Reforming Conditions of Confinement in Juvenile Detention: Evidence-­‐Based Research from the U.S. District Court Intervention in Cook County, IL

Authors

  • David W. Roush Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52935/

Abstract

Gold standard research by the Crime Lab at the University of Chicago revealed statistically significant reductions in certain indicators of in-custody violence and re-arrests and returns to detention for Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) detainees who were randomly assigned to living units with a daily behavior management program based on a combination of positive youth development and cognitive behavioral training. The research supplies third-party corroboration of the positive outcomes from the 2007 United States District Court takeover of JTDC detention operations to end the
unconstitutional conditions of confinement at the facility. Initial implications and applications for juvenile detention and juvenile justice are discussed, along with possible next steps.

Author Biography

  • David W. Roush

    David Roush, PhD, has been active in research, technical assistance, training, and consulting with juvenile detention and corrections organizations for over 40 years. His experience includes work in over 225 institutions in 49 states. As a facility superintendent, he developed model programs that earned four national awards for innovation and excellence, two from OJJDP. A specialist on conditions of confinement, he conducts compliance monitoring for the U. S. Department of Justice. As a faculty member at the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University, he taught classes on juvenile detention, conducted research, and coordinated federally-funded training and technical assistance to juvenile justice agencies and staff. He holds degrees from the College of Wooster and Western Michigan University. His PhD is in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Michigan State University. He is licensed in Michigan as a professional counselor (LPC) and a master social worker (LMSW).

References

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Published

06/10/2026

Issue

Vol. 29 No. 1 (2015): JAJJS 2015 Issue

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2015 Journal of Applied Juvenile Justice Services

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Reforming Conditions of Confinement in Juvenile Detention: Evidence-­‐Based Research from the U.S. District Court Intervention in Cook County, IL. (2026). Journal of Applied Juvenile Justice Services, 29(1), 31-40. https://doi.org/10.52935/