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Policy Agenda 2010

DIVERTING YOUTH TO ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS

Community-based alternative-to-detention programs have succeeded in increasing positive life outcomes and significantly decreasing recidivism rates for court-involved young people.

Currently, individual counties and New York State each contribute 50 percent towards the costs of detaining and placing a youth in custody; no such cost-sharing mechanism exits for alternative programs. Re-Direct NY would encourage localities to create and utilize more community-based alternatives by establishing a 65% reimbursement rate for such programs. The counties could use the reimbursement to invest in prevention programs that strengthen family and community supports for children.

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