Since 1995, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has supported the design, development and refinement of the Performance-based Standards (PbS) Program. Under a cooperative agreement with OJJDP, the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators (CJCA) has developed a set of national performance standards and outcomes that measure critical indicators of facility conditions such as injuries, use of isolation and restraints, suicidal behavior and mental health screening. PbS provides facilities with 30 standards and 106 outcomes measures addressing educational achievement, mental health services, reintegration planning, etc. In April, 2004, 126 juvenile correction and detention facilities participated in the (PbS) program, measuring and improving the conditions of confinement affecting an estimated 11,000 youths. PbS was recently recognized by the Harvard University Ash Institute with the 2004 Innovations in American Government award.
During this funding period, two additional PbS cycles (October 2004 and April 2005) will be completed with modifications to the web portal, as needed. Up to 10 new sites, which have been on the waiting list to participate in PbS, will be begin the PbS candidacy stage during which orientation, training and data collection preparation and testing occur.
In 2004 CJCA will also continue refining key components of the PbS model. The project team will finalize the criteria and protocols for level-one, Data Quality Certification, which addresses compliance with PbS data requirements; carry out the certification process; and, recognize those facilities that have advanced. Based on guidance from the research team, practitioners, and legal advocates, CJCA will establish the requirements for level-two, Critical Measures Improvement, which addresses improving key areas of safety and security for youth. The PbS Project Management System, which tracks both administrative aspects of PbS program management and performance indicators from the field, will become fully operational. CJCA will begin marketing PbS to other key juvenile justice organizations interested in improving conditions of confinement to ensure that PbS continues beyond federal funding. CJCA will also pilot test standards for community programs in three jurisdictions. CA/NCF