Contact: John Shoemaker, (360) 397-2201 ext. 4041
Youth targeted for community supervision (often referred to as probation) in the Consolidated Juvenile Services Unit (CJS) typically have committed felonies or have committed a new offense. Youth who have been assessed as being safe and appropriate for community supervision are allowed to remain in the community, rather than being incarcerated in state facilities.
Youth are assigned to probation counselors that provide or obtain the appropriate services and resources. These include:
- Providing services to victims
- Developing and implementing case plans that address risk factors and build on protective factors
- Monitoring court ordered conditions
- Making community resource referrals
- Responding to violations of court orders
- Providing counseling
- Facilitating assessments and evaluations
- Other related services
Risk Assessment & Strength Based Case Management
Contact: John Shoemaker, (360) 397-2201 ext. 4041
Risk Assessment & Strength Based Case Management is a new approach for assessing and managing juvenile offenders. This approach, when combined with Balanced and Restorative Justice principles, places Clark County Juvenile Court in the forefront of a new perspective of understanding how the justice system can best serve offenders while meeting the needs of victims and the community.
We believe there is significant research that supports such an approach in working with juvenile offenders. This balanced response starts with a comprehensive assessment of the "risk factors" that increase the likelihood of a youth re-offending, and the "protective factors", or strengths, that increase the youth's likelihood of success in living a crime free life. Existing research affirms the importance of the restorative principle of offenders taking an active role in being accountable for their offenses.
Strength-based case management actively engages the youth in setting goals to address their risk factors and their protective factors, knowing that this personal involvement greatly increases the chances of success. In this approach the probation counselor takes on the critical role of supporting the youth to move forward to successful change. In Balanced and Restorative Justice terms, this approach to case management focuses on offender accountability by having the offender take responsibility to make changes that will increase community safety and health. The specific changes to be addressed often are consistent with the issues victims want addressed.
Strengthening protective factors in the youth is the equivalent of building the competencies that will enable the youth to be a positive, contributing member of the community.
