JUVENILE JUSTICE

FEBRUARY 14, 2000

I’VE BEEN TALKING TO YOU ABOUT HOW MARION COUNTY CAN CHANGE THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS. MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND I HAVE JUST UNVEILED OUR VISION, PHILOSPHY AND MISSION FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE IN MARION COUNTY. THIS PLAN DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND A NEW STYLE OF MANAGEMENT IN MARION COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

IN DOING ANYTHING, THERE MUST BE A CLEAR MISSION, A PURPOSE IN DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

WE HAVE WRESTLED WITH WHAT MARION COUNTY’S ROLE IS IN RESPONDING TO JUVENILES WHO BREAK THE LAW, AND THOSE JUVENILES WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED TO BE AT RISK TO THE COMMUNITY AND/OR TO THEMSELVES.

THE NUMBER OF YOUTHS WHO ARE TROUBLED, AND THE SERIOUSNESS OF JUVENILE DELINGQUENCY CONTINUES TO RISE. YOUNG PEOPLE COMMIT MORE CRIMES AND MORE SERIOUS CRIMES.

WE KNOW, AND MOST AGREE, THAT MARION COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE TO PROVIDE SANCTIONS WHEN JUVENILES OFFEND THE LAW. BUT WHAT IS THE ROLE WE CAN AND SHOULD HAVE TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE IN ORDER ADDRESS THESE YOUTHS?

LAST JANUARY WHEN DISCUSSIONS I WAS INVOLVED IN

BEGAN, THERE WERE THOSE WHO WERE ANXIOUS TO BUILD A BUILDING. JUST BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME! AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION, I FINALLY SAID, “I’M NOT INTERESTED IN BUILDING A BUILDING UNTIL WE HAVE AGREEMENT AS TO WHY WE SHOULD BUILD A BUILDING AND WHAT THAT BUILDING SHOULD BE.” I BELIEVED THEN, AS I DO NOW, THAT WHEN WE’VE IDENTIFIED WHAT OUR MISSION IS, WHAT ARE EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS, AND WHAT OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE, THEN WE WILL KNOW WHAT FACILITY WE NEED TO HOUSE SUCH A PROGRAM.

AS A RESULT, WE HAVE HAD VERY CANDID, STRAIGHT FORWARD CONVERSATIONS. WE HAVE ANALYZED A LOT OF INFORMATION, BACKGROUND MATERIALS, AND WE HAVE LISTENED TO OUR JUVENILE DIRECTOR AS WELL AS MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE CRITICALLY EVALUATED OUR ROLE IN PREVENTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. WE HAVE DETERMINED IT MUST CHANGE IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR YOUTH AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE HAVE COME TO CONSENSUS. WE HAVE AGREED TO STAND BY EACH OTHER TO MAKE THIS VISION, THIS RE-CREATION, THIS RE-DESIGN OF OUR MARION COUNTY JUVENILE SYSTEM A REALITY.

FIRST, OUR MISSIONN IS: TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY.

OUR VISION, THE WAY WE SEE PUBLIC SAFETY, INCLUDES RECOGNIZING THAT:

*Crime is a violation of people and the relationships in our community.

*We hold offenders responsible to repair the damage they have done.

*All members of the community are partners in this effort. They include faith,

business, not-for-profits, agencies, individuals, county departments, neighbor-

hoods and community associations, schools…

*Within the continuum of accountability and sanctions, we will include the

community, the victim and the offender when possible and appropriate.

*We believe prevention is the most cost-effective solution to juvenile crime.

*We will support early, effective interventions with juvenile offenders to reduce

the likelihood of more serious problems later on.

*Ultimately, the best system of juvenile justice is one that is both proven to be

effective and tailored to the unique culture and circumstances of Marion County.

TO ACHIEVE THIS VISION AND CARRY OUT OUR MISSION, WE WILL DESIGN A MORE EFFECTIVE SYSTEM THAT WILL:

*Examine the entire system, without constraints, leaving no part sacrosanct.

*Incorporate only those elements that are shown to be effective, based on

research and best practice.

*Involve our entire community in the design and implementation of the over-

all juvenile justice system.

*Be clear and specific about roles and responsibilities.

*Ensure quick and sure sanctions that support accountability and rehabili-

tation.

*Have a secure facility to detain juveniles when doing so is necessary to

protect the community.

WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY AND, WHAT WE’VE DONE, THE PROCESS WE’VE FOLLOWED, MAY EVEN BE UNPRECEDENTED. BUT, THIS WILL ONLY HAPPEN IF, TOGETHER WE SUPPORT THIS PLAN. I AM COMMITTED TO THIS PLAN. I HAVE CHALLENGED MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND OUR JUVENILE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR TO MAKE IT WORK. FURTHERMORE, WE, THE BOARD, MUST TAKE OUR ROLE SERIOUSLY, AND WE MUST SUPPORT THE JUVENILE DEPARTMENT IN ITS ROLE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE TOUGH. WHAT WE HAVE DONE WAS TOUGH. AND WHAT LIES AHEAD OF US WILL BE TOUGH. THERE ARE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AHEAD OF US. THERE ARE DIFFICULT CHOICES THAT WILL AFFECT THE REST OF MARION COUNTY’S PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THESE ARE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND WE MUST STAND TOGETHER IN THIS OR WE WILL FAIL.

HOWEVER, I AM CONFIDENT WE CAN ACHIEVE OUR GOAL, WE CAN REALIZE OUR VISION AND WE CAN CARRY OUT OUR MISSION. BUT, ONLY IF WE STAND TOGETHER AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN THESE DIFFICULT CHOICES THAT LIE AHEAD OF US.

MOREOVER, WE MUST HOLD ALL, EACH AND EVERY ONE ACCOUNTABLE – JUVENILE, THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES, THE NON PROFITS, OTHER AGENCIES, ALL WHO WILL BE INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT, ALL MUST BE ACCOUNTABLE – OR WE WILL ALL FALL SHORT OF OUR GOALS.

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