The priority to collect and report data in justice systems is not new. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) established a national criminal justice data recording program in 1930 called the Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR). The The first Juvenile Detention and Correctional Facility Census was facilitated by the U.S. Dept of Justice in 1971 to annually collect statistics on youth in custody and facility information. Much of these data reports include types of offenses with which people are charged; demographics such as race/ethnicity, gender, age, etc.; the types of facilities holding people; and much more.
In the decades since these federal initiatives, many local and state justice agencies across the country have come to recognize that having consistent and reliable data is essential for measuring and tracking system impact and performance. Yet, despite this recognition and some important improvements, there continues to be tremendous variability across the country in the quality and quantity of justice data, and how those data are used (or not used) to gauge impact and performance. Ultimately, having good data enables justice agencies to show that what they do makes real, tangible differences in the lives of people and their communities, including our Louisiana communities.
The IPHJ has a history of ongoing efforts to collect and share justice system data. Examples from our data collection and reporting initiatives are linked below:
Frick, Paul and Tina Childs, “Rapides Parish 2009 Ungovernable Referrals to Informal FINS.”
Brief DATA on LA YOUTH SERVICE NEEDS
Developing Performance Measures for JIS Projects
For more information on an Evaluation of Youth Outcomes in Jefferson Parish, click here.