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The Hrrald and The Lantern

Wedneaday, March *, 1W1

Juvenile Diversion— It’s Working Here '

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H'M) KAISiNCi rummagr Hale at the lAwer Townnhip < hamber of Commerce head qaarter*. VHIa«, U prealded over-by 'Chlcb* Bonet, prenldent, and BlirTtiomao, wh<r chaired the event to gain revenue to complete finlRhlng tW'he* on the bnlldlng.

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by M'Ellen Rowland • AVALON - Police chief Joseph E. Foley has gavje The Herald an explicit description of the highly successful Juvenile diversion program, initated by 'tils force in July 1979 Before that when an officer saw a juvenile committing a minor offcnse, it didn’t really justify the time and tax dollars to sign a complaint, forwarded it to authorities at county level, get a subpoena and sometimes wait months for nothing to happenMn the end

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STONE HARBOR • AVALON • DENNISVILLE • LOWER TOWNSHIP

\ The Juvenile Division of the county Prosecutors office and the court were trying to find a way to alleviate the problem and better suit the needs of the

juveniles.

AS A RESULT, chief Foley started the Juvenile Diversion program, which < had been activated shortly before by Ocean City. WiUt the Committee for Public Safety, Council President Philip Judyski and Councilman Jame* Busha acting in an Advisory capacity, the following procedure was adopted: When an officer sees a juvenile commit an offense, a complaint is signed and forwarded to the Detective Division, consisting of Det./Sgt. Charles Shaw, wdio heads the juvenile ptagraih, and officer Steven Shuttleworth, second in command. They check the complaint to see If the miscreant was a past

offender.

IF THE OFFENSE REPRESENTS a major problem, the complaint is forwarded to the county. If a minor offense — curfew violation, minor vandalism or any of the lesser infractions — the youngster and parents are called in for an interview. The program is explained, if the guilt is admitted the offender and parents agree to the youngster’s working a number of hours, commensurate with the offense, for the borough or a civic

organization.

The parents agree to make monetary restitution for damage done and both youngster and parents rffgn a contract along with 'the juvenile officer. The document is forwarded to the county. If the county approves (and to this date ' there has not been one contract dissapproved) it is signed and returned to

Avalon's Juvenile Division. A story in last week's The division then notifies'' paper reporting on the the pfirents of their child's Stone Harbor Chamber of acceptance, into the pro- Commerce meeting incorgram and advises them of* rectly referred to the profile commencement date of * posed county MUA treatthe youngster’s work ment plant being north of

performing well and isn’t trying, the complaint may be sent to the County otherwise, the county is sent a mid-term report that the child is working well. Upon completion of work hours, a finalization report is sent to the County Probation Office, restitution is made and the file is closed. FILES ARE maintained in the Avalon office, but as far as records are concerned, none show from December '79 (o last December, 76 juveniles were handled within the department. 39 were placed in the Diversion Program, 26 went to juvenile court and the remainder were placed in custody of their parents or' a pother

jurisdiction.

A total of 782 hours have been worked in a 12-month period and there are few repeaters in the program. Jobe which have been done by Juvenile Diversion Program youths include cleaning beaches, street ends, waxing police cars and ambulances, washing windows, and painting. Juvenile offenders who are summer residents have often been referred to their law enforcement authorities if the resident communities have this type of program. The offender’s files are transferred and they perform tasks under

that program.

I., Margaret Johnson - B.2M

Stasia Estrada — S.J10 ,3., Marion Zuch - 4.850

correctionelaborotion

hours.

WORKING HOURS are usually assigned on Sundays so they won’t interfere with schooling. . David Garrick, head of Public Works, assigns

the Racquet Club and east of the Garden State Pkwy. It will be situated west of the parkway.

• • •

In last week’s story on the Avalon Borough Coun-

man to oversee the project* Jtil meeting,

.. . - ,

on the four-hour workday. Half way through the program, if it becomes evident that the child is not

typographical error resulted in the weekly beach fee being listed as

$16 instead of $6.

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