Auditor Wants to Know Recidivism Rates

The state auditor wants to know if young people released from the Division of Youth Services are reverting to their delinquent ways. Claire McCaskill’s office has conducted a performance audit of the division, and recommends the division measure rates of recidivism. McCaskill says her recommendations would bring some accountability to the division. She says a stated goal of the Division of Youth Services is to return young people to their families and communities with the skills needed to cope…but says the division currently has no way of knowing whether it’s accomplishing that goal. McCaskill says it would not be difficult to measure rates of recidivism. She says the division could cross-check records from the corrections department with its own records to see if young people are ending up back behind bars.