Wayne County Probation: JDAI

Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative

For more than 20 years nationally in both urban and rural jurisdictions, the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) has demonstrated that moving low-risk youth from secure detention into community-based alternative programs is excellent public policy. JDAI is a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, focused on juvenile justice system improvement. In Indiana, JDAI is overseen by Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, Indiana Department of Correction, Indiana Supreme Court, Indiana Department of Child Services, Indiana FSSA: Division of Mental Health & Addiction, and Indiana Department of Education.

40

States - JDAI began in 1992 and is available in 40 states and the District of Columbia

33%

of American Youth - Live within a community that offers JDAI programs

70%

of Indiana Youth - between 10-17 years old live inside of a JDAI County

JDAI's 8 Core Strategies

Collaboration

Promoting collaboration between juvenile court officials, probation agencies, prosecutors, defense attorneys, schools, community organizations and advocates;

Use of Accurate Data

Using rigorous data collection and analysis to guide decision-making.

Objective Admission Criteria

Utilizing objective admissions criteria and screening instruments to replace subjective decision-making processes.

Alternatives to Detention (ATD)

Implementing new or expanded community-based alternatives to locked facilities — such as day and evening reporting centers, home confinement, and shelter care;

Case Processing

Instituting case processing reforms to expedite the flow of cases through the system;

Special Detention Cases

Reducing the number of youth detained for probation rule violations or failing to appear in court, and the number held in detention awaiting transfer to a residential facility;

Reducing Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Disparities

Improving racial and ethnic equity by examining data to identify policies and practices that may disadvantage youth of color at various stages of the process, and pursuing strategies to ensure a more level playing field for youth regardless of race or ethnicity; and

Conditions of Confinement

Monitoring and improving conditions of confinement in facilities.

JDAI in Wayne County

In 2014, under the leadership of the now-retired Judge Darrin Dolehanty of Wayne Superior Court 3, the Wayne County Probation Department began implementing the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). Since then, Wayne County’s JDAI model has been developed with intention and faithfully follows both state and national guidelines. The initiative has fostered strong partnerships within the community, particularly with educational organizations. Our local efforts have centered on education, prevention, and the adoption of innovative strategies for working with youth. Wayne County has been recognized twice as a high-achieving JDAI county in Indiana, earning performance-based funding that has supported our local collaborations in meaningful ways. The Wayne County JDAI team consistently uses data analysis to evaluate and refine its strategies, ensuring that our efforts have the desired impact on youth outcomes. In February 2024, Judge Mark Cox assumed the bench in Wayne Superior Court 3 and now presides over the initiative.

JDAI