Wisconsin is among the many states in which the rate and number of youth confined in institutions has dramatically declined over the past decade. This trend is highlighted in a recent release from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, titled Reducing Youth Incarceration in the United States. While still confining youth at higher rates than just about anywhere in the world, the report cites a 41 percent decline between 1997 and 2010 as evidence that states and local jurisdictions are finding other ways to deal with youthful offenders – while at the same time juvenile crime rates decline.

In Juvenile Justice in Wisconsin: What do we Really Know?, WCCF noted that the average daily population of youth held in juvenile correctional institutions declined by over 70 percent between 2000 and 2011. By being more strategic about who is incarcerated, developing strong community-based alternatives, and utilizing best practice research, counties across the state have succeeded in reducing reliance on expensive institutional care and using scare dollars more effectively.  

Wisconsin counties have found new, cost-effective ways to work with teens that end up in the juvenile system. Although more still need to be done, we believe that this positive trend is the beginning of a success story for the juvenile justice system. By Jim Moeser