The JCWP serves youth between the ages of 12-19. This program provides the opportunity for youthful offenders to learn accountability for their behavior and responsibility to the victims and community, while also learning positive work values and habits. The JCWP facilitates work groups six days a week, providing day, evening, and weekend opportunities. There are five program components: Diversion, Community Service, Restitution, Suspension Alternative Program (SAP), and Helping Adolescents Achieve Long Term Objectives (HAALO).

The Diversion component involves non-adjudicated (unofficial) offenders. Youth are directed by Intervention Center and Diversion staff to complete eight to 24 hours of community service or hours to satisfy restitution order(s) in lieu of more severe, official consequences. Program staff and parents develop a supervision plan to complete assigned hours. Successful and timely completion of the assigned community service hours, in addition to other orders, results in the youth’s offense being closed unofficially with no further Court intervention. Thus, the Diversion component serves as an effective means of preventing youth from further involvement with the juvenile justice system.

The Community Service component serves youth adjudicated on official delinquent and/or unruly charges. Judges and Magistrates order a youth to complete eight to 24 hours of community service as a sanction.

The Restitution component provides youth with the opportunity to repay their victim(s) for damages or losses sustained as a result of a youth’s actions. This component empowers youth who cannot afford to pay the restitution to complete community service hours and receive credit at a set hourly rate. Youth are assigned to work details and are ordered to pay up to $500.00 per offense. The JCWP will repay the victim(s) based on the number of hours completed by the youth.

The Suspension Alternative Program (SAP) is an option for Probation Officers to refer either suspended or expelled youth to complete community service hours until the youth returns to school. The maximum allowable time for each occurrence is 80 hours.

The Helping Adolescents Achieve Long-Term Objectives (HAALO) Program is at art program which is a partnership between Montgomery County Juvenile Court and K12/TEJAS Gallery. It is an art group that strives to inspire all the youth involved by giving them a chance to nurture their creative skills. The group will focus on developing the youth’s strengths while also instilling a sense of responsibility for one’s community. Referrals to the program are made by Court personnel.

Supervisor

Jason Carson
937.496.7815
jcarson@mcjcohio.org