(Re)Imagining Justice for Youth Impact Report

Abstract

This report represents the first impact analysis of (Re)Imagining Justice for Youth (RJY), the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office (RCAO) initiative to improve legal system outcomes for young people. Researchers from the University of Minnesota assessed whether more types of cases were resolved in community accountability without further system processing and whether community accountability achieved better outcomes than court-based processes. Data from youth cases submitted to the RCAO between 2010 and 2024 were analyzed descriptively and using matching analyses. Rigorous matching analyses were conducted to examine recidivism rates among similarly situated youth whose cases were resolved in community compared to those processed in traditional court. Results indicate the percent of cases RCAO referred to community accountability increased from 18% to 25% of all submitted cases. The types of cases RCAO referred to community accountability also expanded. For example, felony cases accounted for 2% of diverted cases before the start RJY and 23% of community accountability cases since RJY launched. Racial disparities decreased in terms of who was referred to and successful in community accountability. Overall, in 2022-2023 the 12-month recidivism rates for youth whose first cases were resolved in community accountability (4%) was far lower than those resolved in traditional court in the same period (29%), and also lower than youth whose first cases were resolved in community in 2017-2018 (7%) or 2012-2013 (10%). To test for causality of this difference, three separate “apples-to-apples” comparisons of matched samples were conducted. All analyses indicated community accountability was just as effective as traditional court and, in certain cases, significantly outperformed it. Specifically, for youth referred to the RCAO for the first time for an assault offense, those whose cases were resolved in community accountability had 1/3 the risk of recidivism compared to matched cases processed in traditional court. Among first cases that were felony or gross misdemeanor offenses, youth whose cases were resolved in community accountability had half the risk of recidivism compared to matched cases processed in traditional court. By revamping and increasing access to community accountability, RJY has lowered recidivism rates and established a process that ensures fewer future victims, increased graduation rates, higher employment rates, and a healthier community. The report ends with a recommendation that RJY be continued and expanded.