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MAYOR’S YOUTH SERVICES BUREAU A POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE The Juvenile Review Board (JRB) was brought to Stamford in October of 2005 as a partnership between the Mayor’s Youth Services Bureau, the Stamford Police Department and Domus. The JRB is a diversion program designed to keep first time juvenile offenders who have committed a minor criminal violation out of juvenile court. When a youth is arrested, the Police Department’s Youth Division co-reviews the police report along with the Supervisor of Juvenile Probation to determine whether or not the youth is eligible for the JRB. To be eligible, the young person must be fifteen or younger, have no prior record, and admit guilt. Once the police report is reviewed and deemed eligible it is given to the Director of the JRB. The Director then meets with the family at Court on the date indicated on the youth’s summons. The Director meets with the family and offers the option of going through the JRB. The family must commit to participate throughout the process. If they do, an intake is conducted at that time. The intake is necessary to collect background information and allows the youth to explain who they really are. Once all of that information is collected and the consent forms are signed, the family meets with the Board. The Board is made up of many different community members, most of whom are working in youth service agencies. Stamford’s Board is made up of members representing DCF, the Board of Education, Family Centers, Child Guidance, Youth Options, Domus and Juvenile Probation. | Our Board also includes an attorney, an EMT, a college student and a youth who has successfully completed the JRB. Most of our Board members have been volunteering together for the past two years. This Board is extremely dedicated to offering meaningful alternatives to court. On the date of the meeting the family is asked to come to the Police Department to meet with the Board. Chief Larrabee meets with the families first and facilitates the meetings. The Board usually begins by asking what happened to lead to the arrest. The Board asks many other questions, such as: “How are you doing at home?” or “How did this arrest affect you and your family?” Once the Board feels like they have enough information they then deliberate. If the Board does not feel that the case is appropriate for the JRB they refer the family back to Juvenile Court. Often times this will only happen when a youth no longer admits guilt. If the Board feels that the case is appropriate one of two things happens. The Board asks the family to leave the room while they decide what to put on the youth’s contract, or they ask the family to stay and join in the discussion. The contract is often based on a balanced and restorative justice approach that balances the needs of the offender, the victim and the community. The contract is designed to make up for the crime committed as well as putting services in place that will have a positive, hopefully long lasting effect on the youth. Some of the diversions in contracts include restitution, community service, a letter of apology, an essay, getting involved in a positive activity, meeting with a mentor or tutor and attending therapy if necessary. Once the contract is written and the family agrees to it the youth has three months to complete everything in the contract. The youth is given a case manager who will work with them for those three months to ensure a successful completion of the program. If the youth is not successful (for example has not done their community service hours) they are referred back to Juvenile Court. When the youth is successful they will have no juvenile record. The JRB is a wonderful opportunity for youth who just had a bad day or just made a bad choice to avoid the harsher environment of juvenile justice. Families have responded very well and have expressed relief and gratitude that a program such as this exists.
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