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*News
Release* Date: May 13, 2009
Middlesex
County Prosecutor’s Office
New Program Seeks to Deter Juvenile Crime
When youngsters commit crimes such as carrying fake
identification cards or damaging someone’s property, they face the possibility
of getting arrested and convicted as juvenile delinquents.
But some
youths will be spared the ordeal of being arrested, charged and then tried by a
Family Court judge under a new comprehensive program aimed at deterring
first-time juvenile offenders from committing more serious crimes.
Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan and Freeholder
Mildred S. Scott today unveiled the “Clean Slate” program, which will give
youngsters suspected of minor crimes a second chance to stay out of trouble,
while easing the number of cases going to Family Court.
“The earlier we intervene, the more successful we will be
in putting these children back on the right path,” Freeholder Scott said. “One
offense does not have to lead to more down the line. Kids need to know this and
have the tools to make the right decisions. This program gets us to that end.”
Police
around the county “are very excited about it,” said South Brunswick Police
Chief Raymond Hayducka, who is president of the Middlesex County Police Chiefs
Association.
“We prefer
to give juveniles a second chance and give them the ability to avoid a criminal
record because it can impact them when they’re adults,” the chief said. ‘’It’s
a great tool to give them the opportunity to redeem themselves from any
mistakes or errors in judgment that they’ve made.’’
The program is being
funded by a $10,000 special initiative authorized by the Board of Chosen
Freeholders through the Middlesex County Council for Children’s Services under
the leadership of co-chairs Freeholder Blanquita B. Valenti and the Honorable
Deborah J. Venezia, the presiding Family Court judge in
“For most young people, their
first contact with the juvenile justice system is their local police
department. Many times, these youth will
never have contact with the system again. The uniform use of station house
adjustments provides local law enforcement officers with an important tool to
help get young people on the right track and build stronger communities. By
bringing families, caregivers and law enforcement together, and identifying any
need for support services, this early intervention strategy can prevent a
juvenile’s further involvement in the juvenile justice system,” said Veleria N.
Lawson, Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission.
In
recent weeks, police officers in Carteret, East Brunswick,
With
the approval of the youths’ parents or guardians, the participants, ranging in
age from 12 to 17, sign contracts agreeing to perform certain duties, such as
helping to clean a community center, or writing an essay on the consequences of
criminal behavior.
‘’There
could be any number of requirements,’’ said Middlesex County Assistant
Prosecutor Ralph Cretella, who oversees cases involving juveniles. ‘’There
could be restitution if they damage property, or they could be asked to make an
apology,’’ he said.
Key
to the program is the youths’ participation in six training sessions, which are
being held on consecutive Wednesdays at the
During
the sessions, each lasting about three hours, youths will take part in
interactive programs, instructional periods, mentoring and activities that
promote teamwork, education, self-esteem, self-examination and overall
cooperation.
Cretella
said instructors will provide the participants ``with a lot of information
concerning gangs, drugs, things of that sort, in an effort to convince them
that that’s not the path to take in life. Our goal is to hopefully keep them
out of the criminal justice system,’’ he said.
The
program also features guest speakers who will offer warnings and life lessons
for the participants.
Among
the guests is the Honorable Roger W. Daley, a Superior Court judge who presides
over juvenile trials in
In
other classes, the youths will be taken on a tour of the
Once
they have successfully completed all of the conditions set in their contracts,
the participants will be released. No charges will be filed for their initial
offenses. Graduation ceremonies are scheduled for June 10, 2009. A second
program will be conducted later this year.
The
Clean Slate program was developed by members of the Middlesex Out-Reach and
Education (MORE) unit, established by Prosecutor Kaplan to provide schools,
community groups and the public with information on a variety of topics aimed
at keeping people safe.
Prosecutor
Kaplan said Sgt. Patrick Dacey, Investigator Laura Callahan and agents Allie
Bitterman and Michael Carroll were instrumental in creating the Clean Slate
program.
Middlesex County Human Services Director Thomas M. Seilheimer praised the collaborative efforts of his staff and the Prosecutor’s staff in realizing the program, which is also known as the Station House Adjustment initiative.
“Cooperative ventures like this allow us to maximize limited resources while achieving common goals and outcomes in the prevention of further juvenile offenses.” Seilheimer said.
The program will be
operated under the guidelines for Station House Adjustment of Juvenile
Delinquency Offenses, enacted in 2005 by the New Jersey Attorney General’s
Office.
“I’m
very pleased that this program has become a reality,” said Freeholder Valenti.
“The Station House program is a good program and one that we hope more
municipalities adopt. First-time offenders deserve a second chance. I applaud
the collaboration between the Council for Children’s Services and the Prosecutor’s
Office.”