2010 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Juveniles Referred to Family Court Alternatives to Incarceration for Juvenile Offenders in Rhode Island ◆ Juvenile courts have a wide range of options for handling juvenile offenders, including: restitution, community service, home curfews, academic supports, counseling, substance abuse treatment and probation. 11 In 2009 in Rhode Island, 21% of all cases referred to Family Court were diverted instead of proceeding to a formal court hearing. 12 ◆ The Rhode Island Family Court administers several alternatives to traditional court hearings, including the Truancy Court and the Juvenile Drug Court. In 2009, 2,021 juveniles were referred to the Truancy Court by schools in Rhode Island and 297 juveniles who committed drug offenses or had highlighted drug issues were diverted to the Juvenile Drug Court pre-adjudication. 13 Juveniles referred to the Drug Court undergo a six- to twelve-month program that includes intensive court supervision, drug treatment, and educational and employment services. 14 ◆ In 2008 there were 30 Juvenile Hearing Boards in Rhode Island that served 32 of Rhode Island’s cities and towns. The Providence Juvenile Hearing Board was not active in 2008, and seven communities in Rhode Island did not have Juvenile Hearing Boards (Jamestown, Little Compton, New Shoreham, North Providence, Richmond, South Kingston and Tiverton). Comprised of volunteer community members, these Boards permit the diversion of juveniles accused of status offenses or misdemeanors. Sanction options in this process include but are not limited to community service, restitution and counseling. A total of 789 cases were heard before Rhode Island Juvenile Hearing Boards in 2008. 15,16 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth in Juvenile Courts ◆ Many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth experience family rejection, conflicts at home and bullying and harassment in school due to their gender identity or sexual orientation. These factors increase LGBT youth’s risk of Family Court involvement for status offenses (like running away), survival crimes (like shoplifting and prostitution), truancy related to safety issues at school, and assault charges related to self defense. Training and resources for adults working in the juvenile justice system about the specific family, social and developmental challenges faced by LGBT youth can help ensure positive outcomes. 17 1 Smith, C. A. (2008). Juvenile delinquency: An introduction. The Prevention Researcher: Preventing Juvenile Delinquency, 15(1), 3-6. Juveniles Tried as Adults ◆ Youth tried and punished in the adult court system are more likely to re-offend and to commit future violent crimes than youth who commit similar crimes but who are in juvenile systems. Counseling, therapeutic services, job training and educational services form the basis of rehabilitation in youth correctional environments. Youth placed in adult correctional facilities are less likely to receive appropriate services. 18,19 ◆ Behavioral research shows that most youth offenders will stop breaking the law as part of the normal maturation process and that adolescents are less able than adults to weigh risks and consequences and to resist peer pressure. Research also shows that judgment and decision-making skills do not fully develop until the early twenties. 20,21 ◆ When a juvenile has committed a heinous and/or premeditated felony offense or has a history of felony offenses, the Rhode Island Attorney General may request that the Family Court Judge waive jurisdiction so that the juvenile may be tried as an adult in Superior Court. Waiver of jurisdiction is mandatory for juveniles who are 17 years old and who are charged with murder, first degree sexual assault or assault with intent to commit murder. 22 ◆ In 2009, the Attorney General's Office filed 17 motions to waive jurisdiction to try juveniles as adults (four mandatory and 13 discretionary waivers). Seven were waived voluntarily, five were waived after a hearing, one was withdrawn, and one was dismissed. As of January 2010, three motions from 2009 were pending before the Family Court. 23 ◆ A juvenile in Rhode Island may also be “certified,” allowing the Family Court to sentence the juvenile beyond age 19 if there is otherwise an insufficient period time in which to accomplish rehabilitation. There was one discretionary certification in 2009. 24 While the child is a minor, the sentence is served at the Training School. The youth can be transferred to an adult facility upon reaching age 19, if the court deems it appropriate. 25 References 2 Rhode Island Family Court (n.d.). Judiciary of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Family Court home page. Retrieved February 3, 2008, from www.courts.ri.gov/family/defaultfamily.htm (continued on page 168) 2010 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook 93
Juveniles at the Training School DEFINITION Juveniles at the Training School is the number of juveniles age 21 or under who were in the care or custody of the Rhode Island Training School at any time during the calendar year, including youth in community placements while in the care or custody of the Training School. SIGNIFICANCE The juvenile justice system has three primary obligations: to identify and respond to the needs of the young people in its care; to protect youth from legal jeopardy; and to maintain public safety. 1 Early antisocial behavior, cognitive impairment, inadequate parenting skills, child maltreatment, exposure to family violence, association with other high-risk youth, poor academic performance, and poverty increase risk for involvement with the juvenile justice system. 2,3 Youth at risk of juvenile justice systems involvement often come to the attention of schools, social service agencies and child welfare systems, presenting opportunities to prevent wayward and delinquent behavior. Juvenile justice systems have a range of options for monitoring and rehabilitating juvenile offenders in addition to incarceration, including: electronic monitoring, day and evening reporting centers, skills training programs, community-based therapy for youth and families and substance abuse treatment. 4 Alternatives to incarcerating youth have been shown to be more successful in preventing recidivism and more cost-effective than incarceration. Programs that are community-based, intensive, sustained, and involve the families of the youth in individualized treatment programs are the most successful. 5,6 The Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) operates the Rhode Island Training School, the state’s residential detention facility for adjudicated youth and youth in detention while awaiting trial. A total of 894 youth (82% male and 18% female) were in the care or custody of the Training School at some point during 2009, down from 1,084 in 2008. On January 1, 2010, there were 275 youth in the care or custody of the Training School, 110 of whom were physically at the Training School. 7 In 2008, the Rhode Island General Assembly instituted a cap on the number of detained and adjudicated youth at the Training School. On any given day, the limit is 148 boys and 12 girls. 8 By Age Juveniles in the Care or Custody of the Rhode Island Training School, Calendar Year 2009 1% Ages 13 and under 14% Ages 14 and 15 50% Ages 16 and 17 26% Age 18 9% Ages 19 to 21 9% 1% 14% n=1,049 By Race* 41% White 29% Black 3% Asian 1% Native American 3% Multiracial 23% Unknown Race 100 26% 41% 90 3% 80 1% 3% 70 50% 60 29% 50 40 n=894 *In 30 2009, 264 youth (30%) in the care or custody of the Rhode Island Training School were identified 20 as Hispanic. Hispanic youth may be of any race. 10 0 Discharges From the Rhode Island Training School, by Length of Time in Custody, Calendar Year 2009 Less than 6 months 6 to 11 months 12 to 23 months 24 months or more 1% 9% 16% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Source: Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families, RICHIST, 2009. Total discharges (1,049) are higher than the total number of youth who passed through the Training School (894) due to some youth being detained and/or adjudicated and then discharged from the Training School more than once in 2009. 23% 74% 94 2010 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook / Safety
Page 1 and 2:
2010 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbo
Page 3 and 4:
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Board of Di
Page 5 and 6:
Overview From: I’ll Be You and Yo
Page 7:
Family and Community From: On Freed
Page 10 and 11:
Table 1. Child Population, Rhode Is
Page 12 and 13:
Children in Single-Parent Families
Page 14 and 15:
Table 3. Grandparents Caring for Gr
Page 16 and 17:
Infants Born at Highest Risk Table
Page 18 and 19:
Table 5. Births by Education Level
Page 20 and 21:
Racial and Ethnic Diversity Table 6
Page 22 and 23:
Racial and Ethnic Disparities Econo
Page 24 and 25:
Racial and Ethnic Disparities Rhode
Page 27 and 28:
600 Median Family Income DEFINITION
Page 29 and 30:
Cost of Housing 1300 1200 1100 DEFI
Page 31 and 32:
Homeless Children DEFINITION Homele
Page 33 and 34:
Secure Parental Employment DEFINITI
Page 35 and 36:
Children Receiving Child Support DE
Page 37 and 38:
35 Children in Poverty DEFINITION C
Page 39 and 40:
Children in Poverty Financial Asset
Page 41 and 42:
2000 Children in Families Receiving
Page 43 and 44: Children in Families Receiving Cash
Page 45 and 46: Children Receiving SNAP Benefits 75
Page 47 and 48: Women and Children Participating in
Page 49 and 50: 50 Children Participating in School
Page 51: Health Make Music with Your Life by
Page 54 and 55: Children’s Health Insurance Table
Page 56 and 57: 010 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 Vaccina
Page 58 and 59: Access to Dental Care Oral Health S
Page 60 and 61: Children’s Mental Health Referenc
Page 62 and 63: Children with Special Needs Medical
Page 64 and 65: Table 17. Breastfeeding Rates, Rhod
Page 66 and 67: Women with Delayed Prenatal Care Ta
Page 68 and 69: Preterm Births Table 19. Preterm Bi
Page 70 and 71: Table 20. Low Birthweight Infants,
Page 72 and 73: Infant Mortality Table 21. Infant M
Page 74 and 75: Table 22. Lead Poisoning in Childre
Page 76 and 77: Table 23. Asthma Hospitalizations f
Page 78 and 79: Housing and Health Key Principles o
Page 80 and 81: 20 15 Childhood Obesity 10 20% 15%
Page 82 and 83: Table 24. Births to Teens, Ages 15-
Page 84 and 85: Alcohol, Drug and Cigarette Use by
Page 87 and 88: 30 Child Deaths DEFINITION Child de
Page 89 and 90: Youth Violence DEFINITION Youth vio
Page 91 and 92: Disconnected Youth DEFINITION Disco
Page 93: Juveniles Referred to Family Court
Page 97 and 98: Juveniles at the Training School Gi
Page 99 and 100: Children of Incarcerated Parents DE
Page 101 and 102: Children Witnessing Domestic Violen
Page 103 and 104: Child Abuse and Neglect DEFINITION
Page 105 and 106: Child Abuse and Neglect Indicated A
Page 107 and 108: Children in Out-of-Home Placement D
Page 109 and 110: Permanency for Children in DCYF Car
Page 111: Child of the Sun by Lillian M. Fish
Page 114 and 115: Table 31. Rhode Island Public Schoo
Page 116 and 117: Table 32. Infants and Toddlers Enro
Page 118 and 119: Table 33. Children Ages Birth to Th
Page 120 and 121: Infant and Preschool Child Care Tab
Page 122 and 123: Table 35. Measuring Quality in Earl
Page 124 and 125: Children Enrolled in Head Start Tab
Page 126 and 127: Full-Day Kindergarten Table 37. Chi
Page 128 and 129: Children Receiving Child Care Subsi
Page 130 and 131: Federal Financing After-School Care
Page 132 and 133: English Language Learners Table 40.
Page 134 and 135: Table 41. Kindergarten Through 12th
Page 136 and 137: Table 42. Student Mobility and Stab
Page 138 and 139: Fourth-Grade Reading Skills Table 4
Page 140 and 141: Eighth-Grade Reading Skills Table 4
Page 142 and 143: Table 45. Fourth and Eighth Grade M
Page 144 and 145:
Schools Making Insufficient Progres
Page 146 and 147:
Chronic Early Absence Table 47. Chr
Page 148 and 149:
School Attendance Table 48. Student
Page 150 and 151:
Table 49. Disciplinary Actions, Rho
Page 152 and 153:
High School Graduation Rate Table 5
Page 154 and 155:
College Preparation and Access Tabl
Page 156 and 157:
Teens Not in School and Not Working
Page 158 and 159:
Methodology The 2010 Rhode Island K
Page 160 and 161:
Methodology & References Family Inc
Page 162 and 163:
References 6 U.S. Census Bureau, Am
Page 164 and 165:
References 13,15 Rhode Island Depar
Page 166 and 167:
References (continued from page 63)
Page 168 and 169:
References 15 U.S. Department of He
Page 170 and 171:
References RICHIST, 2009. 29 Safety
Page 172 and 173:
References 16,21 Chang, H. N. & Agu
Page 174 and 175:
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Committees
Page 176 and 177:
Acknowledgements The 2010 Rhode Isl
Page 178 and 179:
Acknowledgements Michael Burk, RI D
Page 180:
Notes 180 2010 Rhode Island KIDS CO
show all

2010 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?