Detention

Detention is a high-leverage decision point. This page maps how youth are screened, when detention is used, what alternatives look like, and where delays or disparities creep in.

What We Track

Screening & Criteria: validated risk screens at intake; mandatory/ discretionary holds; override documentation.
Hearings & Counsel: 24–48 hour timelines, access to counsel, continuances.
Alternatives: evening/reporting centers, electronic monitoring, respite/host homes, community supports.
ALOS & Flow: average length of stay, case processing milestones, bottlenecks.
Equity & Compliance: race/disability/rural differences, hearing timeliness, conditions standards.

Decision Flow (Typical)

Referral/Intake: offense, history, and risk screen collected; custody decision made.
Screening Outcome: release to guardian/alternative or hold pending hearing; overrides recorded.
Initial Hearing: usually within 24–48 hours; counsel present; review of criteria and alternatives.
Case Processing: continued release with conditions or continued custody; monitor timelines.

Screening & Tools

Intake screening should separate flight/public safety risk from service need. Where overrides occur, reasons are recorded and audited. Mental health and substance-use triage informs referral—not detention—as a response.

Alternatives to Detention

Evening/Reporting Centers: structured after-school hours with check-ins and programming.
Electronic Monitoring / Curfew: time-limited, with clear removal criteria.
Respite / Host Homes: short-term safe placements to stabilize conflict.
Coaching / Case Management: engagement, school coordination, and services instead of a bed.

Length of Stay & Bottlenecks

Track ALOS overall and by pathway (awaiting hearing, evaluation, placement). Common bottlenecks include late counsel appointment, slow records transfer, and waitlists for evaluations or placements. Shortening these steps reduces crowding and improves outcomes without compromising safety.

Equity & Compliance

Disaggregate detention use and ALOS by race/ethnicity, disability, gender, and rural/urban.
Monitor hearing timeliness (24–48 hr), access to counsel, and conditions standards.
Audit override patterns and alternative access for disparate impact.

Data & Methods

Detention rates are normalized to youth population (ages 12–17). Small-n cells are pooled across 2–3 years and flagged. When definitions or systems change, we mark breaks in series. Where detention substitutes for service need, we note that in interpretation.

Transparency note: We flag pooled small-n values and annotate series breaks to keep comparisons honest.

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