Programs
Apology Letter Assistance ∙ CASA · Community Service
Electronic Monitoring · Juvenile Orientation ∙
Orientation to Probation · Smoking Cessation · Social Media Awareness
Substance Abuse Counseling ∙ Victim Awareness Group · Victim Offender Mediation
Electronic Monitoring · Juvenile Orientation ∙
Orientation to Probation · Smoking Cessation · Social Media Awareness
Substance Abuse Counseling ∙ Victim Awareness Group · Victim Offender Mediation
Apology Letter Assistance
When a youth is involved in an offense having a direct victim, the deputy juvenile officer or juvenile court judge may order the juvenile to complete an apology letter. Fifth Circuit Juvenile Office staff provide education about the components of an apology letter and provide assistance with proofreading as needed.
When a youth is involved in an offense having a direct victim, the deputy juvenile officer or juvenile court judge may order the juvenile to complete an apology letter. Fifth Circuit Juvenile Office staff provide education about the components of an apology letter and provide assistance with proofreading as needed.
Boy's Group
Boy's Group is an evidence-based program facilitated by deputy juvenile officers. The program promotes, teaches, and encourages healthy behavior in boys and young men. Each week, a group of six to ten boys meet with one or two facilitators for an hour. This group has been designed to last eight weeks and covers topics such as maturity, anger management, positive-realistic goal setting, job preparedness, bullying, establishing appropriate sexual boundaries, valuing diversity and positive decision-making in the face of peer pressure. The program is part of a graduated sanction response utilized by deputy juvenile officers and juvenile court judges.
Boy's Group is an evidence-based program facilitated by deputy juvenile officers. The program promotes, teaches, and encourages healthy behavior in boys and young men. Each week, a group of six to ten boys meet with one or two facilitators for an hour. This group has been designed to last eight weeks and covers topics such as maturity, anger management, positive-realistic goal setting, job preparedness, bullying, establishing appropriate sexual boundaries, valuing diversity and positive decision-making in the face of peer pressure. The program is part of a graduated sanction response utilized by deputy juvenile officers and juvenile court judges.
CASA
Court Appointed Special Advocates are trained community volunteers appointed by the 5th Judicial Circuit Juvenile Court Judge in cases where a child has been abused and/or neglected. These advocates serve as a voice for the child so the juvenile court judge knows what the child wants.
Court Appointed Special Advocates are trained community volunteers appointed by the 5th Judicial Circuit Juvenile Court Judge in cases where a child has been abused and/or neglected. These advocates serve as a voice for the child so the juvenile court judge knows what the child wants.
Choices
The Choices program is a preventative program in which deputy juvenile officers (DJOs) present information to kindergarten through third grade students regarding the importance of good choices. Program delivery is accomplished through the use of puppets. This program helps younger children understand why positive behavior and good choices are important life skills.
The Choices program is a preventative program in which deputy juvenile officers (DJOs) present information to kindergarten through third grade students regarding the importance of good choices. Program delivery is accomplished through the use of puppets. This program helps younger children understand why positive behavior and good choices are important life skills.
Community Justice Committee
Community members trained by the Fifth Circuit Juvenile Office form the community justice committees (CJCs). There are currently four committees serving various parts of the St. Joseph area and Andrew County. Youth who are referred to the juvenile office for a minor offense may be referred to the community justice committee program. This program allows the youth an opportunity to interact with community volunteers and receive services or complete programs as recommended by the committee members.
Community members trained by the Fifth Circuit Juvenile Office form the community justice committees (CJCs). There are currently four committees serving various parts of the St. Joseph area and Andrew County. Youth who are referred to the juvenile office for a minor offense may be referred to the community justice committee program. This program allows the youth an opportunity to interact with community volunteers and receive services or complete programs as recommended by the committee members.
Community Service
Community service projects provide an opportunity for youth to give back to the community. Community service projects may be performed by youth on informal and formal probation. Project examples include volunteering at the local food kitchen, assisting with Second Harvest donation programs, ringing the bell during the holiday season for Salvation Army and other community events.
Community service projects provide an opportunity for youth to give back to the community. Community service projects may be performed by youth on informal and formal probation. Project examples include volunteering at the local food kitchen, assisting with Second Harvest donation programs, ringing the bell during the holiday season for Salvation Army and other community events.
Electronic Monitoring
The Fifth Circuit Juvenile Office offers a comprehensive electronic monitoring program with access to multiple technological enhancements to standard house arrest services. The program enables the office to have around-the-clock monitoring of the compliance with house arrest expectations, client sobriety, direct messaging to clients, and real-time client location through global positioning satellites. The program is ideal for clients that can safely remain in the community but need additional monitoring to ensure their compliance with the expectations of the court. The goals of the program are to ensure compliance with court expectations, to enhance community safety, and to provide evidence for sanctioning or filing on verified violations of court orders. The electronic monitoring program has been in place with the Juvenile Office for more than fifteen years, and has led to a reduction in program violations, increased ability to apprehend absconders, and an increase in the Juvenile Office's ability to hold those who choose to violate the orders of the court accountable for their decisions.
The Fifth Circuit Juvenile Office offers a comprehensive electronic monitoring program with access to multiple technological enhancements to standard house arrest services. The program enables the office to have around-the-clock monitoring of the compliance with house arrest expectations, client sobriety, direct messaging to clients, and real-time client location through global positioning satellites. The program is ideal for clients that can safely remain in the community but need additional monitoring to ensure their compliance with the expectations of the court. The goals of the program are to ensure compliance with court expectations, to enhance community safety, and to provide evidence for sanctioning or filing on verified violations of court orders. The electronic monitoring program has been in place with the Juvenile Office for more than fifteen years, and has led to a reduction in program violations, increased ability to apprehend absconders, and an increase in the Juvenile Office's ability to hold those who choose to violate the orders of the court accountable for their decisions.
Girl Talk
Girl Talk is a structured support group for girls from 12-17 years that integrates relational theory, resiliency practices, and skills training in a
specific format designed to increase positive connection, personal and collective strengths, and competence in girls.
Girl Talk is a structured support group for girls from 12-17 years that integrates relational theory, resiliency practices, and skills training in a
specific format designed to increase positive connection, personal and collective strengths, and competence in girls.
Juvenile Court Awareness
Juvenile Court Awareness (JCA) is a preventative program in which deputy juvenile officers (DJOs) present information to 4th-8th grade students pertaining to the role of the deputy juvenile officer and provide an overview of the juvenile justice system. Deputy juvenile officers explain ways to deter juveniles from committing status and delinquent offenses. The deputy juvenile officers also explain the consequences when a youth engages in status and/or delinquent behavior. This program helps build awareness of the juvenile justice system and deter youth from making a choice that could result in a referral to the juvenile office.
Juvenile Court Awareness (JCA) is a preventative program in which deputy juvenile officers (DJOs) present information to 4th-8th grade students pertaining to the role of the deputy juvenile officer and provide an overview of the juvenile justice system. Deputy juvenile officers explain ways to deter juveniles from committing status and delinquent offenses. The deputy juvenile officers also explain the consequences when a youth engages in status and/or delinquent behavior. This program helps build awareness of the juvenile justice system and deter youth from making a choice that could result in a referral to the juvenile office.
Juvenile Orientation
The Juvenile Orientation Program provides an overview of juvenile office and Court process. It will help increase parents, guardians and juveniles understanding and awareness of the Juvenile Justice System. It will address Status and Delinquent behavior, and stress the importance of positive choices for youth. It is designed for all youth under the age of 17. The program is designed to keep youth informed and hold them accountable for their actions. It is also designed to show at-risk youth the reality of living in a court-ordered facility, probation, or the possibility of facing certification to stand trial as an adult.
The Juvenile Orientation Program provides an overview of juvenile office and Court process. It will help increase parents, guardians and juveniles understanding and awareness of the Juvenile Justice System. It will address Status and Delinquent behavior, and stress the importance of positive choices for youth. It is designed for all youth under the age of 17. The program is designed to keep youth informed and hold them accountable for their actions. It is also designed to show at-risk youth the reality of living in a court-ordered facility, probation, or the possibility of facing certification to stand trial as an adult.
MRT
The MRT (Moral Reconation Therapy) Program, is an evidence-based systematic treatment strategy that seeks to reduce recidivism among juveniles. MRT is part of a graduated sanction response and is used as an alternative to removing a youth from his/her home. MRT takes the form of group and individual counseling and uses both group exercises and individual assignments. This cognitive-behavioral approach combines elements from a variety of psychological traditions to progressively address ego, social, moral, and positive behavior growth. Participants meet on a weekly basis and may complete the program in twelve weeks. The deputy juvenile officer refers youth to an outside provider for this program.
The MRT (Moral Reconation Therapy) Program, is an evidence-based systematic treatment strategy that seeks to reduce recidivism among juveniles. MRT is part of a graduated sanction response and is used as an alternative to removing a youth from his/her home. MRT takes the form of group and individual counseling and uses both group exercises and individual assignments. This cognitive-behavioral approach combines elements from a variety of psychological traditions to progressively address ego, social, moral, and positive behavior growth. Participants meet on a weekly basis and may complete the program in twelve weeks. The deputy juvenile officer refers youth to an outside provider for this program.
Orientation to Probation
A short presentation designed to introduce youth and parents to the Juvenile Probation Department. This program gives families an overview of the expectations of probation and graduated sanctions if unsuccessful.
A short presentation designed to introduce youth and parents to the Juvenile Probation Department. This program gives families an overview of the expectations of probation and graduated sanctions if unsuccessful.
Social Media Awareness
The social media awareness program is an educational program developed for 4th-6th graders to provide education regarding the importance of making good choices when using social media. The program is an interactive presentation to help students become aware of their “digital thumbprint” and to educate them that what they put online may be permanent and is rarely private. The program stresses the importance of using good judgment when posting text, pictures and videos. It further discusses the importance of avoiding online interactions with people that they do not know and informs them of the resources available to help if situations do arise.
The social media awareness program is an educational program developed for 4th-6th graders to provide education regarding the importance of making good choices when using social media. The program is an interactive presentation to help students become aware of their “digital thumbprint” and to educate them that what they put online may be permanent and is rarely private. The program stresses the importance of using good judgment when posting text, pictures and videos. It further discusses the importance of avoiding online interactions with people that they do not know and informs them of the resources available to help if situations do arise.
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Substance Abuse Counseling
Deputy Juvenile Officers may refer a juvenile to substance abuse counseling when youth use illegal substances. Substance abuse counseling is provided by outside providers to juveniles that have issues relating to the use of illegal substances. Depending on the severity of an individual's use, substance abuse counseling can be provided on an outpatient or inpatient basis. Outpatient treatment is typically done two or three days a week in a group and/or individual setting. Inpatient treatment is typically provided residentially for 60 days.
Deputy Juvenile Officers may refer a juvenile to substance abuse counseling when youth use illegal substances. Substance abuse counseling is provided by outside providers to juveniles that have issues relating to the use of illegal substances. Depending on the severity of an individual's use, substance abuse counseling can be provided on an outpatient or inpatient basis. Outpatient treatment is typically done two or three days a week in a group and/or individual setting. Inpatient treatment is typically provided residentially for 60 days.
Victim Awareness Group
This is an educational group that promotes victim awareness and accountability with juveniles that have committed law and/or status offenses in which a primary victim has been identified. The goal of this group is to help the juveniles empathize with the victim(s) and develop an understanding of the impact the offense has on the primary victim and the community.
This is an educational group that promotes victim awareness and accountability with juveniles that have committed law and/or status offenses in which a primary victim has been identified. The goal of this group is to help the juveniles empathize with the victim(s) and develop an understanding of the impact the offense has on the primary victim and the community.