WOOD COUNTY JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT

Transcription

1 WOOD COUNTY JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT During 2011, the Juvenile Probation Department continued to provide services to the children and families of Wood County. Significant achievements by the Department included: Over 5,400 hours of community service work were completed by juveniles at over 100 sites, including landscaping the BGHS atrium and area churches; preparing area high school and city/township baseball, softball and soccer fields for the season; assisting with set-up and clean up at area festivals; completed projects with the Gift Exchange program, Wood County Fairgrounds, and Bowling Green Library. Our crews cleaned-up High School football stadiums after games, sorted clothes at a deacon shop and cleaned at the Wood County Humane Society on a weekly basis. Our crews collected litter along our Adopt-A-Highway section of Route 25 and over 162 additional miles of Wood County roadways. Returned over $7,900 in restitution to victims of crimes committed by juvenile offenders in Wood County. The Theft Offenders Program has served over 1900 youth since its inception in Used the statewide Ohio Youth Assessment Survey to determine the risk and needs of a youth. Facilitated the Goals for Gals Program. Expanded the community garden at the Juvenile Court Center; produce was donated to local food pantries. Successfully secured grant funding and federal reimbursement for projects implemented in 2011: -The summer litter collection project continued with crew supervisors and related expenses partially funded by the Wood County Solid Waste District. - Received Title IV-E funds that assist with sustaining the Court s Placement Budget. The Probation Department performs a variety of responsibilities within the Juvenile Court. Seven full-time staff accomplish this by assessing the

2 individual needs of the child and their family, and developing a treatment plan that is in the child's best interest. The least restrictive setting is considered, and the use of community agencies and services is an important element of the family's treatment plan. The primary responsibility of the Probation Department is to supervise youth and adults who have been ordered to complete a period of Probation; also known as Community Control. The majority of Probationers are under the age of 18. However, adults charged with misdemeanor offenses involving child victims can be prosecuted through the Juvenile Court and serviced through the Juvenile Probation Department. During 2011, 523 juveniles and adults were supervised through the Juvenile Probation Department. The Probation Department prepares Pre-dispositional Intake Reports to help determine what consequences should be given to youth appearing before the Court. Probation Officers interview the youth, parents, schoolteachers, counselors, and others with pertinent information about the youth. Victims have an opportunity to submit a statement to the Court regarding the impact the offense had upon them. A report is then prepared for the Court by the Probation Officer, including recommendations concerning what is in the child's best interest. Probation Officers use the Ohio Youth Assessment Survey as a key component of our intake process; it is an objective assessment tool which measures risk and needs of the youth. In 2011, the Probation Department completed 104 Intake Reports. An additional 6 reports were completed on young adults requesting their records be sealed or expunged. The Probation Department staff is frequently invited to speak at functions to present information about the Court. Parent support groups, National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), and civic organizations invited Probation Officers to address their meetings in order to learn about the juvenile justice system. The Probation Department actively participated on numerous boards and committees in 2011, including the Planning Committee for Wood County Job and Family Services, Bowling Green Coalition for Youth and Families, Family and Children s First Council, Wood County Youth Violence Prevention Program, the Wood County Prevention Coalition, the Parent Project, the Northwest Ohio Sex Offender Treatment Network, and the Supreme Court Roundtable. The Juvenile Court encourages the completion of additional training hours by the Probation Department staff. Ten staff members completed approximately 280 hours of training during 2011.

3 THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT SUPERVISES THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES: DIVERSIONS In an attempt to prevent a youth from formally entering the Juvenile Court system, a Diversion may be performed with the youth and parents. Diversion referrals may be made by the concerned parents or at the request of a school official. A parent-referred Diversion is completed at the Court Center. The youth and parents are interviewed by a Probation Officer or Court personnel who assess the presenting problems. Youth are informed of their rights and advised what could occur should unruly or delinquent behavior continue. Positive alternatives to Court action are discussed, such as a referral to community based resources and counseling agencies. A tour of the Wood County Juvenile Detention Center is offered if the Probation Officer or Court deems it appropriate. A school referred Diversion occurs when a school administrator begins to see a pattern of truancy or other unruly behavior. A staff member of the Court will go to the school and discuss the negative behavior or lack of attendance with the student and attempt to resolve problems without formal Court involvement. Students are advised of the legal consequences should their truant or unruly behavior continue. During 2011, the Probation Department performed fifteen Diversions with youth and their parents at the Court Center. COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK / RESTITUTION PROGRAMS Community service and restitution to victims of juvenile crime continue to be priorities of the Court. It is important that youth fully understand how their actions have made someone a "victim" of their crime. This, in part, is accomplished by having youth complete community service hours as part of their period of probation. Also, if a victim has incurred monetary damages, restitution will be made by the youth, either by paying the restitution himself or "working off" the amount owed through community service. Youth who are unable to pay fines and Court costs are eligible to work community service in lieu of making payments. The Probation Department operates a community service project on Saturdays during the school year and on weekdays through the summer months.

4 From September through May, funding for the crew supervisors is secured through an Ohio Department of Youth Services grant. Youth perform a variety of duties for non-profit organizations, including: litter collection, yard work, painting, light maintenance, and car washing. In addition to the Probation Department's Program, youth are able to perform community service at various locations throughout Wood County. During 2011, 305 youth performed 5, hours at over 100 different sites and organizations in Wood County. The summer community service program is funded through a Wood County Solid Waste District grant. From mid June through late August, our crew removes litter from Wood County highways. During 2011, summer program participants collected a total of 213 bags of trash, of which 135 were recycled. A total of 162 miles of Wood County roads were covered by this program. This year the Juvenile Court planted a community garden as a service learning project. Staff received donations of tomatoes, peppers, onions, squash, broccoli, and celery from the Wood County Park District and The Bowling Green Wal-Mart. Youth from the summer crew were able to sow, weed, water and pick produce from the garden. This was a new experience for a number of our youth who didn t have a background in gardening. The youth picked over 500 tomatoes in addition to a wide variety of other produce which was all donated to a local food bank. Other noteworthy community service work projects completed during 2011 included: preparing city and township baseball and soccer fields for the sports season; collecting litter along the Court s Adopt-A-Highway ; washed and waxed patrol cars for area police departments; assisted with set up and clean up of area festivals, assisted in cleaning up of school athletic facilities after games; and completed yard work at the Juvenile Court Center. Restitution is an integral part of the treatment philosophy held by the Juvenile Court. Whenever a citizen incurs monetary damages, the youth is held accountable for reparation to the victim. When youth are unable to pay the victim, the youth can "work off" the damages by performing community service. The Court, through a Department of Youth Services grant, will then pay restitution to the victim once the youth has completed the required number of hours. During 2011, $7, was returned to victims of juvenile crime. This included $3, paid directly by the youth, and an additional $4, "worked off" by youth. Under an agreement with the Juvenile Residential Center (JRC) of

5 Northwest Ohio, youth who are committed there can begin completing required community service and restitution hours while at JRC. This is a major help in expediting the completion of Court orders, and more importantly, reimbursing the victims for their losses. To summarize, during 2011, 305 youth performed 5, hours of community service. Over 100 Wood County agencies and nonprofit organizations hosted and supervised community service projects. Our youth walked along 162 miles of Wood County roads, collecting 213 bags of trash, of which 135 were of recyclable material. A total of $7, in restitution was paid to victims of crimes committed by juveniles. SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING Unfortunately, many of the youth involved with the Juvenile Court are abusing drugs. Often, youth are under the influence of alcohol or drugs when they commit a crime. Based on this, probationers are routinely required to submit to random drug testing. The probation department utilizes one step test strips to detect the presence of drugs of abuse in urine. The following drugs of abuse can be tested for: THC, cocaine, marijuana, opiates, amphetamines, methamphetamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, oxycodone, and ecstasy. Prior to being discharged successfully from Supervised Probation, a youth must produce a urine sample which is clear from the presence of drugs of abuse. In the year 2011 there were 1,247 drug tests administered to youth on probation in Wood County. Of this total, 161 of the samples (12.9%) tested positive for drugs of abuse. Other drug tests were administered at the request of Wood County Children s Services, the Wood County Alternative School, Putnam County Juvenile Court (youth detained in the Detention Center), parents of non-probation youth, and by this Court ordering adults (custody, abuse, neglect, and dependency cases) to submit to testing. In addition, any time a Wood County youth is admitted to the Detention Center, they are required to submit to a drug test. A total of 236 drug tests were submitted to by youth and adults not on probation. Of this total, 71 of the samples (30.08%) tested positive for drugs of abuse. Drug test on persons not on probation generated revenue of $1,

6 PARENTS: THEFT OFFENDER PROGRAM Since 1989, the Juvenile Court has offered a Theft Offender Program for youth who have committed property related offenses. These offenses include shoplifting, vandalism, criminal damaging, auto theft, grand theft, and other theft related offenses. The youth and a parent attend a four-hour class covering a variety of theft related issues. Topics discussed are peer pressure, victim awareness, victim empathy, and decision-making. The class is a positive approach to teaching the youth to make better choices in the future. In 2011, 62 youth completed the Theft Offender Program. Two youth completed the program as a diversion to avoid formal charges. Youth referred by the Wood County Prosecutor's Office are usually first time shoplifters. Since 1989, there have been 1,936 youth served by this program. At the conclusion of each program, the youth and their parents are asked to fill out an evaluation form and comment on the program. The following are some of the comments received from this year's participants: I liked having the kids see that all their decisions have consequences and they need to think before they act. I learned it is okay to be involved in my child's life and know who they hang out with, where they are at and what they are doing. Great class!! Keep up this program. The only person responsible for your actions is yourself. This class helped remind me what it was like to be a teenager. YOUTH: I learned that I need to always think about what I do before I do it because it can affect my life and everyone in it. We make our own decisions and I learned how to make better ones. Thanks!! It was fun and a great way to learn from all of this. I learned how little decisions can lead to big problems.

7 GOALS FOR GALS th The Probation Department held its 9 Goals for Gals Program this summer at Bowling Green Junior High School. A total of nine girls participated in this year s program. Over the course of two days, the participants were given educational information on STDs and HIV, abusive relationships and domestic violence, internet safety, the dangers of alcohol, budgeting and the costs involved with having a baby. At the conclusion of the program, the youth were asked to fill out an evaluation form and comment on what they learned from the program. Seven of the eight girls stated they would recommend the program to a friend. GUN SAFETY and AWARENESS PROGRAM The Juvenile Probation Department, in conjunction with the Court s Security Office, provides a Gun Safety and Awareness course for juvenile offenders. A parent is required to attend with their child. This one-day class is designed for juveniles charged with minor weapon related offenses, such as misuse of a paintball gun or a BB gun. Topics covered are the primary safety rules, proper handling of firearms, eye and ear protection, consequences and dangers of misuse, and laws governing the use and possession of firearms. A test is given at the end of the session, and certificates are awarded to youth who successfully complete the program. This program is not intended to take the place of a hunter safety course, and no firearms are discharged as part of the course. ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE The Juvenile Court uses a portion of its Department of Youth Services (DYS) grant allocation to pay for youth under electronic surveillance. DYS funds paid the salary of the probation officer who facilitates this program and paid for the actual monitoring services. The Juvenile Court sometimes uses electronic surveillance in lieu of incarceration in the Detention Center. A transmitter is placed on the youth s ankle and a field monitoring device is installed in the home and connected to the telephone line. When a youth leaves or returns home, tampers with the equipment, etc., that data is immediately sent through the telephone line to a monitoring center and in turn sent via text message to the electronic monitoring officer.

8 Electronic Surveillance allows the youth to attend school, counseling services, and other pre-approved activities while being monitored. Electronic Surveillance is less costly than incarceration and allows the youth to remain in a less restrictive environment with his or her family. A total of 7 youth were monitored for a total of 430 days during the year. SUPERVISED SCHOOL SUSPENSION PROGRAM The Supervised School Suspension Program (SSSP) is a service available to the School Districts in Wood County. The Juvenile Court allows students to attend a structured program housed at the Juvenile Court. Rather than spend time at their home during a School Suspension the student reports to the Court. The intent of the Supervised School Suspension Program is to serve as a diversion from behavior problems in school and to ensure supervision in a structured setting. The program is available to all Wood County school districts at no cost to the district or student. While the youth are in the program, they comply with academic studies required by their home school and participate in a Current Event session and Life Skills programming. Current Events engage the youth in discussions of various media topics such as education, politics, health, and the justice system. Life Skills programming includes worksheets and discussions related to situations youth may experience in their school, community, or residence. Topics include anger management, goal setting, self-esteem, peer pressure, manners, respect, attitudes and emotions, asking for help, accusations, dealing with failure, problem solving, and other various coping and social skills. From January 2011 through December 2011, 158 youth attended the Supervised School Suspension Program for a total of 428 days. The average length of suspension per youth was 2.71 days. The program operates daily during the academic school year from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, and is supervised directly by a Probation Department representative specifically assigned to this duty.

9 DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES: 401 Reclaim/510 Subsidies 401 Reclaim As of January 1, 1995, the Ohio Department of Youth Services implemented a program for all Juvenile Courts in the state. RECLAIM OHIO provides substantial funding to each Juvenile Court based on the previous year felony adjudications and commitments to the Department's institutions. The mission of RECLAIM OHIO is to give Juvenile Courts the financial resources to provide for the individual needs of youth offenders by purchasing, enhancing, and developing community based programs and services. All youth involved with the Court are eligible for services. During 2011, RECLAIM OHIO funds were used to pay for the purchase of services and for salaries and benefits of Probation Department staff who monitor the RECLAIM OHIO grant and programs. The Court is debited RECLAIM funds for any youth committed to a DYS facility or to the Juvenile Residential Center of Northwest Ohio. DYS charges back to the Court against its grant fund allocation seventy-five percent (75%) of the per diem to incarcerate a youth in one of its institutions, and fifty percent (50%) of the per diem at the Juvenile Residential Center of Northwest Ohio. 510 Subsidy The Ohio Department of Youth Services provides to every Juvenile Court a 510 subsidy to fund staff and the purchase of services. Separate and different from RECLAIM OHIO, the 510 subsidy is based on the county's population. In 2011, the Juvenile Court 510 subsidy was used for staff salaries and benefits, supplies, purchasing community based services, capital improvements in the Detention Center, and other related expenses.

10 DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES: Commitments/Alternatives Prior to committing a youth to the Ohio Department of Youth Services, every attempt is made to provide services to the youth while residing at home, by utilizing community based resources. On occasion, youth who do not respond to these efforts or otherwise present a serious risk to the community are committed to the Department of Youth Services. Alternatives used by the Probation Department to avoid a youth being sent to DYS include: Electronic Surveillance, Detention time, and a placement at the Juvenile Residential Center of Northwest Ohio. Three youth were committed to Ohio Department of Youth Services in JUVENILE RESIDENTIAL CENTER OF NORTHWEST OHIO/ MIAMI VALLEY JUVENILE REHABILITATION CENTER In July of 1994, the Juvenile Residential Center of Northwest Ohio opened. Located adjacent to the Juvenile Court Center, this multi-county facility provides secure treatment for Male felony level offenders. This alternative to a commitment to the Department of Youth Services allows the Courts to serve the youth locally, with a strong family component. In 2011, four Wood County youth were committed to the Juvenile Residential Center of Northwest Ohio. One female youth was committed to the Miami Valley Juvenile Rehabilitation Center, a similar facility located in Miami County which serves female youth. AMERICORPS PROGRAM The Probation Department was a host site for an AmeriCorps member in This federally funded program provides a living stipend and college tuition reimbursement to members who volunteer their time at various host sites. Bowling Green State University initially served as the administrative agent; in the fall of 2007, the United Way assumed that role. The Juvenile Court provides a 10% cash match along with in-kind services of supervision, training, and office space.

11 TITLE IV-E Beginning in 2007, the Court began the process to become eligible for Title IV-E funds. The federal Title IV-E program provides funds for needy children who cannot live at home. Monies are provided on a reimbursement basis to assist courts in recovering some of the costs incurred maintaining a child in residential treatment or treatment foster care homes. Title IV-E also reimburses courts for a portion of the administrative costs expended keeping youth in their own homes and avoiding placement. In June of 2008, the Court signed the subgrant agreement with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and became a Title IV-E eligible Court. In 2011, two youth were in out-of home placement under this program. Funds received from this program are used to sustain an out of home placement budget for the Court. For youth to be eligible for this program the Court will look at the least restrictive environment that will best serve the youth and family s needs, while allowing the youth to remain in the custody of his/her parents or legal guardian. Reunification with parents or guardians is the goal.