Colorado
Improving Outcomes for Youth (IOYouth) works with state and local jurisdictions to align their policies, practices, and resource allocation with what research shows works to reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for youth while enhancing public safety.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed the Juvenile Justice Reform Act in May of 2019, a crucial step toward aligning the state’s juvenile justice system with what research shows works to improve outcomes for youth, strengthen public safety, and efficiently use resources. A result of the IOYouth Initiative and led by the CSG Justice Center, the bill was designed to
- Expand opportunities to divert youth from the juvenile justice system;
- Adopt and implement a validated risk and needs assessment tool to inform court decision-making and case planning;
- Limit the use of detention (pre-sentence incarceration) to only those youth who pose a public safety risk; and
- Develop statewide standards for juvenile probation supervision and services that align with research-based practices.
Colorado IOYouth Highlights
Strengthening public safety and improving the lives of our most vulnerable youth and their families are issues that all Coloradans can get behind.
Pete Lee
State Representative, Colorado