Juvenile Justice

Alex, 17 years old (DOB : September 7, 2000), has been placed in a court diversion program in March of 2018 for three months given he follow program [[rules, requirements and expectations.]] If all rules are followed, and expectations are met, the client will be [[discharged.]] If there are three violations of any rule, client will be placed back in the program for an addition three months, and potentially face more severe [[consequences.]] Alex already has one violation.

Program Expectations consist of the following: Follow court ordered curfew of 24 hours unless with approved adult (mom, dad, grandparents, aunt), at school, or at therapy. Attend all group and individual therapy unless reasonable excuse (must be able to be verified). Attend school regularly unless excused for illness, court and family emergency (must be able to be verified).

If maximum number of violations are reached, the client is more likely to enter the adult system since they are close to the legal age of 18 (judges discretion). Being in the system and having a record will have life long effects, and it will be hard to exit the system entirely. (i.e. criminal records show up on background checks for jobs, apartments, school, etc., and may effect acceptance or hiring for certain places). Beyond those repercussions, a repuational bias will be placed on you, which is life long as well and will vary in perception and severity among various individuals (i.e. thug, dangerous, etc.) [[rules, requirements and expectations.]]

If no violations or fewer than three, client will complete the program and be successfully discharged. Client benefits not only exiting the juvenile court system, but has gained life long skills and accomplishments including the following: Client attended school, did well, and is on track to graduate. Client attended therapy, they gained life skills, coping mechanisms, and possibilities to pursue in their future, as well as diverting from criminal behavior. Client's persistance in the program, shows the ability to obey and respect rules and authority which reduces the bias of a stereotype.

Program expectations consist of the following: Follow court ordered curfew of 24 hours unless with approved adult (mom, dad, grandparents, aunt), at school, or at therapy. He will also be getting two visits per day by a tracker and a curfew call. Attend all group and individual therapy unless reasonable excuse (must be able to be verified). Attend school regularly unless excused for illness, court and family emergency (must be able to be verified). [[Choices ]]

If no violations or fewer than three, client will be more likely complete the program and be successfully discharged. Client benefits not only exiting the juvenile court system, but has gained life long skills and accomplishments including the following: Client attended school, did well, and is on track to graduate. Client attended therapy, they gained life skills, coping mechanisms, and possibilities to pursue in their future, as well as diverting from criminal behavior. Client's persistance in the program, shows the ability to obey and respect rules and authority which reduces the bias of a stereotype. [[rules, requirements and expectations.]]

Alex has a 24 hr curfew unless with an approved adult, school, or therapy .A friend invited him to a party on Friday night, he really wants to go because he has been following all the rules. He thinks since it's night time, he would be able to get away with breaking this rule. Does Alex risk the violation and go to the party?

Alex decided that he would risk the violation obtaining his first violation. The program found out, and marked him unaccountable. That will be noted to the court, and though it is not automatic failure, it will contribute to his potential outcomes. What he did not know is that a group of friends were going to a concert three weeks later that conflicted with his therapy. It is his favorite rapper, and he has never seen him preform before. Again, Alex thinks he would be able to explain his way out of a violation because he is with trustworthy people and his mom said it is okay with her. Does Alex take his mother's permission and attend the concert and miss therapy? Is that a reasonable excuse.

Alex had a really good time at the concert, and was glad he went. To his luck, his mother's permission got him out of one violation because she claimed she did not completely understand the rule's of the program. Unfortunately for him, he still recieved one because they both knew that he needed to attend therapy and there were no exceptions to miss with a reasonable excuse for absense with proof. Since he luckily got out of two violations for that incident, making him only have two total, he is on his final straw, but his fate will be decided in court.

Now Alex is realizing the importance of following the rules, and is one violation away from having three total violation which would result in failure of the program. If he continues to follow the rules, he may face the possibility of being discharged and leaving this on his juvenile record.

Alex is debating if his mother's permission is a reasonable excuse for him to attend the concert. He understands why he needs to go to therapy, and wants to be in good standing when he goes to court. Should Alex take the chance of trying that excuse as a reasonable excuse or should we rely on the importance of therapy and obey instructions so he does not recieve three violations by his court date?

Ever since Alex has not recieved anymore violations because he understands the importance of the program has on his future and long-term goals. Alex has [[court]] soon, he is going in with two violations for curfew violation and skipping therapy.

Alex decides that he is going to skip his two last classes of the day. Part of the rules states that school attendance is required for program completion. Skipping any classes during the school day will result in a violation. It gets sent to the court.

Alex was required to do therapy for more than just a rule of the program, but for long-term self benefit. In therapy there is three main focuses: coping with past choices and traumas, learning about adult life and living in that role, and learn how to live a life without crime and making choices to do that.

Alex had decided to skip therapy which is essential to his treatment plan and program rules. Alex recieved a second violation. It gets sent to the court.

On Thursday after school, Alex decides to go play basketball with a group of friends. Since making this choice, Alex has accumulated a violation because he was gone during the tracker visit. Alex already understands he has a violation, but the basketball game is tied, and now he has to choose if he will stay to finish the game or [[go to therapy]]. He wants to win, but he also doesnt want to put his therapy attendance in jeopardy by [[skipping therapy]]

Alex has been following curfew. He has not been going anywhere he is not supposed to or going with anyone besides an approved adult. This is showing that he is able to follow directions and listen to authority as well as respect their rules.

It's a Thursday afternoon, Alex just got out of school for the week because there is no school Friday for staff meetings. Since there is no school, Alex is planning on going to concert tonight. He is stuck on what to do before the concert. His choices are go [[play basketball]] with his friends, go home, or hang out at school and attend after [[school tutoring]].

Alex has had good regular attendance lately. He is currently gettng good grades and is on track to graduate with a 3.0 GPA because he has attended tutoring after school. With those credentials he is on track to having options after high school including but not limited to [[getting a job]] and/or continuing his education.

Alex had decided to skip therapy which is essential to his treatment plan and program rules. He does not understand the [[importance]] therapy holds for him and his future. Alex recieved a second violation. It gets sent to the court.

Since Alex is almost 18, he has to think about what he wants to do after high school. He has the possibility of going to college, but he needs to work in the meantime. He has a couple applications to turn in to a few stores and local resturants. He was advised to turn them in before the weekend so management could review by the end of the week or beginning of next week. It is now Thursday, and Alex needs to [[turn them in]], but he is wanting to attend a concert Thursday night that will last late, so he needs to get ready and does not have time to turn in the applications. Should he turn in the applications right after tutoring or use that time to get ready for the [[concert]].

Alex decided to go to the concert. He got his [[mom's permission]] so he thought he had the okay to have freedom for the night because she knew his whereabouts and what he was doing. By the time the concert was over, it was late, and he wanted to stay at his friends house for the night because they were having such a good time. Alex knew he did not get specific permission to sleep over and knew he was risking a curfew violation, should Alex [[stay at his friends]] and explain to the program in the morning why he stayed or go home and be certain he is following [[curfew]].

It turns out even though he got his mom's permission, that is still a curfew violation because she was not with him at the concert. Luckily, the case manager of the program was understanding, and realized the misunderstanding on his mom's part. She did not give him a violation, but now that the rules of curfew are clear, there should be no other issues like this. Luckily, he dodged a bullet, and is following [[curfew]].

Alex decided to sleep over at his friends house. Even though he had fun, he recieved another [[violation]]. It will go to court.

Alex will eventually turn them in, but not before the concert. Alex still plans on getting them in before the end of the week, so he has one more day to do so. Friday He thinks the earlier he gets them in the better, but his mom does not get off of work until 3:00 pm. Should he [[go on his own]] without an approved adult to ensure he has them in at a reasonable time or should he [[wait]] for his mom to get off work so she can take him?

Alex decided to go on his own. He figured since it would only take him 30 minutes that he would have time before he missed the visit with his tracker. Unfortunately for him, as he was arriving home, his tracker was leaving, and now knows he was not home. He recieved a [[violation]].

Alex decided to wait for his mom to come home because he knew since there was no school, his tracker would be by today and did not want to risk missing that visit and obtaining another violation. It will be noted that he is actively looking for employment and considered in [[court]].

Alex has recieved three violations and his [[court]] date is quickly approaching.

The judge decided Alex's violation were not too bad. He considered that he was either doing productive things, or activities to keep him out of trouble. If he messes this up, then he will be sent to juvenile detention until he is 18 and then possibly transferred to jail. This is the best outcome for Alex because he will have a few extra months to learn and benefit from the resources the program provides him, so when he is 18, he will be able to utilize them and live a life without any legal interventions.

Alex has been ordered to reside in juvenile detention for a few months until he is 18. This was decided because Alex was not following the rules and the judge felt this behavior would only get worse with time. This is the worst case senario because now Alex will learn other criminal behavior, and potentially use it after he is 18. If that happens, he will be in the adult system, and that is hard to get out of. It starts a cycle of continued crime, and hardships including in employment, schooling, living accomodations, ect.

Alex now has court and he went in with violations obtained throughout the course of the program. What do you think the judge should do? The judge has three choices: to [[dismiss]] him from the program, [[continue the program]] until his 18th birthday, or send him to [[juvenile detention]].

The judge decided that Alex has demonstated positive behavior during the program and feels he has benefitted from it as well. Alex is now under no rules of the court or this program.

Alex has been doing well in therapy, and has gained a lot from it that will benefit him in the long run, but he still does have two violations that the judge will consider. [[court]]