the juvenile male arrest rate for Violent Crime Index Offenses was 4.3 times the rate for females.

  • In 2009, 21% of all persons under age 18 lived at or below the poverty level.

    In 2009, 21% of all persons under age 18 lived at or below the poverty level.

  • In 2009, an estimated 1,770 children died as a result of child abuse or neglect. Infants and toddlers (ages 0-3) accounted for 81% of these victims.

    In 2009, an estimated 1,770 children died as a result of child abuse or neglect. Infants and toddlers (ages 0-3) accounted for 81% of these victims.

  • Persons ages 7-17 are about as likely to be victims of suicide as they are to be victims of homicide.

    Persons ages 7-17 are about as likely to be victims of suicide as they are to be victims of homicide.

  • One-fourth (25%) of all persons arrested for robbery in 2009 were under age 18.

    One-fourth (25%) of all persons arrested for robbery in 2009 were under age 18.

  • Nationally, fewer than 71,000 juvenile offenders were held in residential placement facilities on February 24, 2010.

    Nationally, fewer than 71,000 juvenile offenders were held in residential placement facilities on February 24, 2010.

  • The proportion of children living in single-parent homes more than doubled between 1970 and 2010 from 12% to 27%.

    The proportion of children living in single-parent homes more than doubled between 1970 and 2010 from 12% to 27%.

  • Nationally, females accounted for 13% of juvenile offenders in residential placement in 2010.

    Nationally, females accounted for 13% of juvenile offenders in residential placement in 2010.

Evidence-Building through Continuous Quality Improvement

Evidence-based practices and programs have become the new standard against which funders, providers, and courts measure the efforts they use to prevent reduce, or delay delinquent behavior. But, there are very few research-based programs and practices for funders, providers, and courts to draw upon when trying to address the pressing needs of youth for which even research-based programs, such as FFT or MST are not always appropriate. And, often these programs are cost-prohibitive in terms of staff credentials or other requirements.

NCJJ can help funders, providers, and courts learn how to use the process of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) to build the evidence in their practice so that programs and practices that are not currently research-based become research –informed and are implemented with the same level of quality as the handful of Blue Ribbon programs that are being implemented for delinquent youth.

The CQI process not only helps build the evidence behind a current practice or program, but the process itself enables the entire organization to develop a culture of using quality data to inform and improve future program planning and policy development.