Chapin Hall

Care Coordination Program Reduces Court Time and Recidivism Among Cook County Youth, Evaluation Shows

A new evaluation conducted by Chapin Hall finds that the Juvenile Justice Collaborative’s Care Coordination Program for Deferred Prosecution is an effective alternative to traditional juvenile court proceedings. The program helps youth who are first-time offenders with no prior court involvement charged with non-violent felonies and serious misdemeanors resolve their cases without going to trial, spend less time in court, and reduce the likelihood of reoffending.

Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO), the Office of the Chief Judge for the Juvenile Justice Division, Strengthening Chicago’s Youth at Lurie Children’s, and TASC, Inc. undertook efforts to reduce the backlog of juvenile cases by offering services from the Juvenile Justice Collaborative and thirteen community-based service providers in lieu of prosecution. The successful pilot program that began in 2020 was expanded in 2022.

Key Findings

• High Engagement and Connection to Services: Of the 144 youth referred in the first year of the program expansion, 97% completed intake and 99% were successfully connected to community-based services such as outpatient mental health, mentoring, and employment support.
• Successful Program Completion: Over 85% of participants graduated from the program, and 89% had their charges dropped—avoiding 125 prosecutions.
• Lower Recidivism: Only 18% of program youth picked up a new charge within 12 months, compared to 28% in a matched comparison group. Further analysis controlling for youth and case characteristics shows the program was associated with a 44% lower odds of reoffending.
• Positive Youth Experience: Youth interviewed expressed the importance of encouragement and positive reinforcement experienced in the program in helping them view themselves as “a person and not a criminal” and moving past their mistakes toward a brighter future.
• Read the full evaluation summary here.

“This evaluation shows that the Juvenile Justice Collaborative’s Care Coordination Program is not only feasible but effective—engaging first-time youth offenders, reducing their involvement in court, and lowering recidivism compared to peers not offered the program,” said Chapin Hall Senior Research Fellow Gretchen Cusick, who led the evaluation.

The Juvenile Justice Collaborative program addresses the root causes of youth involvement in the justice system, including trauma, lack of opportunity, and unmet service needs.

Prosecutors with the CCSAO determine who is eligible for the program, based on the individual’s background and the nature of the offense, after charges have been filed. If the individual opts to participate, prosecutors monitor their compliance with the program through regular court dates before a judge and progress reports. When a juvenile successfully completes the 120-day-long program, prosecutors move to dismiss the charges that had previously been filed

“The overwhelming success of this program reinforces what we are doing to steer juveniles toward a better path: intervening early, connecting them with necessary support services, and offering meaningful opportunities for accountability,” said Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke. “Tested, innovative solutions that prevent young people from reoffending and entering the adult criminal justice system will lead to less crime in our communities and provide effective alternatives to prosecution at a pivotal inflection point in a young person’s trajectory.”

Chapin Hall will continue evaluation activities over the next year to expand the sample size, center youth perspectives through interviews, and assess program sustainability with program stakeholders.

“Lurie Children’s has been part of the community-driven Juvenile Justice Collaborative since it started,” said Leslie Helmcamp, director of violence prevention initiatives and executive director of Strengthening Chicago’s Youth at Lurie Children’s. “This report shows that when young people are given the time and opportunity to work with a caring adult, identify their goals, and connect to needed resources in their communities, they can thrive and move forward.”

Chapin Hall is an independent policy research center that provides decision makers with rigorous research and achievable solutions to support them in improving the lives of children, families, and communities. Chapin Hall partners with those at the forefront of research and policy development by applying a unique blend of scientific research, real-world experience, and policy expertise to develop actionable solutions and positive change for families.