Juvenile Offender Treatment
Juveniles who have broken the law may be ordered to different levels of restraint and/or treatment. Diversion programs, such as Teen Court, seek to divert first offenders from the justice system and allow them to make amends for their offenses. Youth may also be placed on probation or sent to juvenile detention facilities. Many youth are assigned to aftercare following release from the facility. Any of these options may include mental health or substance abuse treatment.
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Diversion
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Diversion is an attempt to keep youth out of the justice system, on the theory that some youth will be more harmed than helped by being processed through Juvenile Justice and befriending unsavory new friends. Diversion is intended for relatively petty acts and is designed to help the offender make amends by community service, restitution and apologizing to parents and community members injured by the offense. Substance and mental health treatment may be part of diversionary requirements.
Probation
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Probation is a program of supervision ordered by the court, placing limits on the freedom of the youth, with possible requirements to attend school and obey a curfew. The youth may have to fulfill community service hours and submit to drug testing and counseling. If the youth fails to meet the obligations, she will be charged with violation of probation and possibly sent to a detention facility.
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Residential Detention
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Youth offenders may be taken into custody and sent to residential facilities, with varying levels of security. Youth live and attend school on campus. Half of incarcerated youth stay in the facility for three months or longer, depending on when they complete the program, as measured by point systems. Point systems are set up according to a behavior modification treatment model.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment
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Youth are assessed after arrest and most are found to have mental health and/or substance abuse problems. Juvenile justice systems are required to respond to these needs with treatment plans. Treatment includes behavior modification programs, individual and group counseling and drug awareness classes as well as addiction support groups.
Aftercare
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Juveniles who are released from residential detention are often assigned to aftercare to help them reenter the community. Aftercare services may include transitional housing, job training, mentoring, counseling, and drug and alcohol counseling and testing. These services are intended to provide assistance to the youth as well as some measure of supervision similar to probation.
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