Supervision

Once a youth is under the jurisdiction of the Court, either by an admission or a finding of fact by the Court, the youth and his or her family attend an Intake Interview with the Probation Department. During the interview, the juvenile probation officer uses evidence- based practices to identify the risk, needs and responsivity factors of the youth. The goal is to identify and address the youth’s areas of need. A risk/needs assessment is completed on each youth to determine the risk to reoffend and the services needed to alleviate those risks. Supervision levels are based on the Youth Level of Service Inventory/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) low risk, moderate risk, and high risk. Probation officers carry specific caseloads focusing on risk levels

The juvenile probation officer, in conjunction with the youth and family, is responsible for developing a supervision plan based on the areas of need. This plan should focus on reducing risk factors, addressing skill deficits through cognitive behavior changes, emphasizing strengths, identifying triggers, and should be individualized for each youth. The supervision plan also holds them accountable for their actions. In determining a supervision plan, equal attention/consideration is given to community protection, accountability to the victim, and the development of competency of the offender.

The probation officer recommends to the Court the amount of fines, cost and restitution to be paid, and community service to be completed. Probation officers supervise juveniles placed on probation supervision and carry out the directives of the Court to promote the rehabilitation of the offender, hold the offender accountable for his or her actions, and provide for the protection of the community. The probation officer maintains contact with the juvenile, the juvenile’s parents, school officials, and others involved in the case to ensure compliance with the probation stipulations/rules.

Juvenile Probation began a separate Aftercare Unit in August 2007. The strategies implemented within the Aftercare Unit are based on the MacArthur Foundation Models for Change.

The duties of an Aftercare probation officer begin at the disposition, when placement outside the home is longer than 120 days. Aftercare supervision continues until the termination of the case from the juvenile system. An Aftercare plan addresses the treatment needs of the individual youth. The plan is based on building strengths and acquiring skills for the youth while tapping into behavioral health services, educational options and family supports. A smooth re-entry into the offender’s home and community is essential after placement to ensure the best outcome for the youth.

Aftercare probation officer caseload size varies between 18 and 25 youth, both in placement and at home, following placement. Franklin County Aftercare officers are assigned to specific residential facilities, thus becoming an expert on the facilities’ acceptance criteria and treatment modalities. This assists officers in placing the youth in the most appropriate facilities to address their individual needs (responsivity factors). The officers make, at a minimum, monthly visits to each facility and meet with the staff and youth to address treatment issues as well as youth and family concerns. Following these monthly visits, contacts are made with the family to update them on the child’s progress.

Prior to release from any placement, the Aftercare officer completes an Aftercare Treatment Release Plan. This plan addresses all the needs each youth has and puts the services in place to assist the youth and family in a successful return home. All aftercare planning incorporates evidence-based principles and addresses competency development, accountability and community protection.

In Franklin County, the School Based-Program began in 1994. The School-Based probation officer’s primary work site is in the school that he or she is assigned, and the focus is on the youth that are under the jurisdiction of the Court via the Juvenile Act of Pennsylvania. At this time, in Franklin County, there are probation officers in the Chambersburg Area School District, Waynesboro Area School District, and Tuscarora Area School District on a full-time or part-time basis in the secondary schools.

The goals of the program are to:

• Improve communication between the school district and the probation department
• Improve cooperation among the family, school, probation department and other community agencies involved with the youth and/or family
• Advocate for the educational and related needs of mutual clients
• Provide the school with alternatives for managing students exhibiting behavioral problems

These goals can be accomplished through the duties of the School-Based probation officer. The duties are based on, but not limited, to the Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission (JCJC) Standards. These duties include monitoring and sanctioning: behavior, academic performance and absenteeism. School-Based officers enforce school rules and policies, and communicate with the parents of the youth under supervision. The School-Based probation officers are also able to conduct random urinalyses and searches and seizures of youth under supervision.

In addition, if time is available, School-Based probation officers have been willing to provide further service to the schools via chaperoning extracurricular activities, bus duty, classroom lectures, lunch monitoring, hall monitoring, group facilitation, and community service supervision, etc. Furthermore, the School-Based probation officers are encouraged to participate in the Student Assistance Program (SAP).

School-Based probation officers also supervise and are involved in other programs, once school is out for the summer. These include the remuneration and a community service program. The remuneration program allows youth under the jurisdiction of the Court to pay restitution owed to their crime victims.