Funding for adjudicated youth typically comes from the state’s department of
juvenile justice, but is often augmented by revenues from federal and state programs such
as special education, Title 1 (compensatory education) funds, and Medicaid.
After sentencing, placement decisions for adjudicated youth may be made by the state or
local juvenile justice agency. If the sentencing judge recommends a particular program,
the agency will generally try to be accommodating. For private placements, the agency
negotiates rates with the provider or pays an amount based on government cost formulas. In
1994, the average daily cost of incarcerating a juvenile was $107.23, according to the
Criminal Justice Institute.84
