Incarcerated Juveniles
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
My husband and I are Chaplains at a Minimum Security Juvenile Prison. We have been volunteering for nine years at this facility. We have forty eight boys, sometimes fifty two boys ranging from age thirteen to eighteen years of age who have been classified as general offenders and will serve a minimum length of stay for nine months for the crimes they have committed. Most of them will serve at least fifteen months before they are released.
Most of these boys have been involved in drugs, they were neglected and undisciplined. Before I became involved, I had no idea what goes on in the lives of juvenile offenders. Most have raised themselves, they crave attention, someone to give them hope, to show them there is a better way.
Upon arrival at our facility each juvenile is assigned a caseworker and parole officer. The caseworker will develop a Resocialization plan or ICP (Individual Case Plan), which is mailed out monthly to the youth's parents. The ICP consists of three main areas, they are known as the ABC's of Resocialization, A stands for Academic/Workforce Development, B stands for Behavior, and C for Correctional Therapy. No youth is allowed to just do time, they are required to attend school, attend behavior groups and core groups.
The boys must earn privledges by working through a Phase system. When they reach Phase four they are almost home. Before they are released, they go home for the weekend and set up their parole, community service, etc. They must return to the facility, it will then be about a month before they are released. Some of these juveniles will not want to return home and will asked to be placed in a trade center program, halfway house or mentor program.
I can say it is rewarding as well as trying at times to work with these kids. I have seen several who have moved away from home and changed their lives. They have jobs, cars and are living on their own in apartments. There is a great need for volunteers in these facilities. We have to try to make a difference and in doing so we will not only help to save their lives, but maybe someone else's as well. One less drug pusher on the street will be one less person who might sell drugs to one of my kids, or to one of yours!
Most of these boys have been involved in drugs, they were neglected and undisciplined. Before I became involved, I had no idea what goes on in the lives of juvenile offenders. Most have raised themselves, they crave attention, someone to give them hope, to show them there is a better way.
Upon arrival at our facility each juvenile is assigned a caseworker and parole officer. The caseworker will develop a Resocialization plan or ICP (Individual Case Plan), which is mailed out monthly to the youth's parents. The ICP consists of three main areas, they are known as the ABC's of Resocialization, A stands for Academic/Workforce Development, B stands for Behavior, and C for Correctional Therapy. No youth is allowed to just do time, they are required to attend school, attend behavior groups and core groups.
The boys must earn privledges by working through a Phase system. When they reach Phase four they are almost home. Before they are released, they go home for the weekend and set up their parole, community service, etc. They must return to the facility, it will then be about a month before they are released. Some of these juveniles will not want to return home and will asked to be placed in a trade center program, halfway house or mentor program.
I can say it is rewarding as well as trying at times to work with these kids. I have seen several who have moved away from home and changed their lives. They have jobs, cars and are living on their own in apartments. There is a great need for volunteers in these facilities. We have to try to make a difference and in doing so we will not only help to save their lives, but maybe someone else's as well. One less drug pusher on the street will be one less person who might sell drugs to one of my kids, or to one of yours!
posted by Live, Love, Laugh | 3:04 AM
12 Comments:
This is surely noble work; and , yes, it can be very emotionally draining - kudos.
A good friend of mine adopted 9 boys, multi-racial, all orphaned and all sexually abused - some in the orphanages. Don't think her house wasn't a circus. I can't tell how much I admire those folks.
Thank you for the work you do!
Wow, how truly awesome is it to have that experience. My goal once I get my nursing degree is to work in some type of Woman's health area that works on Women being healthy inside and out via Nutrition, education on health issues, and also combat domestic abuse, rape, etc.
Yours is kinda similar, but for a specific genre in kids. Keep up the great work!
Mom, no one has ever offered to sell me drugs! But maybe someone will offer your grandkids drugs and so we all get the message.
Love you!
I agree with Mike - this is noble work! Kudos to you!
What a wonderful thing, to be used to turn others lives around! Thanks for the information on this topic.
Eddo are you sure about that? lol. You can get quite out of control at times ;)
It must be a wonderful feeling to have a job that really makes a positive difference in someone else's life. You are fortunate and blessed.
What a blessing you and your husband are to those boys.
Kudos to you and God Bless you!
Your post here reminds me of my grandfather. Every Tuesady and thursday night he travels to a mail adult jail and leads a bible story. He says many times they come just to get out of the cel for awhile but then after time goes by many find Christ and live for those 2 days out of the week. Mnay can not read so bible studies on their own are hard. So they formed a buddy system.
I am babbling. I just wanted to say what ya do is great and from hearing stories from my grandfather its a job thats much needed.
I was a Youth Director most of my adult life, but I never worked with youth in that kind of setting. God bless your work. Few of us could do it.
Dana, you are amazing.
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