For juvenile probation and juvenile detention centers, recidivism is a very impactful statistic when monitoring program outcomes. According to a 2015 report by the CSG Justice Center, 76% of youths re-entered the justice system within three years of release and 84% within five years. Staff must have access to tools to help them investigate recidivism cases and identify evidence-based methods to improve these rates.

Handel offers off-the-shelf modules for both juvenile probation departments and juvenile facilities, which are ideal for individual program management or can be integrated across programs for an inclusive software system.

Why Recidivism Happens:

Each youth’s circumstances are unique but there are a few common reasons youth re-enter the system: Lack of support after release, inadequate rehabilitation programs, and missed opportunities for early interventions. We created RiteTrack to ensure staff have the tools they need to identify at-risk individuals before they re-offend.

The Power of Data: Tracking and Preventing Recidivism

Reporting is arguably one of the most useful tools to uncover successful community efforts. Handel empowers juvenile probation and juvenile detention centers to realize their best practices and encourage adjustments to best help their communities. In RiteTrack, there are a few ways to do this:

• Tracking probation compliance: Tracking conditions of probation is crucial to see how an individual moves through the program, this could be tracking court-ordered programs, drug tests, community service, and fines and fees.
• Monitoring facility behavior and incidents: For juvenile detention centers RiteTrack can track behavior with a section for medical, group therapy, and nursing notes. This allows staff to track more narrative elements and not miss any important details
• Identify Trends in Re-Offending: RiteTrack has statistical recidivism reports to help identify re-offending youth based on age, offense type, intervention programs, etc. Along with that, the system outlines the success stories to highlight what went well for each youth and what program elements success was found in.

Identify Trends in Re-Offending with Data Reporting

RiteTrack’s statistical recidivism reports help agencies identify re-offending patterns based on factors like age, offense type, and time in between charges. Our latest Recidivism Statistics Report provides a clear breakdown of how many individuals are re-entering the system and the timeline between their offenses.

This tool allows staff to see patterns in re-offending behavior and adjust programming accordingly. For example, if the data shows that most youth who re-offend do so within a short period after release, it may indicate a need for stronger post-release support programs or more intensive supervision strategies.

If you would like to see more , schedule a demo and see firsthand how this report and others could benefit your program.

Case Management for Juvenile Probation vs Detention:

The juvenile probation module includes many tools to help prevent recidivism. The ability to track case notes, compliance, and interventions is used to prevent youth from slipping through the cracks. Additionally, RiteTrack’s automated alerts to help staff take proactive steps to intervene with any youth before things get out of hand.

The juvenile detention module has tools to track the behavior for an individual. One of the most used aspects of this module is tracking incidents that happen in the juvenile facility. For example, one of our customers used this functionality to look deeper into incidents by rooms and found that during basketball games there were more incidents. This insight led them to take action to reduce these numbers.

Recidivism is a persistent challenge in the juvenile justice system, but with the right tools, agencies can shift from reactive to proactive solutions. By leveraging RiteTrack’s data-driven capabilities, juvenile probation departments and detention centers can better understand the factors influencing re-offense rates and implement evidence-based strategies for change.

Tracking compliance, monitoring behavior, and identifying key trends empowers staff to make informed decisions that support rehabilitation rather than perpetuate cycles of incarceration. With technology like RiteTrack, juvenile justice agencies can move toward a future where fewer youth re-enter the system and more receive the support they need to succeed.

If your organization is looking for better ways to track outcomes and improve rehabilitation efforts, contact us to learn more about how RiteTrack can support your mission.