Preserving Detention Reform During a Fiscal Crisis Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Inters

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Preserving Detention Reform During a Fiscal
CrisisJuvenile Detention Alternatives
Initiative Inter-site ConferenceRenaissance
Washington, DC HotelAugust 7, 2009

• Robert L. Bingham
• Chief Probation Officer
• Marion Superior Court
• 200 E. Washington Street, Room T642
• Indianapolis, IN 46204-3314
• Phone [phone]
• Email rlbingha_at_indy.gov

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I. Accept the fact that every jurisdiction is
different every state is different

• Local Economy
• Elkhart, Indiana
• Bend, Oregon
• State economy
• Specialized versus diverse
• Indiana
• Oregon
• Michigan
• California

• Political climate
• State profiles red or blue?
• History and culture
• Indiana versus Oregon
• Unions
• State Structure state versus county-operated
• What and who is your umbrella your reporting
  structure?
• History of parole
• System stability change in chief judge, mayor,
  governor

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II. Recession cycles vary

• Start end
• Length
• Severity
• The comparison trap
• It aint over til its over

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III. What is the detention mandate in your state
and jurisdiction?

• Statutory mandate and local option

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IV. Stick to JDAI principles

• Data vs. passion
• What is the evidence?
• What do statistics prove to us regarding
  effective and cost efficient processing and
  programming?
• Knowing what works and what doesnt work
• Document success re
• Reductions in detention admissions
• Reductions in length of stay
• Reductions in annual detention bed days
• Reductions in court processing time
• Newly developed alternatives to detention
• Newly developed internal sanctions
• Reductions in private placements
• Reductions in DOC commitments
• Documented costs savings

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V. Is your house in order?

• Admission criteria
• Validated risk instrument
• Statistical responsiveness
• Programming what works and what doesnt work
• State audits and certifications
• Litigation history
• Media history

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Know your advocates know your detractors

• Keep your friends close, but your enemies
  closer.
• - Michael Corleone
• (Al Pacino)
• Godfather I

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Know your advocates know your detractors

• Watch your distance
• Work the detractors
• Dont forget the advocates and allies
• Legislative
• Academic support
• Law enforcement
• Judicial/Executive
• Community
• Faith-based community
• Political
• Media

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Relationships and partnerships do NOT forget
them and their role with past and current success

• VIDEO CLIP
• - Finesse
• - Preparedness

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VIII. Recession as an opportunity

• Thinking creatively
• Daring to be different
• Searching and exploiting
• Taking responsible risks
• Sacred cows
• Challenging traditional leadership responses
• Moving cheese
• New opportunities out of necessity
• Grants, foundations, and corporations
• Reform work made more challenging

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What not to forget -

• MAINTENANCE

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X. Communications

• Completeness
• Timeliness
• Inclusion
• Respect
• Assume nothing
• Confidential

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XI. Always be prepared always lurking are

• Ambushes
• Blindsides
• Betrayals
• Trap doors
• Quick sand
• Banana peels

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Relationships

• The universal rule

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We have met the enemy and he is us

• - Pogo (Walt Kelly)