The County Commissioners listed construction of a juvenile detention center as a top priority in 2004 and progress is being made; an architect has been hired and proposed sites are being examined. Before any final decisions are made, the League of Women Voters of Greater Lafayette asks the Commissioners and the community as a whole to consider what outcomes are desired for the juvenile center. A juvenile center is as good as its programs. Space allocation can dictate programming, but space alone does not ensure good programming nor ensure success with juveniles.

Across the country other municipalities large and small are addressing the needs of children in the juvenile justice system. Primary goals identified for a successful juvenile justice program include; community safety, rehabilitation, reducing recidivism, strengthening families, and helping children develop in safe and nurturing environments. How can our community reach these goals while efficiently using the limited resources available? As a start, all juvenile justice agencies must work to reach consensus about the purpose of secure detention and to eliminate its inappropriate or unnecessary use, those working with juveniles must find ways to reduce the number of alleged delinquents who fail to appear in court or who re-offend, and responsible alternatives to secure confinement must be explored and developed.

The League supports the creation of a center where juveniles can be taken within minutes of being apprehended and where they can immediately be assessed with objective/standardized admission policies. Such a facility would be beneficial to juveniles, their families, and law enforcement. It would enable each child to have his or her case handled in an efficient and timely manner.

When planning our county juvenile center the broader issues of rehabilitation and treatment of juveniles should be considered. As Judge Rush has reported, a high percent of the children she sees have mental health issues that are not being addressed, a rapidly growing number of children are substance abusers, and many of these youth have parents who use drugs. It is in the community's interest to ensure that children's developmental and mental health needs are met and that treatment for drug abuse is readily available. The most effective practices to cure these issues include intensive family, individual and group therapies and life skills education.

Often the most efficient and successful juvenile programs have a small secure detention facility and offer a range of supervision options for youth, from secure custody for youth who are dangerous to themselves or to others, to less restrictive options for those who pose little risk of re-offending or flight. These options include:

• home confinement with frequent unannounced visits by probation officers or surrogates from non-profit agencies
• electronic monitoring
• day/evening reporting centers that provide intensive oversight and structured activities
• supervised community service
• alternative education sites
• intensive home wrap-around services

Many of these services need to be offered 24 hours a day, seven days a week; they are labor intensive and costly. However currently out-of-county placement ranges from $125 -$500 per day! Offering services locally can reduce some costs, and there are significant advantages for the continued close involvement of the court, probation department, lawyers and families with the juvenile offenders. Our community has made significant strides with collaboration among agencies, such as for teen drug court, but more collaboration is needed for other services. For instance, due to funding, only half of the children who are eligible for alternative educational services are receiving them.

The complexities of rehabilitating and nurturing youth in the juvenile justice system require more than a building. It calls for a comprehensive plan of action, cooperation and collaboration between governmental bodies, social service agencies, medical professionals and educators, and willingness on the part of community members to be alert to children's needs and to befriend vulnerable children and families.