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Community-Based Juvenile Justice Uses Volunteers to Ensure Accountability
Mar 7, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Roger Mercado RMercado@leegov.com , Lee County Human Services (239) 533-7930 LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED JUVENILE JUSTICE USES VOLUNTEERS TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY Lee County Human Services will hold a volunteer training Friday, March 17, 2006 for those interested in volunteering for its innovative "Restorative Justice" program. The Accountability Boards of Southwest Florida have been modeling community-based reparations for juvenile offenders and victims of crime for over four years in Lee County. The training will be from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Lee County Human Services, Lee County administers Accountability Boards in Collier, Hendry, and Lee County. When a juvenile commits a crime in a participating community, or a juvenile residing in a participating community commits a crime elsewhere, residents and other neighborhood partners (Local Businesses, Community Policing, etc.) will meet with the juvenile, his or her parent(s), and the victim in order to develop a plan for repair to address the harm caused to the victim. The plan also address' family needs that become evident during the course of a conference. Instead of the standard criminal justice punishment model, Lee's local volunteer Accountability Boards (in partnership with the State Attorney's Office and the Department of Juvenile Justice) focus on what harm was done, what needs to be done to repair the harm, and the level of repair that is attainable. Examples include: Community Services hours tied to the community/victim; Speak to a group of his/her peers regarding the crime committed; Enrollment in an after-school program to address issues with school or to assist in skill building (leadership, decision making, etc.). Depending on the crime, direct financial payments to the victim. There is also much emphasis on making sure the offender understands the impact to the victim(s), their family, community, and themselves. Please plan on attending the March 17, 2006 training even if you are unsure if volunteering in this capacity is right for you. |