Running head: THE OPERATING BUDGET

The Operating Budget
LaToyia N. Daniels
Strayer University

Abstract
This learner will discuss how to operate a Budget for the Department of Juvenile Justice, and act as a budget analysis for this state agency. I will create a strategic plan for this agency as well performs a cost analysis. This paper will also discuss the mission, vision, goals and objectives of DJJ in order to familiarize the direction of this agency. In being a budget analysis I have to forecast and analyze what the challenges are in managing a budget of this stature. There will be recommendations that this agency should review regarding new initiatives and budget cuts over the next five years. Lastly the budget analysis will review the most recent budget or financial plan for their agency. introduction The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice is a multi-faceted agency that serves the state of Georgia’s offenders up to the age of 21Years old. In this department there are a total of 26 facilities that house the juvenile offenders for various crimes rather it being misdemeanor or felony crimes. There are also 92 court services offices through the entire state of Georgia. There are more than 4,000 employees that work at DJJ in the different areas whether if it is in the facility, community, education, or health services. DJJ employee’s main goals are to ensure the safety of this youth by providing supervision, planning and treatment to the youthful offenders so that they can be held accountable for their delinquent acts as well as to become productive citizens within the community in which they live. DJJ seeks to protect and serve the victims of crimes which are caused by our juvenile offenders within that community so that they can rebuild their lives in their various communities of Georgia.
The Mission of DJJ is “To protect and serve the citizens of Georgia by holding young offenders accountable for their actions through the delivery of services and sanctions in appropriate settings and by supporting youth in their communities to become productive and law-abiding citizens.”
The Vision of DJJ is to “OFFER HOPE AND YOUTH CHANGE” DJJ will lead the nation in preparing young people in its care to develop and sustain productive lives.
The Values of DJJ is to “strive to create and sustain an agency culture that values accountability, integrity, security, superior, performance, ongoing personal growth, intellectual curiosity, innovation, teamwork, and leadership not only in our staff but also in the young people in our facilities and programs.
The Goals of DJJ is to (1) create and sustain an agency culture that is cutting edge and promotes excellence. (2) Provide a continuum of high quality services for youthful offenders. (3) Provide employees opportunities to grow individually and as leaders; and (4) establish collaborative partnerships with families, neighbors, law enforcement, victims, DJJ staff and the youth themselves so that we can maximize our positive impact on youth and families.
Budget Overview
Georgia’s state budget for juvenile justice is $266 million in Fiscal Year 2011 and may grow to $279 million in 2012. There are almost 50,000 youths are in the system each year, either awaiting adjudication or serving their sentences-50,000 youths who represent the future workforce and citizens of Georgia (Moll and McCutchen). Georgia spends over $63,000 per year to incarcerate a juvenile offender, in which the cost to house each juvenile offender in a Youth Development Campus (YDC) or a Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) is $200 per day. Statistics shows that 13 percent of juvenile offenders are incarcerated in either or facility whether it being the local facility in your city (RYDC) or development campus that house violent offenders.
Most of the department’s budget is securing placements for these youth by housing them in secure facility or a non-secure facility like a