Introduction

The Sarpy County Juvenile Intake Program is a pre-trial diversion program for minors, conducted through the Sarpy County Attorney's Office. Instead of filing criminal charges in one of the court systems in Sarpy County, the Juvenile Intake Program offers youth the opportunity to participate in community-based programs as an alternative to court process. Since the program's inception in 1979, over 5,500 families have participated in the program.

Intake Criteria

The County Attorney's Office considers a number of issues before referring minors to the Juvenile Intake Program. These include:
 · Type of offense,
 · Circumstances surrounding the offense, and
 · Facts substantiating proof of the alleged offense.
These issues also apply to the Intake Office's decision to accept a referral.

If the child requires more intervention than the Intake Office can provide, the Juvenile Intake Office can request that the County Attorney file a Juvenile Petition.

Intake Interview

Once the incident or allegation reaches the Juvenile Intake Office, a letter is sent to the minor and parents offering them the opportunity to participate in the program. An intake interview is conducted with the minor and parents who respond. At each interview, the Intake Officer presents the option of pursuing the program or having the case returned to the County Attorney's Office for processing through the traditional court system.

The interview includes a written questionnaire that the minor completes regarding home, school, work, self-esteem, and chemical usage. While the child completes that questionnaire, the parents are asked similar questions in relation to the child, their relationships with the children, and any other issues which arise that are important to obtaining an accurate picture of the family situation. The intake interview will usually take about 1½ to 2 hours.

The Program Itself

After the interview is completed and the Intake Officer has evaluated the minor and the home situation, a variety of community services can be used to address the problems revealed.

Services Provided

Alcohol-related offenses may be dealt with by involvement in alcohol-related programs, such as: an alcohol education program, Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Ala-Teen, private and community agencies, and local treatment centers.

Incidents of vandalism may involve apologies, restitution, community service work, and jail tours.

Shoplifting cases may involve theft programs, community service projects, family and individual counseling, and jail tours.

Completion of Program Requirements

Once an agreement about the program requirements have been reached, the minor and parents sign a contract outlining the diversion agreement.

A youngster meets with the Juvenile Intake Officer at least monthly to report on problems or accomplishments. Involvement with the office usually lasts ninety days, although some cases may be extended for six months up to a maximum of twelve months.

When the minor completes the requirements, the charges are not filed in court and the matter is closed. Thus, the child has no adjudication record.

However, if the minor fails to complete the diversion agreement or has another contact with law enforcement officials, his/her case is referred back to the County Attorney for prosecution. Completion of all requirements is essential if the program is to be successful.

Funding

The program is partially self-supporting. Youth who participate are required to pay a fee. (Payment is not the determining factor for acceptance in the program; payment schedules, waivers, and other forms of payment can be arranged if the child is unable to afford the fee.) Minors are also responsible for payment for most of the program requirements. This is important not only from the taxpayer's perspective, but because the responsibility for payment is the minor's and not the parents'.

Tax Savings

The Juvenile Intake Program saves tax dollars by handling cases not requiring court involvement. This saves the costs of an additional judge, prosecutor, probation officers, and clerical staff. This provides the court with additional time to address other serious juvenile matters.

Positive Results

The community, schools, law enforcement, and the Juvenile Court system have readily accepted the Juvenile Intake Program as an effective and efficient response for many youth who have been in contact with the law.