The State JDAI (Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative) Collaborative, co-chaired by State Court Administrator Corey Steel and State Senator Tony Vargas, has released Nebraska’s first statewide Progress Report.

The report highlights the significant improvements made within the State’s juvenile justice system and JDAI sites, including:

• A 63% decline in juvenile detention admissions across the four JDAI sites (Douglas, Sarpy, Otoe, and Lancaster Counties);
• Implementation of innovative community based alternatives to detention such as Crisis Mediation, Emergency Professional Foster Care, and Reception Centers; and
• Legislative changes requiring hearings for youth on alternatives to detention and aligning the purpose of detention with national best practice.

The Nebraska Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) has been instrumental in leading juvenile justice system reform in Nebraska since 2011. The Collaborative is comprised of local community members, local JDAI site leaders, and state juvenile justice stakeholders. 

To learn more about the success of JDAI in Nebraska and future plans for each county, read the recently published Nebraska JDAI Progress Report.