Rhode Island KIDS COUNT coordinates the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) in Rhode Island. JDAI is an effort to reform juvenile justice systems nationwide by reducing the reliance on secure confinement, improving public safety, reducing racial disparities, saving taxpayer dollars, and stimulating overall juvenile justice reforms.
Rhode Island JDAI partners include Family Court, DCYF, the Rhode Island Training School, Juvenile Probation, the Attorney General's Office, the Public Defender's Office, the Providence Police Department, the Office of the Child Advocate, and other agencies and providers. Click to learn more about JDAI.
Rhode Island passed a law that requires the development and use of a Risk Assessment Instrument (RAI), a written checklist of objective criteria used to screen each minor arrested to determine the need for either secure detention at the Rhode Island Training School, a non-secure detention alternative program, or release to their home. In September 2012, the Providence Police Department began piloting a RAI. The RAI was developed, tested and calibrated by a JDAI subcommittee of system stakeholders who worked collaboratively to develop a RAI tool to meet Rhode Island's needs. JDAI will be evaluating the RAI pilot to inform statewide implementation.
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