The work of the Utah Juvenile Justice Working Group laid the foundation for research-based, data-driven policy changes. Moving forward, the state could benefit from making efforts to: 1) understand and adopt research-based approaches to generate positive outcomes for youths diverted from a petition via an NJA, and 2) ensure that NJA practices are implemented with substantial fidelity and quality.
As such, CCJJ, with recommendations from the JJOC, contracted with two research groups from the University of Utah: the Utah Criminal Justice Center and the Economics Evaluation Unit for Fiscal Year 2020 to examine two primary research areas concerning the NJA Process.
Research Area 1: The practical aspects of effective approaches that Probation Officers can adopt in working with youths who receive an NJA. For example, what level of contact and services are appropriate for individual youths?
Research Area 2: The current policies for fines, fees, and restitution policies that concern NJAs, internal to the Juvenile Court, and at a legislative level.
Below are two separate report findings for Research Area 1:
Diversion is theorized to produce better long-term youth development. The purpose of this study is to assess the recent literature on the efficacy of diversion programs.
NJA Systematic Review Report
Policies and practices guided by research cannot be expected to yield positive outcomes if not implemented with high quality and fidelity.
Internal Evaluation Process Report