The Juvenile Assessment Center and Information Sharing:The Whys, the Whats, and How It Works in Jefferson County, Colorado

摘要

In 1992, Jefferson County, Colorado, experienced an increase in youth violence that led to a rise in juvenile arrests and filings. This juvenile activity had a negative impact on the juvenile justice system, since it lengthened time from police contact to a court appearance. Leadership determined that coordinated services for youth would benefit the county's juvenile justice system. A single point of entry was determined to be a potential solution that would lead to better intervention services, improved identification of low-risk offenders, better information sharing, and shorter lengths of stay in detention.