JUVENILE PROBATION AND COURT SERVICES DEPARTMENT-Mission Statement

JUVENILE PROBATION AND COURT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Mission Statement

The mission of the Juvenile Probation and Court Services Department is to serve the welfare of children and their families within a sound framework of public safety. The Department is committed to providing the guidance, structure and services needed by every child under its supervision. In partnership with the community, the Juvenile Probation and Court Services Department promotes the healing and recovery of neglected children and directs delinquent children toward reforming their behavior and making responsible decisions according to the principles of Balanced and Restorative Justice.

The Juvenile Probation and Court Services Department operates under the following objectives:

to pursue a treatment/rehabilitation philosophy that dictates each minor be assessed individually and receive services tailored to meet that minor's needs.
to provide its services on an outreach basis, sending probation officers into the community to offer assistance and supervision in minors' homes, schools and neighborhoods.
to establish strong working relationships between probation officers and minors
to make their court involvement an opportunity for change and growth.
to respond effectively to the increasingly complex needs of children, encouraging the involvement of parents and enlisting the support of the community.
to assist the court in developing interventions that serve the needs of the minor and facilitate the restoration of the victim and the community.
to employ a flexible supervision approach by assessing the needs of the minor versus the public safety risk factors. This approach ranges from bi-monthly supervision to intensive daily monitoring of children restricted to home confinement.
to strengthen family ties whenever possible. However, probation officers will recommend the court remove children from their homes if their safety or the security of the public is jeopardized by their continued presence.
to instill in all children a sense of responsibility for their actions and a belief in their own innate value and potential through a combination of individualized attention and community networking.

In order to meet these objectives, the Juvenile Probation and Court Services Department has developed innovative programs and initiatives, many receiving national recognition. In 1999 the Department provided services to 8,000 court wards.