Greenwich Juvenile Review Board WELCOME! Jenny

The Juvenile Review Board What is a Juvenile Review Board? Why have a Juvenile Review Board? What are the goals of the JRB? Where does the JRB fit into the Juvenile Justice System? How does the JRB work? Jenny

What is a Juvenile Review Board?

A Juvenile Review Board is a group of local professionals, including: Police Youth Service Workers Social Workers School Officials Juvenile Court Officials Clergy Community Members Jenny who meet regularly to offer juveniles and their families a positive alternative to the Juvenile Justice System.

Greenwich Juvenile Review Board Mission Statement The mission of the Juvenile Review Board is to offer juveniles a community based positive alternative to the juvenile justice system through personal responsibility and accountability, intervening in a variety of ways to prevent future crimes and restoring relationships with victims. Jenny

Why have a Juvenile Review Board?

Balance & Restorative Justice To understand the importance of having a JRB, we need to understand Balance & Restorative Justice. Balance refers to: resetting the scales of justice that are upset with the commission of a crime, and balancing concern for all (victim, offender, &community). Restorative Justice refers to: rethinking the needs which crimes create, and to expanding “the circle of stakeholders…beyond just the government and the offender to include victims and community members” (Zehr,2002). GPD

Victim/Offender/Community Shared Interest Offender Victim Victim/Offender/Community Community GPD

Summary “Restorative justice requires, at minimum, that we address victims’ harms and needs, hold offenders accountable to put right those harms, and involve victims, offenders, and communities in this process.” Howard Zehr GPD

What is the goal of the JRB?

Through these factors the JRB can accomplish our goals to: The Juvenile Review Board provides a diversion from the Juvenile Justice System and designs alternatives that: Promote accountability for ones actions Encourage personal transformation Offer support for integration into the community Consider the needs of the victim Through these factors the JRB can accomplish our goals to: GPD Reduce recidivism rates in Greenwich Connect area youth and their families to local resources and services Personal Responsibility, Rehabilitation, Education, Deterrence, Prevention, Empower Families, Utilize Community Resources

fit into the Juvenile Justice Where does the JRB fit into the Juvenile Justice System?

The JRB is available to intervene and offer the child an alternative to avoid the Juvenile Justice System. Community JRB Juvenile Justice System Criminal School Juvenile Justice System Home Criminal Justice System Jenny/Sheron

PROCESSING OF A JUVENILE DELINQUENCY CASE POLICE ACTION DIVERT FROM COURT (no record) RELEASE & ISSUE SUMMONS PLACE IN DETENTION TRANSFER TO ADULT COURT HANDLING DECISION DETENTION RELEASE HEARING DETAIN NON JUDICIAL JUDICIAL RELEASE RELEASE WITH ORDERS REVIEW HEARING DISMISS WITH WARNING SUPERVISION TRANSFER TO ADULT COURT PLEA HEARING SUCCESSFUL UNSUCCESSFUL DENY DISCHARGE (no record) PRETRIAL SUSPENDED PROSECUTION DRUG DEPENDENCY SUSPENDED PROSECUTION SCHOOL VIOLENCE Jenny/Sheron ADMIT NO AGREEMENT DISMISS (auto erasure) DRUG COURT DIVERSION TRIAL SUCCESSFUL UNSUCCESSFUL CONVICTED NOT DELINQUENT (auto erasure) DISCHARGE (no record) PREDISPOSITIONAL STUDY & REPORT DISPOSITION HEARING DISMISS WITH WARNING PROBATION SUSPENDED COMMITMENT COMMITMENT TO DCF 18 months/4 years(SJO) residential facility/CT Juvenile Training School

How does the JRB work?

ELIGIBILITY FOR THE JUVENILE REVIEW BOARD All of the following criteria must be met: Prior to the juvenile’s 17th birthday, s/he committed a criminal offense. The offense is not a felony. The juvenile has not previously been referred to the Juvenile Review Board or the Juvenile Court. The juvenile admits responsibility for the offense. The juvenile and the family agree to the referral to the Juvenile Review Board. Jenny

FACTORS CONSIDERED BY THE POLICE IN THE DIVERSION DECISION Seriousness of the offense Role of the juvenile in the offense Prior police involvement Age of the juvenile Attitude of the juvenile Attitude of the family Availability of the appropriate diversions Jenny

Refer case back to police. New Summons served. Juvenile Review Board Procedure Police Referral Arrest & detention for serious crime Juvenile Court Issue Summons Refuse Meet with JRB Case Worker Complete Intake Paperwork Officer investigates a crime Discuss JRB option with family Juvenile Officer Eligible & Appropriate Reviews Report Successful completion JRB meeting Meet with family Offer diversions Discharged Jenny Unsuccessful completion Decline Refuse Refer case back to police. New Summons served. Juvenile Court

Steps in the Process JRB members scheduled JRB session held Arrest & summons issued Referral to JRB Coordinator from GPD Via police report Intake at Court JRB Explained Confidentiality waiver signed Intake form filled out JRB session scheduled Family given student questionnaire & parent evaluation forms to be returned JRB members scheduled Grades & attendance records are provided by school JRB session held Contract is signed with diversions stipulated Case manager takes over and monitors progress as needed 3-months later, case is closed. Successful: Resolutions met and no court involvement Unsuccessful: Diversions not met; referred to GPD and summons for Juvenile Court is reissued. Court is notified of prior JRB involvement.

Example Diversions are: Counseling Family Youth Community Service Journal of Good Decisions Restitution Mediation Letters of Apology Essay or Poster Positive After School Activity Improving Grades Following parents rules at home Decrease of office referrals at school 100% attendance at school (expect for excused/sick absences) Attend a Closing Review

Mock JRB Session Prompt: what questions did we like?, which ones were not as useful?, what questions were missed?

Success stories of the JRB Of the clients who have been a part of the JRB process since Oct. 2008, only four have failed to complete their contract. Two of the four were able to say that the JRB Program gave them every opportunity to be successful but that they did not use the resources offered to them both by the school Social Worker, the school counselor, and their case manager. A few successes were especially noteworthy… Dennis

Sam H. Sam H. was arrested for assault on another student while riding the school bus. This client was able to develop his anger management skills and learn to diffuse a situation that another student created and bring it to the attention of his Social Worker who met with both parties and helped them to resolved their differences in a healthy manner. Client also joined an Anime Club and was awarded certificates of recognition for his academic progress and social achievements at the end of his junior year. Dennis

Ethan A. Ethan A. was able to volunteer at the Arch St. Youth Center and completed his community hours there. He also wrote a poem based on his experience with stealing and was asked to be a member of the board at Arch Street which he gladly accepted. Dennis

Nicholas R. Nicholas R. committed himself to improving his grades in all of his classes and working more closely with his teachers at G.H.S. Client was able to reduce the number of unexcused absences from the time his contract began till it ended three months later on June 10, 2010. Client was also able to increase his GPA overall during this period of time. Dennis

Jonathan A. Another client, Jonathan A. is presently active in completing his contract and has begun a new club at Greenwich High School for skateboarders. Twelve (12) students have signed up and met. They also have an adult advisor who is helping them to design a new indoor skate park for the town and will try to pursue this possibility in the near future. Dennis

Discussion & Questions ? Jenny