Washington Courts: News and Information

Kids at highest risk show up in two worlds: New “multi-system” study part of effort to help this group

July 24, 2014

Nearly half of all young people who find themselves in juvenile court for alleged law-violating behavior also have a history of involvement in the child welfare system, according to a new study by the Washington State Center for Court Research (WSCCR).

Called “multi-system,” “cross-over,” or “dual status” youth, these young people may be foster children, or members of families being investigated or monitored by child welfare officials. According to the study, “Prevalence and Characteristics of Multi-System Youth in Washington State,” about 44% of youth referred to the juvenile justice system in 2010 were currently or had once been part of the child welfare system as well.
 
The study also found that female youth and youth of color from the child welfare system have a substantially greater risk of finding themselves in the juvenile justice system than comparable white males, and that, on average, juvenile offenders with welfare system history make initial contact with the juvenile justice system at a younger age than offenders with no child welfare involvement.
 
The study was supported by the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation's Models for Change Initiative, which provided funding for data development and staffing. The report can be found at http://www.courts.wa.gov/wsccr/docs/MultiSystemYouthInWA_Final.pdf
 
The study is part of a growing effort to identify and understand the needs of high-risk youth and provide information that helps “inspire statewide action toward system reform,” wrote study author Catherine Pickard, Senior Research Associate with WSCCR. The effort also includes King County’s United for Youth program and the Models for Change report, Doorways to Delinquency.
 
“While multi-system youth have been identified as at higher-risk, additional research is necessary to enhance our understanding of the particular needs of this population,” Pickard writes in the introduction to the study findings. “Informing policy makers, courts and other stakeholders about the prevalence and consequences of multi-system involvement can lead to improved interventions and services for this vulnerable population.”
 
Future reports in this series will more closely examine types of crimes, frequency of referrals and outcomes for this population of young people.
 
The Washington State Center for Court Research was established in 2004 by order of the Washington Supreme Court, and serves as the research arm of the Administrative Office of the Courts. Its research is intended to improve understanding of the courts, help guide judicial policy and improve the functioning of the judicial system while serving all participants in the judicial process.
 
CONTACT: Catherine Pickard, Senior Research Associate, Washington State Center for Court Research (WSCCR), (360) 704-4132, Catherine.Pickard@courts.wa.gov ;  Dr. Carl McCurley, Manager, WSCCR, (360) 705-5312, Carl.Mccurley@courts.wa.gov.

  

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