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J~ ~;'SECTION i!i:?l COMPONENT SUMMARY (Attach for each component) Statement of the Problem(s): In concise terminology, describe the juvenile justice problem(s) the program intends to address and how these services meet the needs identified in the JCPC Annual Plan. Several years ago, the North Carolina Legislature made changes to status offenses. These changes emphasized parental responsibility and addressed more severe punishment for specific offenses. This created a focus on community alternatives to administer status offenses and less serious delinquent offenses. The Teen Court Program meets the needs of Cabarrus County by preventing first-time offenders from having further contact with the legal system. The program works with the offender, who remains at home under his/her parent's supervision while performng community service and paying the victim restitution for his/her loss. The Teen Court jury may also recommend that the victim and offender go through the process of mediation to work through their differences in order to promote harmony in the community. The offender also receives vocational/educational experiences through the different community service sites. The Teen Court Program also REQUIRES that the offender participate in any counseling deemed necessary by the coordinator to resolve issues that can further impact the offender negatively. The offender is also REQUIRED to receive a drug assessement if admitted under the offense of possession of alcohol or marijuana. Treatment is recommended as deemend necessary by the health care provider. Priority Risk Factor(s) Addressed: State how the program will address the priority risk factor(s) identified by the JCPC. (1) Alcohol/Brug Use: There is a mandatory drug assessment and counseling for those offenders admitted for the offense of possession of alcohol or marijuana. The offenders health care provider must provide proof to the Teen Court,Coordinator that the offender has been assessed and treated to the health care provider's satisfaction. The goal is to provide youth in the 11-16 year-old group intervention to prevent early addiction. (2) Family Management Problems: Teen Court adresses issues which occur between family members such as child/parent conflicts, anger management, etc. It is a mandatory condition of Teen Court for the offender to attend any type of counseling that the Teen Court Coordinator deems necessary. For isseus between family members, the primary custodian is told that they must be actively involved in counseling for the youth to satisfy the requirements of Teen Court. The parten/custodian must submit in writing, proof of involvement. The goal is to reduce conflicts within the family to lessen contact with the legal system in the future. Program Goals: State the effect that the program is designed to have on solving the problem(s) described above. The Teen Court Program is designed as a court diversion program for certain first time misdemeanor offenses. The referred offender participates in Teen Court rather than the Juvenile or District Court system. Teen Court requires the offender to take responsibility for his/her actions in order to be eligible for the program. The program promotes a positive peer environment and aencourages both the offender and volunteers to become involved with their community. Target Population: Describe the target population and the steps that the program has taken to insure that the target population is served. Teen Court targes youth in the 1 1-16 year old age group who are first admissions to the legal system and have committed certain misdemeanor offenses or who have begun to exhibit truant behaviors. The misdemeanor offenses that are accepted by the program are as follows: communicating threats, harassing or threatening phone calls; trespass; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, no operator's license, injury to personal and real property, concealment of merchandise, larceny, shoplifting, possession of stolen property; truancy, disorderly conduct; cruelty to animals, simple assault, simple affray, attempted assault, inciting a riot, possession of alcohol or marijuana, and possessioj of cigarettes by a minor. Measurable Objective(s): State in measurable terms the intended effect of the program on specific undisciplined and/or delinquent behaviors. At a minimum, state anticipated reductions in court referrals, runaway behavior, disruptive behavior at school, anticipated improved school attendance and academic JCPC PROGRAM AGREEMENT, 2004-2005 F'5