Probation department promotes sense of community with new
programs
The local probation department has made some impressive strides
toward improving the success rate of criminal offenders and getting
parents more involved in the lives of juveniles who have broken the
law.
Probation department promotes sense of community with new programs
The local probation department has made some impressive strides toward improving the success rate of criminal offenders and getting parents more involved in the lives of juveniles who have broken the law.
Under Chief Probation Officer Brent Cardall’s leadership, the department has partnered with two local churches to start a new Night Reporting Center, where offenders can do mandatory check-ins while on probation. Use of the Presbyterian Church also will be extended as a meeting place for the recently-formed Community Review Board, a volunteer panel given the authority to rule on minor offenses for those on probation, such as for missing curfew or drinking alcohol against orders.
Also involved is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which is providing access to its genealogy center to help offenders better learn their roots. Volunteers from the two churches, meanwhile, are offering tutoring to juveniles and parenting classes to adults as well – both great ideas with potential benefits.
An underlying theme within the programs is that focus on getting parents more involved, bringing families together in the process of rehabilitating young offenders.
Nothing could be more important on the topic of juvenile crime and public safety than parental influence – their involvement in the lives of their children and whether they steer them in the right direction, away from gangs and crime.
All of these programs amount to probation leaders and church volunteers taking a creative approach to an enduring problem while attempting to turn around the lives of those who have gotten off track. Cardall as the leader of probation has spearheaded much of the change and should be lauded for showing a genuine dedication to his work and this community since his arrival in 2008.
The Night Reporting Center makes sense for several reasons. As Cardall pointed out, it gives offenders more time during the day to do the types of activities they should be doing during those hours, such as working or going to school. Being at night, it naturally keeps participants out of trouble during the time of day when trouble often arises, and it promotes the idea that those residents should stick to their daytime, everyday commitments.
It is wise in the process to promote the idea of community and roots, because then past offenders are likely to take more pride in their surroundings.
Similarly, the Community Review Board – which has 15 volunteer members – gives offenders of minor “technical” violations a chance to face a panel of devoted residents who are giving their time simply because they care about others in a community in which they take pride.
