Court Programs and Services
Self Directed Community Service
The Self Directed Community Service Program was developed to enable youth who have committed an offense to give back to their community in a positive manner. It is a concrete way for the youth to express their regret for the expense and trouble caused to the victim and/or their community. Youth are ordered, or have agreed, to perform a specific number of community service hours. Youth are given a list of possible work sites available in their community. Churches, non-profit agencies, nursing homes, and libraries are a few common places youth chose to perform their work hours. It is the responsibility of the youth to document proof of community service completion.
- Juvenile and parent's responsibility to arrange
- Learning experience
- Performed for non-profit organizations
Mentoring Program
The goal of the Mentoring Program is to reduce the frequency and severity of offenses committed by youth referred to Juvenile Services. The program is a partnership between Ottawa County Family Court – Juvenile Services and Michigan State University Extension Ottawa County. Community adult volunteers are trained for a minimum of nine hours prior to being given an assignment. There are several opportunities from which volunteers are able to choose.
- Journey 4-H Youth Mentoring Program
- Partnership with Michigan State University Extension
- Minimum of one year involvement
- Matches volunteers as mentors with juveniles
- Mandatory training for mentors
Crossroads Family Center (CFC)/Catholic Charities of West Michigan
Substance abuse treatment services offered in partnership with Catholic Charities of West Michigan including:
- Assessments
- Outpatient substance abuse counseling
- Intensive outpatient program
- Detention-based intensive treatment
- Aftercare services
- Parent support group
Tether Program
Adjudicated youth ordered to comply with the Tether Program have an ankle bracelet attached to their leg which utilizes an electronic device attached to the telephone in the juvenile’s home. The device monitors the juvenile’s activities within a specified range within the home. The tether is used in lieu of the juvenile’s placement in the Juvenile Detention Center.
- Electronic device to monitor probationers within home
- Used in lieu of detention
Foster Care
Foster Care is used when a youth is not able to remain at home with their parent)s), relatives or guardians. This is the least restrictive choice and allows the youth to remain connected with the pro-social aspects of his/her community. Foster care is individualized and often includes assessment, stabilization, intervention strategies to reduce further offending, and skill development. Through family and individual therapy many of the youth are successfully returned home. A number of youth are unable to return home, due to a variety of reasons, and leave foster care to live on their own.
- Juvenile court ordered into a licensed home
- Length of placement determined by need and progress
- Goal is reintegration with biological family
- All foster homes licensed through State of Michigan
Sexual Offender Program
The Sexual Offender Program is a minimum of 40 weeks in length for sex offender specific treatment. Youth are required to complete offender curriculum that includes the sexual assault cycle, high risk situations, interruption strategies and accountability issues.
- Mandatory individual and family assessment
- Meets weekly
- Treatment provided by a licensed specialist
Interpreter Services
- Interpreter services available upon request at no cost to the client
Parental Consent Waivers
- Permission for abortion without parental consent
- Minor initiates the process
- Determination by court after assessment
- Must be in minor's best interest or minor must be mature enough to make decision
Juvenile Alternative to Detention Experience (JADE)
JADE provides an immediate and consistent consequence for youth who have violated probation or school rules. This program is held on Saturdays for seven hours during the academic year. Youth focus on completing their homework assignments or on basic math and reading skills. Additional components involving videos or a variety of experiential educational opportunities teaching life skills augment the program. JADE reduces the number of youth placed on the electronic tether or time in the Juvenile Detention Center.
- Alternative consequence to detention
- Education focused
Supervised Community Service
Supervised Community Service Program was designed to reduce the number of youth placed on the electronic tether or placed in the juvenile detention center as a consequence for their probation violation or new law violation. Youth are ordered to perform seven hours of work at a variety of sites in the County. County parks, community gardens, and township offices are a few examples of possible work sites. Youth work in groups of seven and are supervised by contracted professionals.
- Alternative consequence to detention
- Meets on Saturdays all year
- Work sites located throughout Ottawa County
Habitual Offender Group (HOG)
The Habitual Offender Group is designed for youth who have committed multiple law and probation violations. The purpose of the group is to positively impact youth with similar legal histories and thinking patterns. The Habitual Offender Group is based on cognitive restructuring, addressing the individual’s distorted, confused and chaotic thinking patterns that are often learned at a youth age. It focuses on confronting group participants in recognizing how they hurt and victimize others as a result. The power of the group influences participants in this crucial process.
- For youth who have committed multiple law and probation violations
- Designed to positively impact harmful thinking patterns
- Minimum eight (8) week participation
Court Incentive Group (CIG)
The Court Incentive Group is an ongoing group designed to impact youth who are exhibiting high risk behaviors. Youth who have committed crimes, where others have been victimized, are referred to the group. The group’s focus is on changing thinking patterns that assist participants in recognizing how they hurt and victimize others as a result of their behaviors. The power of their fellow group members is crucial in this process. The goal of the group is to change the youth’s thinking patterns and may shorten the youth’s time on probation. Parents are expected to participate on a weekly basis by notifying the caseworker and report their child’s behavior.
- Designed to positively impact harmful thinking patterns
- For males who are exhibiting high-risk behaviors
- Meets for 1 ½ hours weekly
- Minimum eight (8) week participation
Girls Group
This 12 week girls group is used as a time to encourage, educate and empower the youth women and their mothers to promote a personal sense of confidence, competence, tolerance of differences in others, develop healthy relationships and positive awareness of their bodies. By investing in these attributes we are increasing their power to avoid risk-taking behaviors. At this critical time in their lives our goal is to maximize their potential, enhance their ability to grow, explore and succeed.
- Designed to impact adolescent girls involved in court
- Activity-based, psycho-educational, female-responsive program
- Group addresses physical, emotional, intellectual, relational, sexual and spiritual domains of adolescent development
Emancipation
- Minor must file petition
- Allows minor to function as adult with two exceptions:
- cannot vote until legal age
- cannot drink alcohol until legal age - Must be at least 16
- Burden of proof on minor for self-sufficiency
ISP (Intensive Supervision Program)
- Court Ordered
- Intensive supervision of high-risk youth
- Case management by Ottawa County Sheriff Deputy
- Community-based
- Tether and restrictive curfew
- Juvenile Justice Institute, as appropriate
- Restorative approach
Juvenile Justice Institute (JJI)
- Partnership with Ottawa Area Intermediate School District
- Court ordered school
- Year round, nontraditional
- Ages 13 - 17
- Maximum enrollment 25
- Juvenile Community Justice (JCJ) related
- Juveniles who are expelled or have significant school-related problems
- Staffed by OAISD certified teachers and aides
Wrap Around Program
- In collaboration with Children's Advocacy Center, Community Mental Health, Department of Human Services and the court
- Coordination of resources and services
- Financial support
- Mentoring
- For juveniles at risk of out-of-home placement
