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In his 2001 report to the nation on Youth Violence in America, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, asserted that the percentage of adolescents involved with violence was shockingly high, and was largely fueled by easy access to firearms. Victims of youth violence fill up emergency rooms and often require costly surgeries and rehabilitative care. According to the Children's Safety Network Economics and Insurance Resource Center, medical costs associated with youth violence are almost $6 billion.
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) further asserted that:
Notwithstanding this data, the OJJDP states that youth who are released from institutional confinement are more likely to succeed if they have access to services that can help them thrive in a non-institutional environment. Effective programs begin before a youth leaves the facility and involve the family and community. The Surgeon General's report stated "as a Nation, we possess knowledge and have translated that knowledge into programs that are unequivocally effective in preventing much serious youth violence."
Juvenile diversion seeks to improve a youth's self-image, social skills, and attitude about the legal system, and aims to teach the youth better methods of communication. The goal of juvenile diversion programs is to reduce the rates of youth being rearrested. The judicial system refers to this as the recidivism rate.
| "...the positive social experience of Scouting offers an alternative to the antisocial behavior of groups and gangs which promote excitement through negative risk experiences." |
| —Patricia Jacobs, Director of the Lorain County Court Diversion Program |
In an effort to give local councils some "best practices" techniques, the juvenile diversion programs of three councils are highlighted here, with focus given to the points that successful BSA juvenile diversion programs share.
The Heart of Ohio council's juvenile diversion program was initiated by Bonnie Kerpics through a coordinated effort with the Lorain County Juvenile Court. The program adapts traditional Boy Scouting in an effort to help juvenile offenders through developing greater self-confidence and improving their decision-making skills. The courts define an unruly child as one who does not subject himself to the reasonable control of his parents or legal guardian, or who violates a law that is applicable only to children.
Entry Into the Program
A number of events may occur before a youth joins the council's youth diversion program. Below is a summary of the steps taken before the youth can join:
Program Implementation
The youth are required to attend a specific number of troop meetings and to participate in community service hours and weekend activities. Troop meeting topics include: developing character, thinking critically and making wise decisions, problem solving, and communicating effectively. Weekend activities include: participating in educational and social projects, and involvement in sports, outdoor activities, and community projects. Participating in the council's C.O.P.E. course is an important experience for the youth, teaching them team-building skills and encouraging trust in their fellow Scouts. The program lasts six months.
David Keller, a council volunteer, says it is important to get past what brought the kids to the program, and to emphasize that they are now Scouts. To sum up the program's effectiveness, Keller observes, "Today so many things can drag kids down the wrong path. They come to a fork in the road and some don't have the tools to make the right decisions. We try to give them those tools."
The Chief Seattle Council has been operating a unique program since 2002, in which Cub Scouts from various packs visit their incarcerated mothers at the Purdy Correctional Center. Only the leaders know about the boys' circumstances. The number of women in prison nationally has grown by 516 percent in the past 20 years, and 75 percent of them have children. What is important to note is that the children of imprisoned parents are six times more likely to end up in the juvenile justice system than are children of parents never imprisoned.
Sharon Kirkpatrick, a Scoutreach volunteer, shares that the boys are trying to overcome isolation, loss, and living a life that feels like it has no structure. When she takes a Cub Scout to visit his mother at the correctional facility, Ms. Kirkpatrick shares that his tough demeanor soon disappears when he sees his mom and tears began rolling down his cheeks. Some of these boys haven't seen their mothers for more than a year, she reports.
The Reverend Jimmie James, the council's Scoutreach director, shares that in most regular prison visits, the mothers play basketball and volleyball with their Cub Scout children and lead activities related to Scouting values like community service, loyalty, and helpfulness. Willie Craig, unit supervisor at the corrections center and a Scouting volunteer, observes, "For a moment, the mother has a chance to forget where she is ... it's just her and the kids playing as if she were out in the community."
For these mothers, the Scouting program serves a motivational purpose: the women themselves have to behave like good Scouts because only those who are infraction-free are allowed to participate in the program. Belinda D. Stewart, superintendent of the corrections center, believes that the stronger family support that the Scoutreach program provides helps to increase the mother's success in the community once she is released from prison.
Plans are underway to expand the program locally into the men's correctional center at Stafford Creek.
The Mid-America Council's Teen Court juvenile diversion program combines community service with concrete measures to change behavior. The program is directed at adolescents who are considered at "moderate risk" to break the law again. Offences include: frequent truancy, non-violent crimes, carrying a concealed weapon, drug offense, runaway, theft, or burglary without a weapon.
| "Since 1999, Teen Court has been giving young, first-time offenders in Douglas County a chance to turn their lives around and avoid the system of juvenile courts." |
| —Bob Freeman, council executive committee member |
Juveniles between the ages of 13 and 18 are referred to the Teen Court by the Douglas County Juvenile Assessment Center. The overall goal of Teen Court is to deter kids from breaking the law.
The key factor for the program's success is that the teens are judged by their peers. Teenagers assume the roles of attorneys, bailiffs, and judges for the court. Court is in session twice a month, with four cases scheduled for each session. Volunteers set guidelines and facilitate the process, but the teens run the show.
Teenage offenders have between 60 and 90 days to fulfill the terms of their sentences. When the defendants successfully complete their Teen Court sentences, the county attorney dismisses the charges, enabling the teenage offenders avoid a police record. The sentences vary, and are handed down by a panel of six teenage judges.
All the defendants must serve as a court judge at least once and perform anywhere from 10 to 40 hours of community service. Other sentencing options include:
Teenage judges determine what combination of consequences may help prevent the teen from getting into trouble again.
Parents are an important part of the equation, and at least one parent must accompany the teenage child. If a parental issue is a contributing factor to the teen's negative behavior, requiring parental participation ensures that parents take part in the process.
The key component of Teen Court is that teenagers must admit their guilt so that their peers aren't deciding on their innocence or guilt, which also eliminates the need for a jury. Juveniles take accountability for their actions.
Recognizing the value of the council's juvenile diversion program, the United Way of the Midlands awarded the council a $100,000 grant in partnership with the Owens Educational Services.
| "I tell people that even a simple thing like a thank-you [from a teen] makes you think I know I'm making a difference. Even if it's one kid that says 'thank you,' that doesn't mean the 15 other kids that participated with that day aren't thinking the same thing." |
| —Stephanie Rall, Juvenile Diversion Director, Mid-America Council |
Juvenile diversion programs are created to divert youth from early encounters with the juvenile court system. By focusing on strengths of children in a positive youth development framework, successful diversion programs like the ones highlighted here can help discourage delinquency and encourage stronger family and community relationships. These steps that councils might consider when developing a juvenile diversion program were recommended by the Cooperative Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Stakeholders are persons who have vested interests in the diversion process and include: youth, parents/guardians, county attorneys, juvenile court judges, diversion coordinators, law enforcement officials, and community-based organizations. The success of diversion programs depends on communication between the stakeholders.
Consider the following important questions when planning a diversion program:
Research indicates that diversion programs should last at least six months and include positive activities with caring adults, i.e., community service, mentor programs, family activities. Changing a youth's behaviors and attitudes can be a lengthy process and the educational component of the program is only one part of a larger effort to encourage positive youth development. As youths participate in positive activities, they can actively practice the skills they learn through the diversion program.
The ultimate test of a diversion program is found in tracking changes in attitudes and behaviors of the participants over time. The secondary goal of the evaluation should be to measure the strengths and weaknesses of the program.
The evaluation process should include: identifying clear goals of the diversion program and developing a survey for each goal. These surveys can be administered at the first session of the program and again after the program has ended. Comparing the pre-test and post-test data will provide valuable information about changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.
Though unique in their structures and implementation, the Juvenile Diversion Programs in the Heart of Ohio, Chief Seattle, and Mid-America Councils share many of these success indicators:
Contact the Heart of Ohio, Chief Seattle, and Mid-America councils to find out more about their juvenile diversion programs, using the following contact information:
Heart of Ohio Council
652A U.S. Route 250 East
Ashland, OH 44301
419-207-8300
Contact: Jim Dillon
Chief Seattle Council
3120 Rainier Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98144
206-723-4330
Contact: Jimmie James
Mid-America Council
12401 W. Maple Rd.
Omaha, NE 68164
Contact: Stephanie Rall
Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justicel
Juvenile Justice Specialist
402-471-2194
Crime07@vmhost.cdp.state.ne.us
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)l
www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org
Scoutreach Divisionl
Boy Scouts of America
1325 West Walnut Hill Lane
P.O. Box 152079
Irving, TX 75015-2079
970-580-2449
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| The Boy Scouts of America | |
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