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The emergence of COVID-19 placed immediate pressure on the juvenile justice system to adapt to changes in case processing and decision-making practices. Juvenile probation agencies were tasked with quickly altering their policies and practice to abide by local public health measures. As probation supervision is the most common disposition in the juvenile justice system, there is both an empirical and practical need to understand the impact that COVID-19 has on a variety of issues surrounding the supervision and provision of services for juveniles. Using self-report survey data from juvenile probation directors across the United States, the current study examines (a) the biggest challenges faced by juvenile probation agencies during the pandemic, (b) the strategies implemented in response to these challenges, and (c) the most pressing issues currently facing the field of juvenile community corrections. Results have the potential to inform future agency decision-making when adjusting juvenile probation policy and practice. 

The U.S. community corrections system supervises and provides services for nearly 4.4 million individuals. This study explored agency responses during the COVID-19 pandemic using data from 347 surveys of community supervision directors. We examined whether agency and local geographical factors were associated with increased use of telehealth services for mental health, substance use disorders, and criminal behavior. We also assessed whether these factors were significant predictors of changes in agencies’ supervision strategies. Findings indicated a positive association between prepandemic access to telecommunications technology and use of telehealth services, with observed differences regarding urbanicity and type of agency. Agencies with more COVID-19 mitigation strategies tended to avoid in-person contact. Given the vast needs and increased risks present within the community supervision population, it is important to understand the barriers and facilitators associated with innovation and change in the post-COVID-19 era to inform future reform efforts.