Research: Economics

The Costs of Confinement: Why Good Juvenile
Justice Policies Make Good Fiscal Sense

This Justice Policy Institute brief details how states can see a net reduction in costs by moving expenditures away from large, congruent care facilities for youth and investing in community-based alternatives. Evidence is growing that there are cost-effective policies and programs for intervening in the lives of delinquent youth which actually improve community safety and outcomes for children. PDF, 253 KB

Cost-Effective Interventions for Juvenile Offenders

Read Dr. Peter Greenwood's Powerpoint presentation that he gave in front of Judiciary, Childrens, and Appropriations committees on March 9, 2007 for Educate the Legislature Day. PowerPoint, 311.5 KB

Fighting Crime: An Economist’s View

In the Milken Institute Review (1Q 2005), Yale economist John Donohue offers his opinions on policy changes that he believes could reduce crime and dramatically reduce the amount of money spent or lost as a result of crime every year. PDF, 562 KB

What Works, Wisconsin: What Science Tells Us about Cost-Effective Programs for Juvenile Delinquency Prevention

A Report to the Wisconsin Governor’s Juvenile Justice Commission
and the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance PDF, 839 KB