Secure detention is a very expensive way to supervise youth offenders pending court action, while community-based supervision programs are about one-third of the cost and just as effective.
Many communities that are using the Initiative are saving money. For example, Cook County, Illinois, which includes the City of Chicago, saved $24 million by eliminating the need for a new detention facility. Multnomah County, Oregon, which includes the City of Portland, has saved more than $2.4 million per year because it was able to close a 16-bed detention facility due to an increase in the number of youth being supervised in community-based or home-based programs.