In fiscal year 2022, of the 7.8 million children reported to Child Protection Services (CPS), approximately 3,096,101 children were the subject of a child welfare agency response10. Of these, an estimated 558,899 children were determined to be victims of maltreatment.
While exact percentages vary by jurisdiction, there is significant overlap between the child welfare and juvenile justice systems:
- In Los Angeles, 83% of youth in the juvenile justice system had been referred to child protective services19.
- In MN, a former State Supreme Court Chief Justice has remarked that 90% of the youth in Juvenile Justice have passed through CPS.
Recidivism rates for youth involved in the juvenile justice system are high:
- Within 3 years of release, recidivism rates range from 70% to 80%44.
- By 9 years post-release, the recidivism rate for adults reaches about 83%33, consistent with the 80% figure mentioned in the query.
The economic burden of child maltreatment and child welfare involvement is substantial:
- The total lifetime cost of child maltreatment cases from FFY 2018 was estimated at $2.94 trillion for investigated cases and $563 billion for substantiated cases15.
- The average annual cost of incarcerating a young person is $214,620 as of 2020, a 44% increase from 201431.
The foster care-to-prison pipeline significantly contributes to these costs:
- 25% of foster care alumni become involved with the criminal justice system within two years of leaving care14.
- Youth who have been in foster care are 2.5 times more likely to be involved in the justice system if they were placed in group homes14.
- According to a study of incarcerated adult male felons, 68% reported some form of early childhood victimization before age 12, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect1.
- Children who were abused or neglected are 11 times more likely to engage in criminal behavior as adults724.
. The high recidivism rates further highlight the challenges in breaking the cycle of system involvement and the need for more effective interventions and support services.
WHEN YOU Share KARA’s reporting with FRIENDS, INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK and most of all, your State Representative (find them here) change will come a little bit faster. When enough of us become informed and speak up for abused and neglected children, we will improve their lives and our communities!
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All Adults Are the Protectors of All Children (Don Shelby)
Based on current data and calculations, the cost per child that passes through Child Protective Services (CPS), juvenile justice, and becomes part of the 83% recidivism rate in the prison system the estimated cost per child is $1,337,720. This breaks down as follows:
- CPS cost: $50,000 per child
- Juvenile justice cost: $214,620 per year
- Prison cost: $214,620 per year for an average of 5 years
This estimate takes into account the following factors:
- The average cost per child in CPS is estimated at $50,000.
- The average annual cost for a youth in juvenile justice is $214,620914.
- The average annual cost for an adult in prison is also estimated at $214,620, assuming similar costs to juvenile detention.
- The calculation assumes an average of 5 years spent in prison for recidivists.
- The 83% recidivism rate at 9 years post-release is factored into the overall cost7.
These costs vary significantly by state. Some states report much higher annual costs per prisoner, such as Massachusetts at $307,468101520, while others report lower costs, like Arkansas at $23,00010.Additionally, the long-term societal costs of this cycle are substantial.
These costs do not include the assaults, robberies, rapes and plethora of criminal acts committed against innocent people and the larger impact of making entire communities unsafe. Arguably, most crime is committed by people in the process of recidivism as that is a lifestyle our community has failed to interrupt.
All this to say, the Return On Investment for programs and policies that we know work, is far greater than our current investment in police, prisons, and parole officers.
Think about the at risk children in your community. Most violent and criminal acts are committed by innocent children just a few years later (as they become juveniles and youth adults). Most of these folks were children born into abusive homes to parents without parenting skills who had their own history of trauma induced dysfunctional behaviors.
Breaking the cycle will take all of us. You can start by sharing this article with people you know but most importantly, your State Representative (find them in this link)
