What are our Juvenile Justice Services? Alternative Sanction Programs; Court Advocacy; Court-Ordered Community Service; Detention/Suspension/Expulsion Prevention & Intervention Programs; Diversion Programs; Juvenile Review Boards; Truancy Prevention/ Intervention Programs
Juvenile Review Board (JRB)What is a JRB? The JRB is a positive and meaningful alternative to the Juvenile Justice system for those who have committed minor delinquent acts or who are experiencing issues in school or at home.
The JRB aims to keep youth out of the juvenile justice system; the program focuses on strengthening a youth’s ties to the community by providing support and positive role models in order to prevent them from re-offending.
What does this mean? Since the offense was minor in nature or a status offense, the police/school system feel that your child could receive more appropriate help/support within the community.
Should you choose to participate, upon successful completion of the program, your child will not have a court record for this particular offense.
Why might my child be referred to the JRB? Juvenile may have committed a non-violent offense and a police officer may have issued a summons. If the officer, their supervisor or Juvenile court feels the offense could be handled better within the community, it will be forwarded to the JRB.
Juvenile may have committed an offense and was let off with a warning by a police officer. If the officer feels that the youth could benefit from additional support, they will forward the incident report to the JRB.
Juvenile may be truant from school, defiant of school rules or presenting behavior at school or at home that could result in an arrest. A school official will forward a referral to the JRB.
Criteria to participate in the JRB?• The offense must be a non-violent misdemeanor or status offense.
• The youth must not have any pending or open cases with Juvenile Court.
• Ages 9-17 years old
• Resides in Griswold/Jewett City/Voluntown
• Admits involvement/takes responsibility for their actions
• Parent must be willing to be involved in the process
Possible interventions the JRB may recommend: • Mentoring
• Mentoring
• Individual/ family/substance abuse counseling
• Mediation
• Community service/Volunteering
• Academic contracts/school check-ins
• Apology letters/reflective essays
• Pro-social activities: educational, sports, arts, college prep programs
• Educational advocacy
Principles used by the JRB The JRB uses principles from Balance and Restorative Justice• The youth can take responsibility for his/her actions
• The aim is not to punish the youth but to repair the harm done to the community
• Moves the youth from a liability to an asset in the community
• Treat any underlying needs the youth may have
• Focus on the strengths of the youth
Questions?
Email Ryan Aubin, Director
recdirector@griswold-ct.org Download the Referral PDF Below