Benchmarking Tools: An Application to Juvenile Justice Facility Performance

Abstract

This article explores the use of data envelopment analysis (DEA) to compare technical efficiency among juvenile justice facilities in the state of Florida. Comparative analysis, sometimes called benchmarking, helps to improve efficiency and effectiveness of government service providers by identifying the present level of productivity, diagnosing deficiencies, identifying opportunities for improvement, and developing strategies for change. Making service comparisons has implications for budgeting, contracting, granting, and other resource allocation decisions in the public sector. Using data taken from a recent Florida Juvenile Justice Accountability Board report, DEA is used to assess the relative efficiency of 35 halfway house facilities operated by the state and under private contract. The article illustrates the use of DEA to determine efficiently operated facilities, estimate targets for improvement of inefficient facilities, and identify those facilities that are potential models for improvement. Finally, the relative performance of state-operated versus privately contracted halfway house facilities is evaluated.