Supporting Missouri’s Youth in Juvenile Justice

1. A Window Into Their World: Supporting Missouri’s Youth in Juvenile Justice Tichelle Bruntmyer University of Missouri - Columbia

2. Today’s Agenda • Overview of the juvenile justice process • Juvenile justice in Missouri • Welcome home! Please ask questions!

3. The Basics

4. Types of offenses • Status Offenses Status offenses are considered unlawful due to the offender’s status as a minor. (e.g. breaking curfew, truancy, under age drinking, etc.) • Delinquent Acts Delinquent acts are those that would be considered criminal if committed by an adult. (e.g. assault, robbery, murder, etc.)

5. 5 Steps of the Juvenile Justice Process • Initial Contact – point at which the child first encounters law enforcement • Intake – initial response to behavior by an intake officer (dismiss, divert, petition for hearing) • Adjudication – formal court hearing and establishment of official court record • Disposition – court ordered placement after youth is found guilty of delinquency (dismissal, restitution, fines, counseling, mental hospital, house arrest, electronic monitoring, probation, day treatment, intense supervised probation, commitment to a juvenile facility, adult prison) • Aftercare – equivalent of adult parole

6. The JJ Population:A National Snapshot 74 million children under 18 in the US 70, 792 youth were court involved in 2010 68% placed in residential facilities 29% were detained locally 2% placed in diversion programs 87% were male 32% were Caucasian, 41% African-American, and 22% Hispanic 96% of the crimes that year were delinquent acts (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Programs)

7. What does juvenile justice look like in MO?

8. Juvenile Justice in Missouri • Missouri Department of Social Services, Division of Youth Services (DYS) • Considered the “gold standard” for juvenile justice service delivery

9. A Snapshot of Missouri’s JJ Population • 920 youth were committed to DYS in 2012 • 83.6% were male • The average age was 15.2 years • On average, youth had completed 9 years of schooling at the time of commitment • 27.8 % were identified as having an educational disability • 46.7% had history of mental health services • 62.5% had substance abuse histories • 55.9% came from single-parent homes (Missouri Department of Social Services, Division of Youth Services Annual Report, 2012)

10. If you had to guess… Assault Burglary Dangerous Drugs Juvenile Court Order Violation Obstruct Judicial Process Property Damage Robbery Sex Offense Status offenses Stealing

11. Top 10 committing offenses in 2012 1. Stealing 2. Obstruct Judicial Process 3. Assault 4. Property Damage 5. Burglary 6. Dangerous Drugs 7. Status Offenses 8. Juvenile Court Violation 9. Robbery 10. Sex Offenses (Missouri Department of Social Services, Division of Youth Services Annual Report, 2012)

12. So… what happens to our kids after they leave the school?

13. So… what happens to our kids after they leave the school?

14. Juvenile Court Diversion Programs • Prior to commitment to DYS • Includes: • Case management • Intensive case monitoring • Jobs programs • Day treatment • Family therapy Duration and placement depends on the severity of the offense and the needs of the child

15. Residential Placement • Group Homes • Average stay is 7 months • 10-12 beds at each facility • Located in residential neighborhoods • Least restrictive residential placement • 24-hour supervision by trained staff • Daily schedules that allow for education and treatment • Community interaction allowed through jobs and community-based projects • House children who have committed less serious crimes (e.g. property crimes) and who do not pose a serious threat to themselves or the community

16. Residential Placement • Secure Care Facilities • Serve youth who have committed serious offenses (i.e. crimes against people) • Average stay is 9 months • 6 facilities • 2 in St. Louis area - 30 beds each • 2 in Kansas City area – 30 beds each • 2 in mid-Missouri • 1 with 30 beds • Montgomery County facility has 40 beds • Youth divided into groups of 8-10 190 youth max capacity

17. Residential Placement • Secure Care Facilities • No armed guards • Facility personnel • Certified teachers • Youth specialists • YS1 • Minimum of 60 college hours, 9 of which must be in psychology, social work, or similar field • YS2 • Minimum of a bachelor’s degree • Related services professionals

18. What does a typical day look like in residential settings? • Wake around 6:30 a.m. • Groups take turns eating breakfast • School: 6 50-minute periods • Treatment groups • Every youth in every group • Dinner • Various evening activities • Lights out Everything is done in groups The groups do not see each other or interact

19. Aftercare • Planning begins at entry to DYS • Student furloughs prior to release • Service coordinators • Work with kids and families from the start • Help establish appropriate transition and aftercare services (i.e. continued treatment and therapies) • Frequent contact with student/family at first, then tapers off over several months

20. Welcome Home!

21. How can we help our kids?

23. 1. Be mindful and remember… • Behavior is a product of the environment and we influence part of that environment • Risk factors are not indictments • EVERY child (and family) is worth our best effort and consideration at all times

24. 2. Keep track of your students • Where was the child placed? • What documents/records does DYS need from us? • When is the child expected to return? • What sorts of supports will they receive while away? • Who may we contact to check on their progress? • Who at our campus will be responsible for monitoring this student?

25. 3. Reflect and revise • What does this student’s data show? Were we properly addressing support needs? • Is our school in a high commitment area?

26. 68% of youth were committed to DYS in 2012 from metropolitan areas • City of St. Louis • Counties of Boone, Howard, Callaway, Cole, Moniteau, Osage, Jasper, Newton, Bates, Caldwell, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Jackson, Lafayette, Platte, Ray, Andrew, Buchanan, DeKalb, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Louis, Warren, Washington, Christian, Dallas, Greene, Polk, and Webster. (Missouri Department of Social Services, Division of Youth Services Annual Report, 2012)

27. 3. Reflect and revise • What does this student’s data show? Were we properly addressing support needs? • Is our school in a high commitment area? • Are we viewing and addressing social/behavioral needs through a communal lens? • How did we contribute to the problem? What can we do better?

28. 4. Plan and prepare • Use information from reflection/revision • Consider establishing a DYS liaison • Work with DYS to plan for immediate reentry • What behavioral supports are immediately necessary? Tier 2 mentoring? Self-contained classroom? • What about academics? Tier 2 RtI?

29. 5. Scaffold for success • Foster meaningful relationship with student • Family communication • Healthy working relationship with DYS service coordinators, state and local agencies, detention centers, juvenile courts, etc. • Frequent data review

30. To learn more… • MO Division of Youth Services (www.dss.mo.gov/dys) • The Missouri Approach (www.missouriapproach.org) • Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Programs (www.ojjdp.gov) • Annie E. Casey Foundation (www.aecf.org) • National Technical Assistance Center (www.pbis.org)

31. Thank you! Tichelle Bruntmyer dtb8db@mail.missouri.edu