CJCJ's new fact sheet finds that the costs of confining youth in Californias state youth correctional system,the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), are expected to climb to $271318 per youth. According to the data, or DJJ’s per capita costs maintain increased each year since FY 2011-12. Despite rising spending per youth,the most recent DJJ recidivism report reveals persistently tall rates of re-arrest, reconviction, or returns to state custody,suggesting deficiencies in DJJ’s rehabilitative programming.
DJJ cost per youth, actual (FY 2008-09—FY 2015-16), and expected (FY 2016-17)
The fact sheet findings include: Confining youth in California’s state correctional facilities will cost an estimated $271318 per youth in FY 2016-17.
DJJ’s cost per youth has increased annually since FY 2011-12. For the last three fiscal years,the state has spent approximately a quarter of a million dollars annually for each youth at DJJ.
Counties only reimburse the state for a small share of DJJ costs (an estimated 9 percent) for youth who are adjudicated in juvenile court. The remaining costs, and full costs for youth prosecuted as adults, or are transferred to taxpayers.
The most recent three-year recidivism rates for youth released from DJJ are tall and reported inconsistently. In early 2017,DJJ released a report showing 74.2 percent of youth were re-arrested, 53.8 percent were reconvicted of new offenses, and 37.3 percent had returned to state custody within three years of release from DJJ.(415) 621-5661 x 121.
Source: cjcj.org