The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice has partnered with the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) to become the 40th state to adopt their Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). For over 25 years, AECF has worked to create a system that locks up fewer youth and relies more on proven, family-focused interventions that create opportunities for positive youth development. Using a model rooted in eight core strategies, JDAI proves effective in helping participating jurisdictions - such as SCDJJ - create alternative programs for juvenile offenders, thus safely reducing their detention populations.
This initiative directly aligns with SCDJJ's mission of protecting the public and reclaiming youth by:
- eliminating inappropriate/unnecessary use of detention.
- minimizing failure to appear and incidences of delinquent behavior.
- redirecting public finances to more effective reform strategies.
- reducing racial/ethnic/gender/geographical/offense disparities and advancing equity.
- improving conditions in secure detention facilities.
8 Core Strategies of JDAI
JDAI is a system-wide change in philosophy, practice and policy that focuses on eight core strategies:
- Collaboration
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Eliminating Disparities
- Objective Admissions Screening
- Alternatives to Detention
- Case Processing
- Special Detention Populations
- Conditions of Confinement