Transcript Otoe County Juvenile Diversion

Vanessa Sherman, Program Coordinator
Juvenile Diversion provides youth offenders an alternative
to the court system, offering programming to youth
and their parents aimed at strengthening family
relationships and preventing future criminal behavior
among young people.
Diversion programming and expansion is of top priority for the Nebraska
Coalition for Juvenile Justice. Currently 50 of Nebraska’s counties offer
some type of diversion opportunity for youth offenders.
University of Nebraska Omaha-Juvenile Justice Institute, Prepared for the Nebraska Crime Commission,
“Nebraska State Three Year Plan 2012-2015”, December 2011
2
For every dollar spent on intervention programming for youth who are
truant, using alcohol or drugs or committing other crimes,
$4.89 in benefits is returned to society. 1
Studies of juvenile court diversion programs that worked with lowrisk, first-time juvenile offenders estimate taxpayers save
approximately $5,679 per participant in reduced
criminal court and crime victim costs.2
1 Anton, Paul and Temple, Judy. “Analyzing the Social Return on Investment in Youth Intervention Programs,” March, 2007
2 Aos, Steve; Phipps, Polly; Barnoski, Robert; Lieb, Roxanne. “The Comparative Costs and Benefits of Programs to Reduce Crime,” Version 4.0,
Washington State Institute for Public Policy, May 2001
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 Youth are able to avoid a juvenile court record and instead are
offered the opportunity to develop positive life skills and
understand the importance of personal responsibility.
 Families are able to strengthen relationships with their child
through improved communication skills.
 Communities benefit as youth understand their role in the
community and develop positive attitudes as well as a sense of
responsibility toward their community.
 Burdens on the county and justice system for cost of juvenile
care, court appointed attorney’s fees, and increasing case loads
are reduced with effective diversion programming.
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What we know about
youth offenders …
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The program serves an average of 50 juveniles each year.
Grade School
Middle School
High School
70
62
59
60
50
48
46
43
38
40
30
19
20
18
12
9
8
10
9
5
0
1
1
1
0
2
0
0
0
2004/2005
2005/2006
2006-2007
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-2010
2010-2011
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2009-2010
2010-2011
Female
37%
Male
63%
Female
21%
Male
79%
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MIPMarijuana/
Drug Par.
2%
Disorderly
Conduct
3%
Criminal
Mischief
4%
Possession of
Obscene
Material
3%
Fireworks possession,
illegal,
throwing
9%
Distrubing
the Peace
2%
2010-2011
Fireworks possession,
illegal,
throwing
2%
MIP-Alcohol
12%
Disorderly
Conduct
4%
Distrubing
the Peace
15%
MIP-Alcohol
21%
MIP-Tobacco
18%
Assault
4%
MIP-Tobacco
7%
MIPMarijuana
15%
Curfew
6%
Driving
Offenses
Driving
Offenses
Shoplifting
21%
2009-2010
(POP/School/
Learner’s Permit
Violations)
(POP/School/
Learner’s Permit
Violations)
16%
11%
False
Reporting
4% Trespassing
6%
Assault
7%
Curfew
2%
Shoplifting
6%
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$ 0-9,999
$ 10,000-24,999
$ 25,000-39,999
$ 40,000 or over
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2004/2005
2005/2006
2006-2007
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-2010
2010-2011
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District 2 Probation
Attitudes
1.4
0.1
Personality/Behavior
2.2
0.6
Recreation/Leisure
2.1
0.4
Substance Abuse
1.5
0.4
Peer Relations
2.8
1.1
Education/Employment
2.2
0.8
Family/Parenting
Prior/Current Offenses
Otoe County Diversion
2.2
0.7
0
0.4
0
0.5
1
1.5
Scores based on YLS/CMI assessments conducted on diversion & probation participants.
District 2 data provided by Corey Steele, Juvenile Justice Specialist, State Probation.
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2.5
3
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Programming centered around these
areas of focus for all youth and their
families leads to measured success!
 Family
 Behavior/Attitudes
 Substance Use
 Leisure/Recreation
 Employment
 Education
 Peers
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The program celebrates a success rate of 82%.
Of all juveniles that have completed the program since its
inception in 2004, 82% do not enter the juvenile justice
system with another offense.
18%
82%
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In 2010-2011 , 85% of eligible referrals
elected to enroll in the diversion
program, an increase from the average
66% in prior years.
15%
85%
100% of participants successfully completed the
program in 2010-2011.
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Youth have volunteered over 2,500 hours
within Otoe County communities.
Annual projects include:
 Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army
 Food Drive for SENCA food pantry
 Applejack Festival activities and cleanup
 Park Cleanup/Restoration
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 Increased family




communication
Benefit of family
counseling and/or
individual counseling
Increased commitment
to school
Resistance to negative
peer pressure
Obeying house rules
 Obtaining a job
 Abstaining from
substances
 Involvement in an extracurricular activity
 Improved grades and
attendance
 Fewer outbursts at home
and/or school
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Family
 I will continue to honor any curfew my parent/guardian designate and
house rules, staying home at times stipulated by my parent/guardian.
 I will complete the repayment contract outlining tasks
and/or money earned toward payment of the fee.
 I will attend assigned diversion sessions on…
Behavior/Attitude
 I will act in a respectful and courteous manner.
This includes behavior in class, at home, school, and any public place.
 I will complete my letter of commitment to the program by…
 I will write a letter of apology and give to the program coordinator by…
 I will complete appropriate assessments and/or explore counseling
options.
Substance Use
 I will abstain from use of alcohol, tobacco and any other drugs and I
understand that being in the presence of such substances puts me at risk
of another offense and possible termination from the program.
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Leisure/Recreation
 I will explore opportunities for involvement in structured
extra-curricular activities that best fit my strengths and abilities.
 I will complete 15 hours of volunteer community service. (Service must
be in Otoe County and cannot be done for a relative.)
Education/Employment
 I will provide the program coordinator with a grade
report as requested.
 I will attend school on a daily basis and maintain
passing grades at a 3 or above.
 I will pursue avenues of employment or attend
work as scheduled by my employer.
Peer Relationships
 I will associate myself with positive friends. If my parent/guardian
choose to limit the persons with whom I associate I will not associate
with those persons.
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 Youth must accept
responsibility for his/her
offense.
 Pay the diversion fee
amount of $125 or more,
depending on offense type.
 Receive no additional law
violations while in the
program.
 Attend class and/or
individual sessions,
parent/guardian
attendance required at
some sessions.
 Youth and parent/guardian
must sign diversion the
contract and agree to all
terms.
 If terms are not followed
consequences could
include additional
requirements, length in the
program extended, and/or
termination from the
program.
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 Changes to the enrollment process has increased the enrollment




percentage from 65% to 85%.
The WhyTry curriculum motivates behavior change among youth
offenders and is implemented in group and individual sessions.
The Power of Parents program and Real Colors sessions have enhanced
support and resources for families to help them understand their teen and
strengthen family communication.
In-school sessions with youth, attendance and grade checks are
conducted weekly.
The Nebraska Youth Screen (NYS) conducted on cited juveniles provides
additional information to the County Attorney’s office and serves as a prescreen for the diversion program. (17 screens were conducted by phone from
October through December 2011, 10 were diversion eligible and all enrolled)
 Tier II programming is offered to 2nd time youth offenders.
 Program waivers continue to be offered with 15 families requesting
assistance this past year.
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Vanessa Sherman, Program Coordinator
917 Wildwood Lane, Suite H
Nebraska City, NE 68410
402-873-6346
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.p40c.org/programs
Dave Partsch, Otoe County Attorney
Tim Noerrlinger, Deputy Otoe County Attorney
115 N. 10th Street
Nebraska City, NE 68410
402-873-9044
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