Juveniles with lengthy or serious referral histories may be placed on court-ordered probation supervision for their unlawful behavior for a period not exceeding their 18th birthday. During supervision, a juvenile is expected to comply with a set of expectations and conditions ordered by the court. A probation officer is assigned to make regular contact with the juvenile and to monitor the juvenile’s compliance with the court’s orders. This contact generally takes place in the juvenile’s home but may also occur at school or at work. Contacts during supervision vary in frequency from weekly to monthly, based on assessment of the juvenile’s specific needs, involvement with community resources, and level of cooperation.
The primary tool for service delivery is an individual casework plan developed jointly between the family and the probation officer, based on goals and objectives that reflect specific behavioral outcomes. A variety of community-based resources may also be utilized to aid the juvenile in complying with court-ordered terms and conditions of probation. If a juvenile is unable to comply with terms of supervision, re-evaluation of the plan occurs, with the possibility that additional interventions or more restrictive sanctions will be imposed by the court.
During 2002, the department supervised 2,948 juveniles on court-ordered probation, with a success rate of 88%. Successful completion is defined as completing the program without incarceration or other action due to non-compliance. The state-mandated performance target is 85%.
