Community-based Alternatives to Detention: Implementation Evidence on Evening Reporting Centers

Authors

  • Sonia Jain Data in Action, LLC Author
  • Alison K. Cohen University of San Francisco Author
  • Neola Crosby Alameda County Probation Department Author
  • Jessica Gingold University of Michigan Law School Author
  • Stacey Wooden Alameda County Probation Department Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52935/

Keywords:

Alternatives to detention, Community-based, Juvenile justice, Social cognitive career theory

Abstract

Evening reporting centers are an emerging best practice in community-based alternatives to detention. We ground our discussion of Alameda County (CA)’s evening reporting centers within an understanding of youth development theories, including the social cognitive career theory. Alameda County is a diverse county in California’s San Francisco Bay Area that includes Oakland. We used diverse sources of administrative data to describe the implementation of the evening reporting centers and report on outcomes of youth involved. We find that evening reporting centers are aligned with youth development theory. For example, they offer an opportunity for disadvantaged youth to build positive relationships with adults, which can
contribute to positive youth development.

Author Biographies

  • Sonia Jain, Data in Action, LLC

    Sonia Jain (sjain@datainaction.org) is founder and principal of Data in Action, LLC, which provides research, evaluation, and development services in public health, criminal justice, education, and other related fields.

  • Alison K. Cohen, University of San Francisco

    Alison K. Cohen (akcohen@usfca.edu) is an assistant professor of public and nonprofit administration in the School of Management at University of San Francisco.

  • Neola Crosby, Alameda County Probation Department

    Neola Crosby was, at the time of the research, affiliated with the Alameda County Probation Department and oversaw the evening reporting centers program.

  • Jessica Gingold, University of Michigan Law School

    Jessica Gingold is a Prettyman fellow with Georgetown Law School’s Juvenile Justice clinic. At the time of the research, she was a student at the University of Michigan Law School.

  • Stacey Wooden, Alameda County Probation Department

    Stacey Wooden was, at the time of the research, affiliated with the Alameda County Probation Department and oversaw the evening reporting centers program.

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Published

05/20/2026

Issue

Vol. 33 No. 1 (2019): JAJJS 2019 Issue

Section

Articles

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How to Cite

Community-based Alternatives to Detention: Implementation Evidence on Evening Reporting Centers. (2026). Journal of Applied Juvenile Justice Services, 33(1), 18-31. https://doi.org/10.52935/

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