JDAI holds kick-off meeting for Pulaski County program

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Published: Friday, 09 December 2016 21:01

The Pulaski Circuit Court held its Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative official kick-off meeting Friday (Dec. 9.

JDAI is a bipartisan movement for juvenile justice reinvestment - the reallocation of government resources away from mass incarceration and toward investment in youth, families, and communities. JDAI programs are found all over the country and are present in 32 counties in Indiana.  

Pulaski Circuit Court held its JDAI Kick-Off meeting Dec. 9. Helping to lead the presentation, which focused on a recent local assessment, was Nancy Weaver, a Juvenile Justice Strategist Team leader.

“JDAI is focused on helping improve the juvenile process for our youth in Pulaski County,” said Judge Michael Shurn. “It is a vehicle of internal examination and change; it will help us shift how we think about juvenile policies and procedures.

The initial Pulaski County JDAI steering committee was formed under Judge Shurn’s leadership back in late summer. The group traveled to a required conference and then completed the grant process to start JDAI in Pulaski County. From that grant, funding was provided for a coordinator position. Dr. Natalie Daily Federer was hired to help lead the program, along with Lisa Labuda as a co-coordinator.  

“Our first step included on-site interviews and lots of data collecting which was turned into an assessment report with the help of the state JDAI staff,” said Daily-Federer.  “This data was then presented at the kick-off meeting to over 30 involved community leaders who work in connection with the juvenile system.”

The Annie E. Casey Foundation is the founder of the JDAI program and is devoted to developing a brighter future for millions of children at risk of poor educational, economic, social and health outcomes.

When the Foundation launched JDAI as a pilot project in the early 1990s, overreliance on detention was widespread and growing nationwide. Using a model rooted in eight core strategies, JDAI proved effective in helping participating jurisdictions safely reduce their detention populations. Based on its success, JDAI has been adopted by an ever-growing number of jurisdictions, leading to dramatic declines in detention populations.

Indiana is one of nearly 300 JDAI sites in 40 states and the District of Columbia to implement the JDAI process and the eight core strategies to enhance and improve their juvenile justice systems. Indiana continues to be a national leader in advancing the cause of an equitable and effective juvenile justice system.