|
|
| Juvenile reform, North Carolina style |
| By Sarah Etter, News Reporter |
| Published: 09/11/2006 |
In part one on juvenile reform “Reforming juvenile justice”, two experts sounded off on their best practices and tips. This week, Corrections.com profiles North Carolina's take on the issue and how it changed its system and juveniles' lives. 
A 14 year-old boy stretches his arms high in front of a concrete building. His dirty sneakers rest on the asphalt as a hiss emanates from the can of spray paint in his hand. He begins to scrawl his name onto the wall and red paint dye spurts an incriminating shade of scarlet onto his hands. Within moments, sirens fill the air. The boy sprints from the scene, only to be caught in a back alley by police officers. In the following weeks, this first time offender is sentenced to six months in a juvenile detention center. While some tough-on-crime proponents would agree with the length of this sentence, many experts think this is just the beginning of turning a first-time offender into a lifetime delinquent. George Sweat, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention , found himself at the head of a system inundated with first-time offenders serving time for misdemeanor offenses. Studying years of statistics, Sweat decided NC policy had to adjust to make a real change. Through gradual release, innovative programs and community support, Sweat hoped to overhaul the system and focus on rehabilitation and re-entry. “We had to look at a new juvenile justice code,” explains Sweat. “We eliminated first-time misdemeanor offenders from being committed to our facilities. Now, you have to commit four misdemeanors before you are placed in one of our facilities.” Since the policy switch, juvenile incarceration rates have dropped from 1,360 to 428 between 1998 and 2005. According to Sweat, this reduction means serious offenders are still receiving treatment without straining the system, while first-times are placed into community programs. “We didn't just let these kids walk out the door,” he says. “We made sure they were still required to use community services and monitoring. We made sure they had the support they needed.” Part of this community support takes the form of Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils. Established in 100 counties across the state, these are comprised of drug counselors, local leaders and mental health professionals. “These councils are really made up of local movers and shakers with a vested interest in keeping these kids out of trouble. The real key to success with this is that we're building upon a local effort by the key players in each community,” Sweat explains. Volunteers undergo a training program to understand the risk factors of each youth. Volunteers make sure there are resources to address any needs the juvenile might have. Sweat adds that a $23 million dollar grant funded the program, which came from the state. “When you see local communities contributing their time and money for a program like this, you know you're on to something good,” Sweat says. “This program has made a tremendous difference for us, and gives us a chance to really change the way we think about juvenile justice.” Another piece of the reform puzzle takes shape in the Eckerd Wilderness Camp program. Eckerd accepts at-risk youth between the ages of 10 and 17. With seven camps across North Carolina, Eckerd provides therapeutic programs in the wilderness for groups of ten juveniles. The kids can take advantage of group activities run by two Native American chiefs along with counselors who teach them about decision making and communication skills. “The kids love these camps,” Sweat says. “They aren't easy , but they really work. They usually have never left an urban setting, and you can really see a change in them once you take them out there. They establish their own peer culture, guided by the staff.” Juveniles stay at the camp for about a year. Some of the juveniles unsuccessful in custody seem to find hope in the outdoors program, which changes their attitude about rehabilitation. “Anyone would be blown away by what they see at these camps. I have to give a lot of credit to Eckerd. They continue to work with us and successfully handle our youths,” Sweat says. Sweat has a few tips for any juvenile justice professional hoping to make a difference in the system. “When it comes to reform, you get what you inspect, not what you expect. It is crucial to inspect everything you're doing and run your procedures through the ringer a million times to make sure they are working. You must ensure that you are producing results that are beneficial for the youth, the community and public safety. Public safety is your goal inside and out.” Additionally, provide a number of programs and paths so youngsters can find the ones the best meet their needs. Sweat's third tip involves incorporating family into juvenile justice, a move North Carolina is gearing up to make. For years, North Carolina offered large juvenile justice facilities across the state which made it hard for parents to have an active role in the rehabilitation of their children. Now, the NCJJS is beginning to establish smaller facilities of thirty beds or less placed in closer proximity to local communities. This helps with re-entry and helps parents play a crucial role. “What we're really saying to these communities is that these are your children, too. They stay with us and then they are coming right back to you,” Sweat says. “If you want to do juvenile justice the right way, it has to be intense. You have to have adequate, caring staff that can develop caring, loving relationships with these kids, as well as community partners and family members on board. When you can get those things to align, you're doing your job.” |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think