Put Data to Work for You
PbS is a data-driven continuous improvement process for juvenile justice facilities, community residential programs and reentry services to improve conditions and quality of life in our nation’s juvenile facilities. We offer research-based standards and performance measures that focus on:
Making Facilities Safe
Public safety and the safety of the youths, staff and visitors is the primary responsibility of confinement facilities. PbS standards and performance data focus on management practices that promote safety and wellbeing and minimize the risks of harm.
Monitoring Program Effectiveness
The challenge for youth facility leaders is to provide programming and services that both keep youths engaged and out of trouble and puts them on the path to becoming productive, purposeful citizens. PbS standards and performance measures focus on education and employment opportunities, health and behavioral health services and building life skills and competencies.
Achieving Positive Outcomes
Time in custody can and should be a catchment opportunity to help youths prepare to return to living with their families and community. PbS standards and performance measures focus on what research has shown are the most likely outcomes to prevent reoffending and give youths a meaningful second chance when they leave.
See it in action
Success Stories
Watch to see how facilities nationwide use PbS to measure and drive continuous improvement in their operations each day.
REDUCE REOFFENDING
Juvenile Reentry
Youths leaving juvenile justice facilities and programs face barriers and challenges that must be addressed before they reenter their communities, families, schools and jobs in order for them to succeed.
It is truly amazing the culture change that PbS has fostered at our facility. As you know, PbS is a big endeavor but oh my is it ever worth it!
Connecting Juvenile Justice Professionals
Growing Community
Join a national network of professionals sharing information, tools and approaches to provide the highest quality of life and services.
Blog
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The True Heroes are the Direct Care Staff
Staff at Massachusetts DYS has adjusted to new policies around family visitation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020 PbS Awards Celebrated Virtually
Performance-based Standards (PbS) hosted a virtual presentation on Friday, August 7 to celebrate the 2020 PbS award winners and finalists. The presentation connected nearly 100 people from all over the country and was led by PbS Executive Director Kim Godfrey.
Announcing the 2020 Employment Matching Award Recipients
2020 marks the fourth year of the Performance-based Standards (PbS) Employment Matching Award and with the support of the PbS Education and Employment Foundation we were able to celebrate by awarding more money. This application period was a little different: In addition to youths facing the realities of reentering the community without enough resources, the COVID-19 pandemic meant fewer employment opportunities were available to many youths. Thank you to all the youths and facility staff who submitted applications.
Quarantining Doesn’t Mean Isolation
Staff and youths at Alaska DJJ facilities have tried to find the upside to new procedures and ways of doing things during the COVID-19 pandemic.