Juvenile Intervention and Support Center (JISC)
The Crime Lab supports the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) in its efforts to evaluate and improve the Juvenile Intervention and Support Center (JISC), a prototype facility designed to divert children from the justice system and support their development.
Challenge
Youth involved in the juvenile justice system in Chicago are more likely to be from communities undermined by disinvestment for many decades. Involvement in the juvenile justice system imposes further systemic barriers to accessing education, housing, employment, financial aid, and other services that protect their right to safety and stability.
Opportunity
The Crime Lab is bringing together data from multiple agencies to answer questions identified by DFSS and JISC members so that stakeholders can make informed, data-driven policy recommendations to improve the JISC and the juvenile justice system more broadly.
Project overview
The Juvenile Intervention and Support Center (JISC) is a prototype facility designed to divert children away from the justice system and support their development through individual services within the JISC and referral to community-based services tailored to their specific needs. However, the ability to divert children away from the justice system requires understanding the unique experiences and needs of youth both within and outside the juvenile justice system. The Crime Lab supports the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) to evaluate and improve the JISC by providing ongoing technical assistance. The Crime Lab brings together data from multiple agencies to answer questions identified by DFSS and JISC members so that stakeholders can make informed, data-driven policy recommendations to improve the JISC and the juvenile justice system more broadly. The ultimate goal of this assistance is to ensure that youth receive adequate support and to minimize the negative impact of the juvenile justice system on a youth’s later life outcomes.
Years Active
2013 – 2022
Topics
Project Leads
Ashna Arora
Research Director
Khoa Nguyen
Analytics Manager
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