This measure shows the percentage of Juvenile Justice and Youth Services (JJYS) custody youth who had a reduction in dynamic risk at the time they exited JJYS custody during specified State Fiscal Years. JJYS Custody includes youth committed to JJYS Community Placement or JJYS Secure Care by the Utah Juvenile Court. JJYS custody does not include youth served in Youth Services programs, nor in Locked Detention (pre-adjudication). Reduction in dynamic risk is calculated as the difference between a youth's first and last PRA assessments.

Results for this measure are updated annually, within 45 days after the end of the State Fiscal Year.

The core mission of Juvenile Justice and Youth Services (JJYS) is to facilitate the successful rehabilitation of youth in care by focusing on the reduction of dynamic criminogenic risk, those factors directly influenced by therapeutic and program interventions. Efforts are grounded in evidence-based practice, beginning with the Utah Protective and Risk Assessment (PRA) tool. The PRA is a critical asset, allowing for the accurate measurement of both static risk (unchangeable historical factors) and dynamic risk (changeable factors like consequential thinking and skill development). This clarity ensures JJYS programming is precisely targeted to reduce dynamic risk, where there is the greatest opportunity for impact. 

JJYS’s goal is to achieve a reduction in dynamic risk for 80% of youth in custody. A 77.4% success rate in risk reduction is currently being achieved (SFY 2025). While this confirms the effectiveness of the current programming for the majority of youth, the recent negative trend in this measure is recognized as an urgent signal for adaptation and enhancement.

JJYS is committed to effectively serving a population with increasingly complex and intensive needs. Data confirms this challenge. For example, the average number of felony charges for youth committed to Community Placement Custody has increased by 105% between SFY 2016 and SFY 2025, demanding more robust and high-intensity interventions. Additionally, there are significant increases in mental health indicators. Since SFY 2019, the prevalence of moderate mental health indicators has grown by 16% (impacting 67% of youth in SFY 2025), and more serious mental health indicators have seen an even more significant rise of 33% (impacting over 46% of youth in SFY 2025).

Recognizing the increasing complexity of youth in JJYS care is the first step toward strengthening the service model. The strategy focuses on investing in staff and implementing gold-standard practices to maximize therapeutic outcomes. Prioritization is on staff training to achieve required certifications and professional development, including a comprehensive Risk, Need, Responsivity (RNR) training. This ensures the capable team is supported and trained to address growing complex dynamic risk factors. Ultimately, JJYS utilizes data-driven assessments and invests heavily in staff capacity to meet the complex needs of today's youth and effectively reduce criminogenic risk.