LA County 241.1 Cases: An Overview of Characteristics

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LA County 241.1 Cases An Overview of
Characteristics Disposition Outcomes

• Denise C. Herz, Ph.D.
• California State UniversityLos Angeles
• School of Criminal Justice Criminalistics
• 323-343-4624
• dherz_at_calstatela.edu
• Joseph P. Ryan, Ph.D.
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• School of Social Work
• Children and Family Research Center

2
Study Background Overview

• Began meeting with the Childrens Law Center in
  Winter 2004 to discuss possible research topics
  related to crossover youth
• Discussions were an extension of a University/
  Dependency Court Partnership
• As a result of these discussions
• A clear understanding of the processing of
  crossover youth was developed
• A collaborative research agenda was developed.
• Purpose of Current Study
• What are the characteristics of 241 (crossover)
  youths?
• How are these characteristics related to outcomes
  in the 241 process?

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Overview of Crossover Process in Los Angeles
County

• After committing delinquency, a dependent youth
  becomes a 241.1 case per California statute
• Petition is filed
• Special 241.1 adjudication hearing process is
  held
• All cases receive a joint assessment by Probation
  the Department of Children Family Services as
  part of a 241.1 hearing process
• This assessment is then used by the court to
  determine one of the following outcomes (replaces
  241 status)
• Dismissal of Charges
• Receive Informal Probation with Primary Custody
  by DCFS
• Receive Further Processing in the Delinquency
  Court
• Under current California law, the youth may not
  be under the jurisdiction of both systems
  concurrently

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Study Methodology

• Case file data extraction on all 241.1 cases in
  which a dependent youth had crossed over into
  delinquency between Apr. 1 Dec. 31, 2004
• Data were coded from the joint assessment reports
  required for the 241.1 Hearing Process
• In total, the population of cases575 cases
• NOTE Cases represent individual offenders
  (multiple referrals reduced to last referral
  within the timeframe)

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What Are the Characteristics of 241.1 Youth?
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General Characteristics(N575)
Demographic Information
Female 33
Average Age 15.73
African-American 63
Hispanic 28
Caucasian 8
School Status
Enrolled 76
Poor Attendance or Truant 45
Not Enrolled 24
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Living Situation(N575)
Living Situation at Time of Arrest
Living at Home 13
Living with Relative 23
Living in Foster Care 23
Living in Group Home 40
Detained at Juvenile Hall for Current Offense 54
Current Offense was Related to Placement 31
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Charge/History Information (N575)
Current Offense Charge Current Offense Charge
Violent Offense 40
Assault64 Robbery26 Assault64 Robbery26
Property Offense 28
Burglary48 Burglary48
Other Offense 26
Warrant23 Vandalism20 Threats16 Warrant23 Vandalism20 Threats16
Alcohol/Drug Offense 6
Other Information
Previous Contact with CJ/JJ System 68
Most serious charge for which the youth was adjudicated. It is important to note that charge description is not an accurate portrayal of actual event in many cases. For example, throwing an unripe avocado would often be charged as an assault. Unfortunately, this aspect of charging was difficult to capture across all cases consequently, we have no measure of it. Most serious charge for which the youth was adjudicated. It is important to note that charge description is not an accurate portrayal of actual event in many cases. For example, throwing an unripe avocado would often be charged as an assault. Unfortunately, this aspect of charging was difficult to capture across all cases consequently, we have no measure of it.
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Placement History (N575)
Avg. Length of Stay in Dependency Court 7.38 Years (5.30) 7.38 Years (5.30)
Youth Placed in at Least One Placement 98 Average No. Of Placements
Relative 63 1.85
Foster Care 72 3.66
Group Home 62 3.22
Residential Treatment Placement 18 2.71
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How Do 241.1 Cases Compare to All DCFS Cases?
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Comparisons Across Age
  All DCFS N37,885 All DCFS N37,885 All 241 N574 All 241 N574 241/ DCFS
n n
0-9 18173 48 1 0 0
10 to 13 8685 23 78 14 1
14 to 15 4854 13 235 41 5
16 to 17 4424 12 246 43 6
18 1749 5 14 2 1
Cautionary Note about Additional Placement, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity Comparisons Due the data currently available from DCFS, comparisons are made to all cases including 0-9 year olds. The proportion would probably differ in many categories if totals were limited to 10 year olds. Cautionary Note about Additional Placement, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity Comparisons Due the data currently available from DCFS, comparisons are made to all cases including 0-9 year olds. The proportion would probably differ in many categories if totals were limited to 10 year olds. Cautionary Note about Additional Placement, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity Comparisons Due the data currently available from DCFS, comparisons are made to all cases including 0-9 year olds. The proportion would probably differ in many categories if totals were limited to 10 year olds. Cautionary Note about Additional Placement, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity Comparisons Due the data currently available from DCFS, comparisons are made to all cases including 0-9 year olds. The proportion would probably differ in many categories if totals were limited to 10 year olds. Cautionary Note about Additional Placement, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity Comparisons Due the data currently available from DCFS, comparisons are made to all cases including 0-9 year olds. The proportion would probably differ in many categories if totals were limited to 10 year olds. Cautionary Note about Additional Placement, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity Comparisons Due the data currently available from DCFS, comparisons are made to all cases including 0-9 year olds. The proportion would probably differ in many categories if totals were limited to 10 year olds.
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Comparisons Across Placement
  All DCFS n26,167 All DCFS n26,167 All 241 n513 All 241 n513 241/ DCFS
n n
Relative Home 11,238 43 131 26 1
Foster Care Placement 8,875 34 130 25 1
Group Home 1,989 8 229 45 12
Guardian Home 2,530 10 16 3 1
Adoptive Home 1,323 5      
Other 212 1 7 1 3
Totals 26,167 100 513 100 2
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Comparisons Across Gender
  All DCFS N37,885 All DCFS N37,885 All 241 N575 All 241 N575 241/ DCFS
n n
Male 18,851 50 385 67 2
Female 19,034 50 190 33 1
Totals 37,885 100 575 100 2
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Comparisons Across Race/Ethnicity
  All DCFS N37,885 All DCFS N37,885 All 241 N575 All 241 N575 241/ DCFS
  n n
White 5402 14 44 8 1
Hispanic 17073 45 161 28 1
African American 13892 37 365 63 3
Asian/Pacific Islander 941 2 4 1 0
American Indian 201 1      
Filipino 180 0      
Other 196 1 1 0 1
Totals 37885 100 575 100 2
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What is the Relationship between 241.1 Youth
Characteristics Disposition?
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Summary of Disposition Outcomes (n521)
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School Attendance Disposition (N521)
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Detention Disposition (N521)
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Most Serious Charge Disposition (N521)
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MH/SA Problems Disposition (N521)
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Disposition Outcomes by Resiliency Scores
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Developing an Offender Continuum
Risk Level Need Level n Category
None/Low None/Low 98 17 47
Mod to High 103 18 47
High 70 12 47
Mod to High None/Low 41 7 41
Mod to High 92 16 41
High 104 18 41
High None/Low 1 1 12
Mod to High 20 3 12
High 46 18 12
Need Level None/LowNo Problem or Substance Use Mod/HighMH or SA Problem HighCo-Occurring Problems Need Level None/LowNo Problem or Substance Use Mod/HighMH or SA Problem HighCo-Occurring Problems Need Level None/LowNo Problem or Substance Use Mod/HighMH or SA Problem HighCo-Occurring Problems Need Level None/LowNo Problem or Substance Use Mod/HighMH or SA Problem HighCo-Occurring Problems Need Level None/LowNo Problem or Substance Use Mod/HighMH or SA Problem HighCo-Occurring Problems
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Implications for System Reform

• What role can AB 129 play in improving the
  implementation of best practice?
• Recognition of a continuum of offenders based on
  risk and needs
• Development of coordinated case development and
  oversight by DCFS Probation
• One question that must be addressed given the
  level of risk found in these youths lives is To
  what extent accountability interventions are
  being used in informal responses?
• Not addressing the behavior problem may be
  harming (putting youth at higher risk for 602
  outcomes in the future) these youth more than
  helping them
• Assessing levels of risk and need offers the
  opportunity to identify a risk/need continuum of
  offenders
• The largest percentage of offenders fall within
  the low spectrum of risks and need
• A noticeable portion also fall within the
  moderate to high categories
• Small percentages fall within the high risk and
  need categories, but these are the offenders who
  will also potentially cause the most harm to self
  and others in the long-run
• Substance abuse problems require attention at all
  levels of risk