COA - Council On Accreditation

	Juvenile Justice Day Services

Introduction

Administration and Management

Service Delivery Administration Standards

Service Standards

Introduction

Juvenile Justice Day Services provide structured, non-residential services and supervision to youth involved with the juvenile justice system. Youth are typically required to report to the program on a daily basis, for a specified length of time. Services may be provided: (1) when youth are adjudicated delinquent and ordered to attend the program; (2) as aftercare following participation in a more intensive residential program; (3) as an alternative to secure detention; and/or (4) as diversion from more formal involvement in the juvenile justice system.

Note: Some agencies provide less intensive day programs (for example, reporting centers) that are not designed to include service planning. These agencies have the option to complete only: PA-JJD 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 12.

When an agency providing PA-JJD offers treatment for youth with mental health or substance use conditions, the agency should also complete COA’s standards for: (1) Outpatient Mental Health Services (PA-MH), or (2) Services for Substance Use Conditions (PA-SA), as appropriate.

The agency's services will be reviewed and matched with the most appropriate Service Standard, regardless of the population served. When an agency operates a program where the service population includes, but is not limited to, youth involved with the juvenile justice system, it may be more appropriate to complete another Service Standard, such as Day Treatment Services (PA-DTX) or Social Development and Enrichment Services for Children and Youth (PA-SDE).

Note: Please see Self-Paced_Training: Juvenile Justice Day Services (JJD) in the Tools Index for additional assistance with this standard.


	PURPOSE: Juvenile Justice Day Services promote public safety and reduce the need for out-of-home placements by allowing youth to reside in their communities while they address problems and develop the attitudes and skills needed to make responsible choices, avoid negative behaviors, and become productive, connected, and law-abiding members of their communities.

RELATED FILES


	SERVICE One or more organization-operated programs or activities that have a common general objective and deploy the organization's material and human resources in a planned and systematic manner. An organization that publicly promotes or identifies itself in writing as offering a service, is licensed to deliver a service, assigns personnel and/or space to a service, or allocates financial resources to a service is considered to offer that service.


	CONNECTED The means by which individuals access services that may or may not be provided by the organization itself. These terms are used interchangeably when individuals are connected to services either directly or by referral. See also LINKED.


	SUPERVISION Assumption of responsibility for directly overseeing and evaluating the work or work products of personnel within an organization. Also includes inspecting the act or process of accomplishing a function or activity.


	PROGRAM A system of services offered by an organization. For example, an organization providing a mental health service may offer several mental health programs to different populations, e.g., a mental health program for adolescent teens. The word "program" can be used interchangeably with the word "service" or to describe specific programs.


	AFTERCARE Additional services provided beyond the period of primary care that offer continuity and supportive follow-up.


	SECURE DETENTION The act of restraining an individual, usually in an institution, jail, or other holding facility for some legal purpose.


	PLANNING The process of specifying objectives, evaluating the means for their achievement, and exercising deliberate decision making about appropriate courses of action.


	SERVICE POPULATION A group or target population that the organization's services are designed to serve in accord with its mission, and which includes the organization's service recipients. An organization's service population may be defined by geographic location, specific problems or needs, religion, ethnicity, culture, or other factors.