13 Indiana counties join juvenile justice reform program

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Thirteen counties are set to join Indiana’s participation in a national initiative to reform juvenile justice systems.

The Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative is a program sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation to improve the outcome of youths in the criminal justice system and reduce recidivism rates.

The project works with state agencies to come up with different ways to detain minors before they go to court. According to the JDAI’s website, detention in jails and other lockup methods increase the chances that a minor will be committed to a correctional facility.

The project also aims to combat racial disparities in the juvenile justice system.

The project came to Indiana 10 years ago and exists in 19 other Indiana counties and 39 other states.

The new counties are: Cass, Grant, Hamilton, Harrison, Hendricks, Owen, Pulaski, Ripley, Scott, Starke, Steuben, Wabash, and Whitley.