Task force outlines plan for transforming juvenile justice
12/4/09 | 13 comments

Task force outlines plan for transforming juvenile justice


By Judy Harrison
BDN Staff
Saufley

Increasing the state’s high school graduation rate will decrease the number of Maine’s children in the criminal justice system, and offering more alternatives to incarceration will give juveniles in that system a better chance of staying out of prison and succeeding as adults, Maine Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley said Thursday.

“Maine cannot afford to lose one more of its young people to prison and jails, to homelessness, to hopelessness,” Saufley said at a press conference in her office in Portland. “Maine’s response to juveniles in our communities is in urgent need of improvement.”

Saufley, along with Peter Pitegoff, dean of the University of Maine School of Law in Portland, announced the recommendations of a 70-member task force that has spent the past eight months strategizing on improving the options for at-risk youth. The results will be discussed in detail today at a forum called “Maine Rising: An Innovative Approach to Transforming Juvenile Justice” at the Augusta Civic Center.

“We are suggesting upstream solutions to downstream problems,” Pitegoff said.

The law school recently created a juvenile justice program, which includes clinical work with young people facing legal issues, the dean said.

The Juvenile Justice Task Force, which is making the recommendations and sponsoring the summit, is described as a collaboration of the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet, the Muskie School of Public Service, the law school in Portland and the judicial branch.

Of the task force’s nine recommendations, the chief justice Thursday singled out three as most important:

• Raising the high school graduation rate — which was 83.5 percent in 2008, according to Maine Department of Education figures — to 90 percent by 2016.

• Reducing incarceration and pre-adjudication detention rates by 20 percent in the next three years.

• Detailing a statewide system by September 2010 for in-home and out-of-home services and placements for youth in the juvenile justice system.

The task force also calls for creation of a statewide Coordinated Services District System to implement its recommendations. It most likely would be set up to coincide with the state’s eight prosecutorial districts.

“The future for disconnected youth, those who have dropped out of school, those who have lost connections with family and communities, is bleak,” Saufley said. “The Juvenile Justice Task Force envisions systemwide reform that will dramatically improve the future for Maine’s youth, prevent and remedy disconnections, and assure that they are welcomed in school and graduate to full lives.”

Maine would not be reinventing the wheel, she said. Innovative and cost-effective programs have been successful in other states and will be discussed at the forum.

Presenters lined up for today’s program include experts from Washington state, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts and Canada. They will conduct workshops on a variety of topics, including dropout prevention, alternatives to detention, implementing community-based solutions and a cost-benefit analysis of programs for juvenile offenders.

The topics to be outlined at today’s forum appear to be similar to those discussed at a national meeting on juvenile justice in April 2008 in Washington, D.C. Paul Lawrence, a District Court judge from Goffstown, N.H., and a member of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, which sponsored that national session, will be the keynote speaker today.

The topic of his speech was not included in information about the meeting, but Lawrence has testified before a U.S. House subcommittee about the subject. In July 2007, he spoke in support of funding through the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act for programs that offer judges alternatives to detention.

“Nationwide, the youth confined in pretrial-pre-adjudicative detention include an alarmingly high census of fragile youth with serious emotional, behavioral and substance abuse issues, and youth of color,” he said, citing a 2003 Coalition for Juvenile Justice study. “The number of youth who reside in detention centers [in the U.S.] on an average day is estimated to be more than 27,000, and has grown 72 percent since the early 1990s — despite declines in juvenile offending. It is estimated that as many as 600,000 children and teens cycle through secure detention each year.”

Saufley did not offer any statistics Thursday for Maine. She said that the court system is working with the Department of Corrections, which is in charge of the Mountain View Youth Development Center in Charleston and the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland, to obtain accurate data on the increase in pretrial and adjudicative detention as well as the number of juveniles who go on to commit crimes as adults in Maine.

“We do know that pretrial detention rates have increased over the past several years, because the number of available beds for alternatives in group homes or other settings has gotten smaller,” the chief justice said.

Saufley did not put a price tag on implementation of the recommendations, but stressed that some would be “inexpensive” and others could be implemented as the economy improves over the next two years.

“The human cost of not responding to the needs of Maine’s children today will be huge tomorrow,” she said.

The task force will remain in effect through this coming legislative session, according to Michael Brennan of the Muskie School. The goals and their implementation would be tracked for the next three years, he said.

jharrison@bangordailynews.net

990-8207

···

Goals set to change juvenile justice

• Establish by 2010 a statewide goal of 90 percent high school graduation rate by 2016.

• Reduce reliance on incarceration and pre-adjudication detention by 20 percent in the next three years.

• By 2011, implement uniform statewide suspension, expulsion, zero tolerance and truancy policies.

• By 2010, ensure that all children and youth in Maine have access to quality early childhood education and proven prevention and positive youth development strategies.

• Work with the Department of Education in 2010 to formulate a plan that will create multiple pathways for education for children and youth.

• Adopt and implement a quality assurance system, an accreditation system, or set of standards that ensure quality programs and expedient, effective case management for all detention alternatives, community-based programs and court proceedings.

• By September 2010, detail a statewide system for in-home and out-of-home services and placements for youth in the juvenile justice system that ensures high-quality programming that is sufficient and accessible.

• By September 2010, develop an ongoing mechanism for providing flexible funding for youth who are served by multiple state agencies, using resources from the public, private and nonprofit sectors. This plan also will include funding options for in-home and out-of-home services and placements for youth in the juvenile justice system.

• By September 2010, in conjunction with the Children’s Cabinet and appropriate state agencies, a Statewide Coordinated Services District System will be implemented for the purpose of promoting integrated services and strategies across eight districts in Maine related to health, education, juvenile justice and economic security-employment.

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Comments
13 comments on this item
On 12/4/09 at 5:18 AM, freedomfighter wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I still say there has to be a way to recognize this behavior pattern in middle school and these at risk kids need some kind of extra attention or intervention before they get in trouble with the law or drop out of school. There should be some kind of classes in life choices that teach kids that their decisions early in life can lead to either prosperity or poverty.

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On 12/4/09 at 8:06 AM, ElectraGlide wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

For Me; Our Kids are a Reflection of Our Society

Nothing Less Nothing More

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On 12/4/09 at 10:21 AM, HarryHSnyderIII wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Maine has "reformed" the juvenile justice system under

John Reed

Ken Curtis

Jim Longley

Joe Brennan

John McKernan

Angus King

Now John Baldacci will have his turn. I would love to believe that things will change for Maine's incarcerated children, but I'm getting very old waiting for this to happen.

So, I'm sure you will forgive me if I hold my cheering till after the "results" "Talk" doesn't do it for me anymore.

According to everyone who knows, the system ia worse for incarcerated children now than when John Reed was governor.

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On 12/4/09 at 11:48 AM, Sadmama wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

How about incarcerating the parents for smoking pot and shooting up with their kid? Anyone ever heard of responsible parenting? I guess that would be an unattainable goal in our world as it is now. Everything is acceptable!!

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On 12/4/09 at 2:35 PM, I_work_thank_me wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I agree that at risk youth should be identified in the school system starting from early grades. I would not support my child who knows the difference between right and wrong having to take time out of their school to learn how to act. I also agree that we need to hold the parents responsible as well. Smoking marijuana at the kitchen table is not okay......Hope the group can come up with some good ideas that will make a difference. I also think that sometimes putting adolescents in a detention center is the best option as it keeps the communities safe!!!!

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On 12/4/09 at 6:04 PM, HarryHSnyderIII wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I_work_thank_me wrote: " I also think that sometimes putting adolescents in a detention center is the best option as it keeps the communities safe!!!!"

No, study after study has shown that children just get worse in detention, reform schools, or jail, and that 65% of them return to our streets to commit more serious crime. One of the best examples of this is Charles Manson who was raped in an Indiana Reform school when he was 7.

In the early 1970's Massachusetts closed all their reform schools, and cut the crime rate by 33% for the next decade. BUT juvenile crime is a profitable business for "vendors", so detention centers are back in the bay state, and the crime rate is increasing.

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On 12/4/09 at 7:11 PM, ElectraGlide wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

HarryHSnyder111~~Are you still working with kids at your home

I have been running the idea thru my head

now that I am retired

I go back and forth / It is a lot of commitment

After just becoming Free At Last

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On 12/4/09 at 8:39 PM, Sadmama wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Whoa ElectraGlide! You have more courage than I! I'm sure that if I were working with out-of-control teens that, about the time they told me to f-- off, they would pick themselves up bruised and bleeding and I would be in the slammer! I raised my own with certain immovable boundaries. Some things were negotiable and some were not. They all are now self-supporting, self respecting, useful members of society. I thank the Good Lord for that! It could have gone either way. You just cannot be sure how kids will turn out, even with hard-working, good parents.

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On 12/4/09 at 10:48 PM, CallmeJoe wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Maine has "reformed" the juvenile justice system under

John Reed

Ken Curtis

Jim Longley

Joe Brennan

John McKernan

Angus King

Now John Baldacci

With a task force from States like Maryland

Md.'s juvenile justice system replicating a failure?

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/2009/12/upcoming_editorial_is_mds_juve.html

More Maryland State Heads With Troubled Pasts

New Details On Report Allege Child Abuse By Head Of Victor Cullen Academy

http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=14940

Juvenile Escapees: 50 policemen, and 5 k-9 units called

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=93505

Suspect in girl's shooting was monitored

Teen was ordered to wear it before girl's shooting

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-md.ci.girl07jul07,0,2641304.story

New York - read the comments sections

Task Force On Juvenile Justice Reform Seeks Answers From OCFS

http://www.newsli.com/2009/11/19/task-force-on-juvenile-justice-reform-seeks-answers-from-ocfs/

Restraints, injuries highest at Tryon

http://www.leaderherald.com/page/content.detail/id/507510.html?showlayout=0

Killing illuminates safety at troubled teen homes

http://www.poststar.com/articles/2009/06/20/news/local/doc4a3c1e2801784995768116.txt

NY Group Home Riot

http://www.post-journal.com/page/content.detail/id/532162.html?nav=5018

NY Tryon aide who was attacked dies

http://www.leaderherald.com/page/content.detail/id/505164.html?nav=5011

See also ACLU/HRW Report 2006; Tompkins Co. DA's Report 2006, DOJ's Report 2009

Pennsylvania

Shuman workers hurt breaking up fight

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08291/920742-100.stm

Delco cop rips juvie laws as 'wolf packs' run amok

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/52410972.html?cmpid=15585797

PA is drugging children and youths in state custody

http://psychrights.org/Articles/EPringlezyprexa-medical-costs3-9-07.html

In the summer of 2002, psychiatrist, Dr Kruszewski, was employed with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, and charged with reviewing psychiatric care provided by state-funded agencies to identify waste, fraud, and abuse. He was also responsible for reviewing the deaths of individuals in state care who died under suspicious circumstances in facilities inside and outside of Pennsylvania.

Early in his investigation, Dr Kruszewski noticed that almost all of the patients under state care were on drug cocktails consisting of antipsychotics, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants. The populations he found drugged most often, he said, were children in state care, the disabled, people in state prisons, and children in the juvenile justice system.

The above are just a few examples.

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On 12/4/09 at 10:51 PM, CallmeJoe wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

With task forces and experts from PA, NY and MD -- how can Maine go wrong?

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On 12/4/09 at 11:57 PM, CallmeJoe wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Almost forgot, -- The corrupt PA judges - now charged with incarcerating kids for kickbacks

Pennsylvania rocked by 'jailing kids for cash' scandal

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/02/23/pennsylvania.corrupt.judges/

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On 12/5/09 at 4:12 PM, Gopher wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

On 12/4/09 at 5:18 AM, freedomfighter wrote: Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I still say there has to be a way to recognize this behavior pattern in middle school and these at risk kids need some kind of extra attention or intervention before they get in trouble with the law or drop out of school. There should be some kind of classes in life choices that teach kids that their decisions early in life can lead to either prosperity or poverty.

Right on, freedom fighter. Often, the problems of the students might be amplified by learning disabilities so we need better (and early) intervention in that area, not less. For more on that, see posts on the special ed topic in today's paper. Rememeber, these interventions often involve individual approaches to education (we're individuals, after all) and they will increase costs over same old/same old. I think it's easy to see that costs are investments rather than unrewarded costs and that "we can pay now or pay (more) later".

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On 12/14/09 at 11:58 PM, CallmeJoe wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

While Maine is getting all the tips from NY, PA and MD. Let me tell you how it works in these states.

Make no mistake, Juvenile Justice system and Child Care/Welfare System is a business for the state. The state is basically using children as commodities to launder money. It doesn't matter if the youth are in Juv. Justice or community programs.

There are many blogs that do not like the privatization of corrections or welfare industries or correctional facilities that operate for profit. However, any corruption in the for-profits is nothing compared to State owned and State non-profits who have been llining their pockets on the backs and at the expense of children and the most vulnerable populations for decades.

In Juvenile, Foster, Residential and MH facilities all over the country, residents are being over prescribed 6 psychotropics at one time. Then look at their findings that often the meds were not administered.

US Kids Represent Psychiatric Drug Goldmine

http://www.truthout.org/1213091

Poor Children Likelier to Get Antipsychotics

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/12/health/12medicaid.html?_r=2&pagewanted=2&th&emc=th

This is no accident, the States intentionally bill Medicaid for multiple prescriptions and only fill one or two of them. The State has a financial interest in developing a case management plan filled with special needs and medications. The State can get as much as 7x the per diem rate for a-special needs child. NYS classifies the youth as special needs, puts down all sorts of medications and services that the youth needs, and doesn't supply even 1/2 of what it says it's supplying. The State then bills Medicaid, and pockets the excess.

Want to fix the system? Save a child?

Stop Medicaid, Social Services, and Title IV-E fraud!

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