Nebraska Auditor Says 2013 Juvenile Justice Reform Has Not Reduced Number Of Youth In Out-Of-Home Care Or Costs

Nebraska’s 2013 juvenile justice reform has not achieved the legislature’s desired results of reducing the number of youth in out-of-home placement or reducing costs, according to the state legislature’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) for Nebraska Child Welfare. The reform shifted responsibility for juvenile offenders from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to the Office of Juvenile Probation.

In July 2015, the Office of Probation, Juvenile Services Division, reported 1,089 youth in out-of-home placements, such as group homes, foster homes, detention, and youth residential treatment centers; the number also . . .