This literature review describes the legal mechanisms by which youths can be processed and incarcerated with adults and provides the most recent data on the number of youths in adult jails and prisons. The report found that from 2000 to 2021, the number of youths in adult prisons decreased by 93%. The number of youths incarcerated in all U.S. adult facilities peaked in 2008, when 10,420 youths were incarcerated in both adult jails and prisons. From the peak in 2008 to 2021, there was a 78% decline in the number of youths held in adult jails and prisons. By the end of 2021, fewer than 300 youths ages 17 and younger were in the custody of state prisons. Additionally, the report found that there are regional and state differences in the number of youths held in adult jails. The South incarcerated the most youths in local jails in 2019 (1,665 total), followed by the Midwest (343 total), the West (221 total), and the Northeast (195 total). In 2021, Florida held the most youths ages 17 and younger in state prisons, with 48 total youths in adult prison facilities. The review also provides a historical policy overview; discusses outcome evidence for relevant policies; presents the theoretical foundation for sending juveniles to the criminal justice system and incarcerating them with adults; highlights disparities in the transfer of juveniles to adult court; and discusses the impact of these practices and policies on youth.

In this study, the authors provide an overview of federal law on intermittent confinement, present data on the use of intermittent confinement in the federal system and weekend incarceration in the state system, discuss existing research on intermittent confinement and weekend incarceration, and present results of a survey of federal probation officers on their opinions of intermittent confinement. Overall, the results of the study indicated that intermittent confinement and weekend sentences are rarely used in federal and state systems (relative to traditional incarceration sentences). Additionally, the authors found that a single federal district (Texas West) accounted for the majority of federal intermittent confinement cases across several years of data. Results of the survey of federal probation officers showed that logistical issues with intermittent confinement and incarceration facility availability may be a cause for low numbers of intermittent confinement sentences.

Performance-based funding is a funding approach where state appropriations are allocated based on how a postsecondary institution performs on a defined set of measures. These formulas are designed to incentivize institutions to prioritize student success over enrollment numbers through increased retention and completion efforts. Some common metrics include course or program completion, workforce participation, and transfer. A growing number of states also include metrics that track the number of degrees completed in specific fields. In most instances, performance-based funding is used in conjunction with one or more additional funding approaches. According to a 2022 report from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, at least 32 states use a performance-based funding approach for institutions in at least one sector. The amount of performance-based funding varies across states. The national average of the percentage of operating funds allocated through performance-based funding is 7.9%. The association reports a high of 90.4% in North Dakota and a low of 0% in Illinois.

The traditional method of assessing college readiness for incoming college students— using standardized tests like Accuplacer, SAT, or ACT—has been criticized because it may lead to misplacements, especially among students who could succeed in college-level courses but are directed into developmental education based solely on their test scores. The consequences of misplacements are particularly concerning because of the increased costs and time associated with participation in developmental education. A growing body of research advocates multiple measures assessment as an alternative to traditional placement systems. Multiple measures assessment uses alternative performance indicators—including high school GPA and other transcript information—to more accurately predict whether students can be successful in college-level courses. Researchers sought to assist colleges and states nationwide with the adoption and implementation of multiple measures assessment practices. As part of these efforts, researchers initiated the Expanding the Adoption of Multiple Measures Assessment and Building the Research Base study, which involved working intensively with colleges in Arkansas and Texas to improve their ability to adopt and expand multiple measures assessment placement systems. Recommendations included in the report include flexibility and communication with college staff and faculty members is crucial when adopting multiple measures assessment; getting buy-in among faculty and staff by the dissemination of context-specific data about the predictability and accuracy of multiple measures assessment; and collaboration between departments and the use of cross-functional teams helped with implementing multiple measures assessment procedures without the need to hire additional staff members.

This annual report provides a first look at state and national trends in pedestrian traffic deaths from January through June 2023 based on preliminary data provided by state highway safety offices. Using state-provided data, the analysis found 3,373 pedestrian fatalities occurred on U.S. roads between January and June, an approximately 4% decrease from the same period the prior year. Additionally, the estimated pedestrian deaths for the first half of 2023 varies significantly by state size. For example, California – the most populous state – reported the most deaths (498), while less populous South Dakota and Nebraska reported just three each. Meanwhile, there were no reported pedestrian deaths in Vermont during the first half of 2023. Overall, 30 states (including Florida, Georgia, and Washington, D.C.) had fewer pedestrian deaths in the first half of 2023 compared to the year before, while 18 had more (including Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas) and three had the same (Iowa, New Mexico and Oregon). California had the largest drop in total pedestrian fatalities, with 66 fewer, while Vermont had the largest percentage drop, falling from three deaths in the first half of 2022 to zero in 2023. The highest pedestrian fatality rates per 100,000 population were in Florida (1.99) and New Mexico (1.94). Rhode Island (0.27) and Idaho (0.31) had the lowest rates. Consistent with prior years, California, Florida and Texas had the most pedestrian fatalities. Together, these three states accounted for more than one third (37%) of all pedestrian deaths during the first half of 2023.

This brief looks at occupations and the typical level of education they require to examine the degree to which they pay earnings premiums for additional education. The analysis shows that more than a third of jobs requiring a short-term non-degree credential and nearly half of those requiring a master’s degree do not pay earnings premiums. These jobs are heavily concentrated in health care, education, and social services where communities are already seeing acute labor shortages, with a significant share of non-degree credentials in health care professions and personal services acquired at both public and private institutions having median earnings lower than those of recent high school graduates. The authors note that given this, even the very best educational institutions and programs will struggle to offer credentials that meet reasonable earnings standards in these fields – even if the credentials themselves are free. The author recommends that policies addressing labor shortages in health, education, and social services in local communities and policies ensuring returns on investment for students be sector based and comprehensive. The author also recommends that communities consider recalibrating licensing requirements, addressing degree inflation in hiring, reinventing the ways to train for these careers, targeting student debt relief, and using policy levers to improve wages and working conditions.

Researchers worked to understand the costs and benefits of digital engineering in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and develop a decision support framework for digital engineering activities in weapon system programs. Encompassing various disciplines, including computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering, digital engineering uses digital technologies and tools to design, create, operate, and maintain physical systems, and products. The authors reviewed the literature and interviewed stakeholders to understand the current state of digital engineering practice and prior efforts to assess the costs and benefits of digital engineering and model-based systems engineering. They then developed decision support frameworks incorporating (1) established DoD cost-benefit analysis approaches and (2) established systems engineering decision methodologies. Along the way, the authors noted critical issues with rigor and risks in the practice of DoD digital engineering and added that aspect to the study. This research suggests that cost-benefit decision support for digital engineering is possible at any stage of a weapon system program life cycle if program data have been collected accordingly or if goal-based systems engineering principles are leveraged. Calculating definitive costs and benefits of digital engineering is imperfect because no analyst will have access to an identical weapon system program developed without digital engineering — the counterfactual scenario. Numerous recommendations are made, including developing consistency and a goal-focused consensus of what digital engineering is; collecting program goal-derived data; establishing policies for understanding and mitigating risks; and developing a framework for establishing hierarchical goals for leveraging data and intellectual property in a weapon system program.

Researchers worked to understand the costs and benefits of digital engineering in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and develop a decision support framework for digital engineering activities in weapon system programs. Encompassing various disciplines, including computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering, digital engineering uses digital technologies and tools to design, create, operate, and maintain physical systems, and products. The authors reviewed the literature and interviewed stakeholders to understand the current state of digital engineering practice and prior efforts to assess the costs and benefits of digital engineering and model-based systems engineering. They then developed decision support frameworks incorporating (1) established DoD cost-benefit analysis approaches and (2) established systems engineering decision methodologies. Along the way, the authors noted critical issues with rigor and risks in the practice of DoD digital engineering and added that aspect to the study. This research suggests that cost-benefit decision support for digital engineering is possible at any stage of a weapon system program life cycle if program data have been collected accordingly or if goal-based systems engineering principles are leveraged. Calculating definitive costs and benefits of digital engineering is imperfect because no analyst will have access to an identical weapon system program developed without digital engineering — the counterfactual scenario. Numerous recommendations are made, including developing consistency and a goal-focused consensus of what digital engineering is; collecting program goal-derived data; establishing policies for understanding and mitigating risks; and developing a framework for establishing hierarchical goals for leveraging data and intellectual property in a weapon system program.

This report presents infant mortality rates for selected maternal characteristics (pre-pregnancy body mass index, cigarette smoking during pregnancy, receipt of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits during pregnancy, timing of prenatal care, and source of payment for delivery) for the five largest maternal race and Hispanic-origin groups in the United States for combined years 2019–2021. Descriptive tabulations based on data from the linked birth/infant death files for 2019–2021 are presented. The linked birth/infant death file is based on birth and death certificates registered in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Infant mortality rates are presented for each maternal race and Hispanic-origin group overall and by selected characteristics. Infant mortality rates varied across the five largest maternal race and Hispanic-origin groups and by selected maternal characteristics. For most race and Hispanic-origin groups, mortality rates were higher among infants of women with pre-pregnancy obesity compared with those of women who were normal weight, and were higher for infants of women who smoked cigarettes during pregnancy, received late or no prenatal care, or were covered by Medicaid as the source of payment for delivery. Overall, mortality rates were higher for infants of women who received WIC during pregnancy, but results varied across race and Hispanic-origin groups. Mortality rates for the maternal characteristics examined were generally highest among infants of Black non-Hispanic (10.52 deaths per 1,000 live births) and American Indian and Alaska Native non-Hispanic (7.69 deaths per 1,000 live births) women and lowest for Asian non-Hispanic women (3.40 deaths per 1,000 live births).

Braided funding models are those that use one or more sources of funding in a coordinated fashion to support a single individual or program. The different sources retain their specific spending requirements and are kept separate for reporting purposes. This report is multi-site case study identifying relevant braided funding themes and best practices. This report presents case studies from eight U.S. states (Arizona, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, New Mexico, New York and Nevada) to illustrate how states and programs use braided funding to address the challenges associated with combining multiple substance use disorder (SUD) funding sources. Braided funding models are useful because they allow states and programs to optimize resource allocation; promote sustainability; improve outcomes; and address gaps in service provision. However, braided funding models are also challenging because states and programs may experience reduced fungibility of funds; administrative burdens; unpredictability of grants or time-limited state or local funding; and evaluation challenges. State agencies can pursue policy changes or funding mechanisms that support their ability to braid funding, such as Medicaid Section 1115 demonstrations; block grant funds; legal settlements with opioid producers and distributors; and interagency/intergovernmental agreements. Although approaches to braiding funds vary, there are several best practices that significantly enhance funding models, including needs assessments; strategic planning; fiscal mapping; ongoing coordination and cooperation; management of funding streams; decision-making plans; integrated data systems; and supportive infrastructure.