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Levin: Saving money while reducing juvenile crime

Marc Levin at the Texas Public Policy Foundation has a column out titled "In Juvenile Justice, Less is Often More," arguing that community-based alternatives are cheaper and more effective for all but the most high-risk youth. He concludes thusly:juvenile justice is at another crossroads due to a projected state budget shortfall of $10 billion to $15 billion. Counties also face budget shortfalls, with Harris and Dallas asking departments to identify savings. Counties fund nearly two-thirds of juvenile probation. Thus, a strong fiscal partnership between the state and counties is vital to ensure that youths are not sent to TYC simply because less costly and often more effective community-based options are unavailable. Texas can continue saving money and protecting public safety by renewing support for probation departments? TYC diversion initiatives that more than pay for themselves as they enable TYC to continue downsizing...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on June 09, 2010 (boomark / email).