This is the fifth in a continuing series of articles about the Sixth Judicial District Juvenile Justice Department.
Juveniles who are cited or receive a delinquency or status petition allegation that they've broken the law are advised of their rights, including the right to be represented by an attorney, either one hired by the family or a public defender appointed by the court. If they deny they committed what they've been charged with, they're entitled to an evidentiary hearing before the juvenile court master or before one of the district judges. If found innocent, the charges are dropped. Otherwise they continue in the juvenile justice system.
Juvenile probation officers are central to nearly all of the available Sixth Judicial District Juvenile Justice interactions with youth. Every kid who admits to delinquent acts, or is judged to have committed delinquent acts is assigned a juvenile probation officer, who will oversee their involvement with the system, whether that involvement spans days, months, or years.
"The juvenile is assigned to a probation officer based on who the chief juvenile probation officer or his assistant feels would work best with that individual," said former long-time juvenile probation officer Jane Ripley.
Juvenile offenders have different personalities, as do juvenile probation officers and Ripley said the effort to find the right mix of sanctions, programs, education and counseling for each youth starts with the effort to find the right juvenile probation officer.
When a juvenile probation officer (JPO) is assigned a juvenile's case, that JPO goes to work to "find out what's going on with the juvenile at home, in the family, in the community, at school, at church or any other groups in which the young person is involved," said Ripley.
That effort will include home visits, talking with school teachers, counselors, or others involved with the youth to get the best understanding possible of that kid's situation. That understanding is presented to the court along with the JPO's recommendations on what should come next.
"Probation officers become the eyes and ears of the court, they get very involved with the families," said Sixth Judicial District Judge Richard Wagner.
Although the system is governed by statutes regarding what consequences a youth who commits a crime will face, there is wide latitude allowed in determining what mix of sanctions and programs can give a youth the best opportunity for a positive outcome, Chief Juvenile Probation officer Ed Sampson explained.
"We have a risk and needs assessment that's a tool to help us decide what programs might help and what level of supervision they may need," said JPO Colette Hansen.
Even with statutes and assessments guiding decisions, Sampson noted that the effort to be fair doesn't mean all juveniles will be treated the same; prior offenses and the juvenile's age are among a number of considerations.
Not all juvenile offenders are teens.
"We've had kids here as young as 10, we try not to go any younger than that," JPO Jennifer Cannon. "If they're younger than that, we try to provide service on an outside basis to help if we can."
Parents' input is also important to the process; sometimes parents say, "We need help," Sampson.
While many may see a kid's involvement with the juvenile justice system as a very negative thing, that very involvement brings access to help and services not otherwise available.
"Putting a kid on supervision brings access to so many positive programs, access to funding for counseling - and for the mental health or substance abuse evaluations they may need," said Cannon.
In trying to help, juvenile probation takes a team approach, according to Sampson. The juvenile court master, the district judges, JPO, sometimes a counselor or in some cases, a representative of the Division of Child and Family Services, even parents or guardians may all be involved in determining what programs and sanctions the judges will finally write in their order.
Sanctions can include work crew or community service, fines, restitution, time in the detention center, driver's license suspension, formal probation, house arrest, and - in more severe cases - even placement at Aurora Pines or China Springs youth centers or committment to a state facility such as Caliente, the Nevada Youth Training Center or Red Rocks.
Programs, (which could also be considered by some youths and their families as sanctions because they require a serious commitment of time and effort) include after school detention, Saturday school, summer school, PASS school, or detention center school, Project MAGIC, Evening Reporting Center, Adolescent Substance Abuse Program, Drug Court/Diversion Court, mental health counseling (group, individual, or residential), Girl's Club, Boy's Circle, and Anger Management.
"Sometimes parents are very glad to have our help, sometimes not," said Cannon. "Sometimes I wish we could punish the parents instead of the kids, because that's what seems to be the issue; sometimes the kids are a product of their environment. We have a lot of kids whose parents have and continue to provide every opportunity for them, but others have had it so rough."
Parent involvement is requested in Project MAGIC, and parents can be advised to attend parenting classes available through the juvenile department. If the parents are charged with neglect or abuse or are involved with drug court their attendance at parenting classes can be court-ordered.
"We'll go over the options and try to determine - with the parents and the team - what would best help the child," said Hansen.
Once the judge issues the order that states the sanctions and programs for a juvenile, it's up to the JPO to make sure the order is followed.
"That's when the real work begins," said Ripley. "The JPO has to monitor the juvenile's attendance and progress in the programs, make sure fines are paid or restitution is done to ensure follow-through for each aspect of the judge's order. You even go with them to court; you get very involved in the whole court process."
JPOs become part of their charges' school lives, too.
"The schools are glad to see us involved," said Ripley. "I don't know how many IEPs (individual education plans) I sat in on. You need to know what's going on educationally; you meet with school counselors and teachers and administrators."
It's a big job.
A case load of about 20 to 25 juveniles is common in Humboldt County, according to Cannon. The case load in Lander County is about 20, said JPO Dan Baldini.
The Juvenile Department tries to offer the same services in all three counties, said JPO Noliena Castellanos, who works in Lander County.
There are successes. JPOs remember the kids they've worked with and they watch to see how their lives turn out.
"Some of the ones you struggle with the most come back to thank you for the efforts you made in the past for them," said Castellanos.
The judges and JPOs all said they have seen many positive results from all of the programs and efforts.
"You do see successes, but you always wish there were more," said Cannon. "You throw your heart and soul into trying to give them opportunities, you just fall in love with the kids. Sometimes you see great progress, then they go back into the same environment. Some make it but some don't and it's hard. Sometimes it's so discouraging because you can see their potential."
Cannon said one of her probation kids told her, 'you need a new job; if I did your job, it would drive me nuts.'
"We deal with people on their worst days, with kids in bad situations," said Baldini. "Sometimes it's a challenge to stay positive, but I really like kids and the chance to give kids who are making bad choices an opportunity to make amends and to learn to do some forward thinking."
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