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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 01-28 Maplewood PD has innovative program for young offenders THE REVIEW Maplewood PD has innovative program for young offenders 'Jai aff /9R/ , Johnny and Tommy are apprehended felony deviant behavior. Their offenses by a Maplewood police officer after they may include alcohol experimentation, are seen spray painting a city park curfew violations,petty theft,vandalism, building.. property offenses and other minor They are both age 14 and are taken into violations of the law. protective police custody. A Maplewood juvenile officer will set ur Typically,these youthful law violators an appointment with the juvenile offender would make a court appearance,gain a and his parents. Based upon the in- criminal court record and would be terview,itis decided if the youth is ap- placed on probation. propriate for the program. But it is at this point that the Maplewood Police Department breaks The youths work at a variety of places away from the standard procedure.For usually in Maplewood.They are under the the past 20 years, the department has supervision of the benefactors, which taken a different approach from to the include the Ramsey County Parks, usual court appearance to help Maplewood Parks and Recreation, rehabilitate youthful lawbreakers under Maplewood Volunteer Fire Departments, age 18, like the fictitious Johnny and Ramsey County Home,Maplewood City Tommy. Hall and Police Department,Maplewood The juvenile division of the Maplewood Nature Center, Minnesota Humane Police Department participates in a Society, White Bear Lake Recreation community diversion program. The Department and the St.Paul Jaycees. youthful offenders are diverted away The purpose of the program is two-fold, from the court system and into com- explains Sgt.David Arnold.When there is munity work projects.With the approval property damage done by the juvenile,it of the Ramsey County Juvenile Court,the is important that the victim is com- youths assist various community pensated.Secondly,the program should organizations and avoid having to make a attempt to be beneficial to the youngster court appearance and having a court — to help straighten him or her out. record. Hagen adds, the police department Last year,72 boys and 15 girls were hopes this is a positive way of assisting selected to do 1,327 hours of community- youth in trouble.Also,it returns to the related work.The tasks they performed community in a small way a payment of a included maintenance work,cleaning,car' kind for acts of mischievous, minor washing,litter pickup and library work. criminal nature. "Not one of the youths referred in 1980 The police department works closely has returned to police attention a second with the Youth Service Bureau on the time," says Tom Hagen, Maplewood community diversion work program. deputy police chief."This,we believe,is a pretty good measurement of success." Those juveniles and even their families Hagen continues, the Maplewood may be directed to seek counseling with community juvenile diversion program is the bureau as part of the diversion the largest scale and most active one in program. the metropolitan area. The bureau and the police department Youths are selected for the program are attempting to work more closely on after being apprehended by the police this program so that it can be expanded to generally for their first non-violent,non- reach more juvenile offenders during 1981.