This report investigates lessons learned from studying the implementation of COVID-19 policies in US juvenile facilities.
This project studying juvenile justice responses to the COVID-19 pandemic found that policies implemented significantly altered juvenile detention populations, youth experiences, facility operations, and intake procedures. However, the effects of these changes were not uniform, with disparities emerging in how policies were applied across different demographic groups and agency types. While some jurisdictions implemented measures to mitigate harm, such as increasing virtual visitation and reentry support, agencies also struggled with facility operations due to staff shortages, service disruptions, and timely communication of information and protocols. These findings highlight both the challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic, providing a foundation for future policy discussions on crisis response and juvenile justice reform. Due to the sudden unexpected onset of COVID-19, policy decisions were made in real time with little time to forecast the costs and benefits of different solutions. As such, the proposed research was to employ a post-policy implementation review (PPIR) methodology. There were four research objectives for this study. First, to collect and analyze qualitative information from juvenile justice policy documents and key staff interviews on what, how, and why different COVID-19 responses were deployed in juvenile correctional facilities and how they may vary by local context; second, to collect data on youth; including quantitative data as well as qualitative data through juvenile interviews on juvenile outcomes during the same period; third, to compare pre- and post-pandemic juvenile justice policies and practices with juvenile and public safety outcomes within and across jurisdictions; and finally, to conclude with proposing recommendations for future emergency management policies and broader juvenile justice reform.