The purpose of this program is to provide first time juvenile offenders and their families short-term counseling, which includes the monitoring of the offender s behavior at school and home. The ultimate goal is to prevent the first time offender from entering into the adult criminal justice system. Since the program started in 1999 there have been 62 participants in the program. Only one child has been arrested for a second offense since completing the initial program. Parents are noticing a difference in their families.
Parents are willing to attend counseling sessions with their families.
Parents are excited the Police Department is playing a part in saving those children who can go astray. The Juvenile Unit continues to improve the program by looking within our community to find new and available resources. Recently, the unit added a First Time Offender class. Each offender must attend a Leadership Class that teaches the offender about peer pressure, self-esteem, drug abuse, leadership skills, and eight ways to say No. The Leadership Class is taught by the unit.