dodge county juvenile services comprehensive …...meggie studt, chair community youth coordinator...

Dodge County Juvenile Services Comprehensive Community Plan 2018 – 2021

Dodge County

Juvenile Services

Comprehensive Community Plan

July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2021

Prepared By: Meggie Studt Community Youth Coordinator

435 N. Park Ave Fremont, NE 68025 [email protected]

Chair of Team: Meggie Studt Community Youth Coordinator


Council/ Board Chair: Bob Missel Chairman Dodge County Board of Supervisors



SECTION II

COMMUNITY TEAM


The Dodge County Juvenile Services Comprehensive Plan Team originally developed

in 2007 and consisted of representatives from various agencies in the county that worked

directly with juveniles. The current members represent the county’s School Districts,

Group Home Facilities, Mental Health Community, County Attorney, Nebraska Mediation

Center, Diversion, Probation, and other community stakeholders. The team Chair, Meggie

Studt is responsible for organizing and facilitating the meetings. The team meets quarterly.

Each agenda includes the priorities and strategies for the current community plan. At each

meeting, the team reviews their activities and progress towards each priority for Dodge

County.

The Dodge County Juvenile Services Comprehensive Plan Team met during our quarterly

meetings to develop and finalize the 2018-2021 Comprehensive Juvenile Services Plan.

During the past year, the team met on January 24th, July 27th, October 26th, and April 12th

for approximately one hour meetings. During these meetings we discuss the current

priorities, any barriers or issues we are seeing in our county, and the strengths we are

seeing as well. The Crime Commission’s community planning tool was used to help

identify priorities within the community.


Dodge County Juvenile Services Comprehensive Plan Team

Meggie Studt, Chair Community Youth Coordinator

Dodge County Attorney’s Office

435 N. Park Ave

Fremont, NE 68025

402-727-2725

[email protected]

Bri McLarty Deputy, Dodge County Attorney’s Office

435 N. Park Ave 3rd floor

Fremont, NE 68025

402-727-2725

[email protected]

Steve Ortmeier Chief Deputy, Probation District Six

State of Nebraska

2860 W. 23rd Drive

Fremont, NE 68025

402-727-2790 x 2010

[email protected]

Shayla Linn Community Impact Coordinator

445 E. 1st St.

Fremont, NE 68025

402-721-4157

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]




Jane Martin-Hoffman Executive Director

Nebraska Mediation Center

435 N. Park Ave 4th floor

402-753-9415

[email protected]

Michele Missel Therapist, LICSW

Park Professional Group

1627 E. Military Ave

Fremont, NE 68025

402-727-4886

[email protected]

Angie Halstead School Social Worker, CMSW, LMHP

Fremont Public Schools

130 E. 9th St.

Fremont, NE 68025

402-727-3014

[email protected]

Dawn Peters Juvenile Diversion Officer

Dodge County Attorney’s Office

435 N. Park Ave

Fremont, NE 68025

402-727-2725

[email protected]





Melissa Schaefer Manager of Youth Services

Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare

4715 S. 132nd St

Omaha, NE 68137

402-505-4605

[email protected]

Cindy Reed Youth Advisor

Hope Center for Kids Fremont

555 W. 23rd St.

Fremont, NE 68025

402-341-4673 x 1100

[email protected]

Todd Thomason Director of Child Care Services

Masonic Eastern Star Home for Children

2415 N. Main St.

Fremont, NE 68026

402-721-1185

[email protected]




Section III

Juvenile Justice System Analysis Tool

• See attached as Appendix A


Section IV

Community Socio-Economics


Demographics

Dodge County, located in the Northeastern portion of the state, has a combination of

several small rural farm communities and the mid-size urban community of Fremont. The

City of Fremont population is currently 26,519 as of 2016 from the United States Census

Bureau. The Dodge County population is a total of 36,757. The US Census Bureau

indicates 23.8% of the population is under age 18 as of 2016. 50.6% female, and 51% male.

Dodge County does not have any public transportation, but has

several cab companies. Recreational attractions in Dodge

County include, the Fremont State Lakes, several recreational

areas and parks, such as Hormel Park and Izaak Walton Park.

Fremont is home to Midland University, a private liberal arts college. Approximately 1099

students are enrolled there with about 49% residing on campus, per the 2018 spring census

from Midland University.

The most common job groups by number of people living in Dodge County are Sales &

Office, Management, Business, Science & Arts, and Production & Transportation. The

most common employment sectors for Dodge County are Manufacturing, retail trade, and

healthcare & social assistance.

Dodge County’s population in 2012 was 36,648 and in 2016 the population was 36,757, a

difference of .3%. Children 19 and under in 2012 were 9,607, and in 2016 were 9,691.

Children 10-17 years old were 3,742 which made up 39% of all children and then in 2016

were 3,824 which was 39.5% of all children. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, July 1, 2012 and 2016 Estimates, Table PEPAGESEX.


City/Village Total Population as of July 1, 2016

City of Fremont 26,519

City of North Bend 1,238

City of Scribner 843

Village of Dodge 598

City of Hooper 834

Village of Inglewood 322

Village of Nickerson 353

Village of Snyder 298

Village of Uehling 228

Winslow 106

Total 31,339 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division


According to the Census Bureau, there were 1,520 children under 17 in poverty from 2007-2011 in Dodge County. From 2011-2015, there were 1,130. This decreased from 17.7% to 13.4%. There were 11 births to mothers ages 10-17 in Dodge County in 2012. This decreased in 2016 with only 7 births to mothers ages 10-17. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 and 2015 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B17001

Number and percent of births to teen mothers (numbers that are colored red indicate areas where the county statistic is worse than the state average)

2005-2009

2006-2010

2007-2011

2008-2012

2009-2013

2010-2014

Dodge County 246, 9.8% 244, 9.8% 254,

10.5% 231, 9.5%

207, 8.6%

193, 8.0%

Nebraska 11,168, 8.4%

10,968, 8.2%

10,570, 8.0%

9,955, 7.6%

9,208, 7.1%

8,383, 6.4%

(Source: Nebraska DHHS Vital Statistics) The Median yearly household income in Dodge County was $59,038 in 2013. Compared to the per capita income, $24,588 per the U.S. Census/American Community Survey 5-year Estimates (2013).

Percent of children living in single parent households 2005-

2009 2006-2010

2007-2011

2008-2012

2009-2013

2010-2014

Dodge County 27.2% 28.8% 29.0% 28.8% 27.8% 29.9% Nebraska 24.2% 26.3% 27.3% 27.7% 28.3% 28.9%

(Source: U.S. Census Bureau)

Child Maltreatment County 2012 Rate per 1,000 children 2016 Rate per 1,000 children

Dodge 64 7.4 102 11.7

State Wards County 2012 Rate per 1,000 children 2016 Rate per 1,000 children

Dodge 166 19.3 207 23.7

Source: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 and 2015 Small Area Health

Insurance Estimates. *Number of substantiated victims of child maltreatment.


In 2014, there were 55 substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect in Dodge County,

accounting for a rate of 6.1 per 1,000 (state comparison: 5.2 per 1,000). In 2014, there

were 101 children in foster care in Dodge County, accounting for a rate of 11.2 per 1,000

(state comparison: 6.2 per 1,000).

Number and rate of substantiated cases of child abuse/neglect per 1,000 population (numbers that are colored red indicate areas where the county statistic is worse than the state average) 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Dodge County 27, 3.2 36, 4.1 36, 4.1 44, 5.1 48, 5.6 55, 6.3 44, 5.1

Nebraska 3,520, 7.8

5,169, 10.6

3,410, 7.4

2,723, 5.5

2,892, 6.2

2,575, 5.5

2,223, 4.8

(Source: Nebraska DHHS Child Abuse and Neglect Reports)


Number and rate in Foster Care per 1,000 (numbers that are colored red indicate areas where the county statistic is worse than the state average)

2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 Dodge County 87, 10.3 92, 10.5 73, 8.4 71, 8.1 101, 11.7 81, 9.3

Nebraska 4,447, 9.2

4,300, 8.9

4,265, 8.8

3,892, 8.5

3,026, 6.5

3,145, 6.7

Note: data unavailable for 2013. (Source: Nebraska Foster Care Review Board)

Children race and ethnicity data for Dodge County per the Census Bureau:

Race 2012 % of all children 2016 % of all children

American Indian 53 .6% 44 .5%

Asian/Pacific Islander 59 .6% 71 .7%

Black/African

American

86 .9% 89 .9%

2 or more races or non-

white, Hispanic

498 5.2% 568 5.9%

White, Hispanic 1,553 16.2% 1,748 18%

White, Non-Hispanic 7,358 76.6% 7,171 74%

According to the Census Bureau, Dodge County has 31,637 White residents, 4,019 Hispanic

residents, and 594 two or more races. In 2015 there were 7.87 times more White residents in Dodge

County than any other race or ethnicity. 3,299 of Dodge County citizens are speakers of a non-

English language, which is lower than the national average of 21%. The most common non-English

language spoken in Dodge County is Spanish at 7.95%.

Population by race/ethnicity (2014)

White Hispanic/Latino

Black/ African-

American Asian

American Indian/ Alaskan Native

Native Hawaiian/

Pacific Islander

Two or More Races

Other

Fremont 83.4% 13.7% 0.4% 0.8% 0.1% 0.2% 1.4% 0.0%

Dodge County 86.6% 10.7% 0.4% 0.6% 0.1% 0.2% 1.5% 0.0%

Nebraska 81.2% 9.7% 4.5% 1.9% 0.7% 0.1% 1.8% 0.1%

Note: those identifying as Hispanic/Latino are not counted in any racial category. (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-year Estimates)


Education

The public schools within Dodge County include: Fremont Public Schools, Fremont;

Scribner/Snyder Community Schools, Scribner; Logan View Public Schools, Hooper; and

North Bend Public Schools, North Bend. The private schools include Archbishop Bergan

Schools, Fremont; Trinity Lutheran Elementary Schools, Fremont; and St. Wenceslaus

Elementary School, Dodge.

The following data was obtained from the Nebraska Department of Education.

CY 2016-17: Dodge County School Population

School Number Percent

Fremont Public 4,747 69.9%

Scribner/Snyder Public 216 3.2%

Logan View Public 557 8.2%

North Bend Public 639 9.4%

Archbishop Bergan 161 2.5%

Archbishop Bergan Elementary 281 4.1%

Trinity Lutheran Elementary 144 2.1%

St. Wenceslaus 45 .6%

Total 6,790 100%


CY 2016-17: Dodge County School Population - Race and Gender

Race Number Percent Female Male

White 4,950 72.9% 2,386 2,564

Black 83 1.22% 41 42

American Indian 29 0.43% 13 16

Asian 40 0.6% 19 21

Hispanic 1589 23.4% 784 805

Pacific Islander 14 0.2% 4 10

Two or More Races 85 1.25% 36 49

Total 6790 100% 3,283 3,507 Source: https://2x9dwr1yq1he1dw6623gg411-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Statsfacts_20162017.pdf

Dodge County had a high school graduation rate of 87.7% from 2012-2013. Source: Nebraska Department of Education, data provided by the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation (2012-2013)

https://2x9dwr1yq1he1dw6623gg411-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Statsfacts_20162017.pdf


High school graduation rate* (four-year cohort) (numbers that are colored red indicate areas where the county statistic is worse than the state average) 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Dodge County 88.8% 84.0% 87.6% 88.1% 88.7% Nebraska 86.1% 87.6% 88.5% 89.7% 88.9%

*The source data are reported by school districts. County-level rates are calculated by taking the weighted average of all school districts within a county.

(Source: Nebraska Department of Education)

Note: Dodge County data were unavailable due to other school districts' data in the county being masked.

(Nebraska Department of Education)

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

2014-2015

Fremont Public Schools 2.4% 2.2% 1.7% 2.5% 1.1% 1.5% 2.0%Nebraska Public Schools 1.6% 1.5% 1.4% 1.5% 1.1% 1.1% 1.1%

0%

1%

2%

3%Dropout rates (2008-2009 to 2014-2015)


According to the Nebraska Department of Education data base, Fremont Public Schools has the highest rate of students receiving free and reduced lunches within Dodge County. The chart below gives an overview of all the schools in Dodge County and the percent of students that receive free and reduced lunch. CY 2016-17: Dodge County Free and Reduced Lunch Count School Number Percent

Fremont Public 2858 60.21%

Scribner/Snyder Public 122 56.48%

Logan View Public 245 43.99%

North Bend Public 220 34.43%

Archbishop Bergan 16 9.94%

Archbishop Bergan Elementary 40 14.23%

Trinity Lutheran Elementary 23 15.97%

St. Wenceslaus Masked Masked

Truancy Data

A Habitually Truant student in Nebraska is defined as having been absent more than 20

days per year or the hourly equivalent. Truancy is often a symptom of more serious

problems. Research indicates children may be dealing with peer pressure, separation or

divorce within the family, abuse or neglect, mental & physical health issues, drug and

alcohol abuse by a parent and/or the student, etc. The effects of truancy for children could

include decreased learning ability, involvement in delinquent behavior, increased risk of

dropping out of school, potential involvement in gangs, and are two and a half more times

likely to require social assistance in their adulthood.

According to the Dodge County Attorney’s office, truancy referrals were submitted when

the schools have exhausted their resources with the student and/or family. The school is

never required to notify the county attorney of a student exhibiting truancy, unless the

school is requesting court intervention. Further, if the school wants intervention, they must


2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

2014-2015

Fremont Public Schools 94.7% 94.3% 94.3% 95.3% 95.2% 94.6% 94.5%Dodge County* 95.0% 94.6% 94.7% 95.6% 95.5% 94.8% 94.9%Nebraska Public Schools 94.9% 94.8% 95.2% 95.6% 95.3% 95.2% 95.5%

90%

92%

94%

96%

98%

100%School attendance rates (2008-2009 to 2014-2015)

first document that they have taken a number of steps in order to ensure the student’s

attendance prior to court involvement. Failure to do so prevents a court filing. The data

below was collected and provided by the Dodge County Attorney’s office.

Truancy Referrals to Dodge County Attorney by school year

2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 53 31 27 26

The following table was collected from Fremont Public Schools from February 2018.

*The source data are reported by school districts. County-level rates are calculated by taking the weighted average of all public school districts within a county.



The following data was collected from FPS and shows the students who missed 20 days or

more for each school year by quarter. This data is specific to Fremont High School as that

is where we are seeing the majority of truancy issues, especially 9th and 12th grade students.

Truancy continues to be an ongoing issue as an average of 1000 students at the high school

miss over 20 days by the fourth quarter of each school year.

0 500 1000 1500

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2014-2015

0 500 1000 1500

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2015-2016

0 500 1000 1500

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2016-2017

0 200 400 600 800 1000

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2017-2018


Contact with Law Enforcement Youth arrests ages 17 and under

County 2012 Rate per 1,000 children ages 10-17 2016 Rate per 1,000 children ages 10-17

Dodge 231 61.7 240 62.8

Source: Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice; U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 and 2015 American

Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B01001.

The top three leading causes of juvenile arrests in Dodge County in 2014 were liquor laws,

drug abuse violations, and runaway.

Leading causes of juvenile arrests in Dodge County (2014)

Liquor laws (36 juvenile arrests) Simple assault (24) Drug abuse violations (32) Vandalism (15) Runaway (31) Aggravated assault (5) Larceny (25) Disorderly conduct (4)

(Nebraska Crime Commission)


The majority population of Dodge County is in Fremont. The following is a breakdown of

juvenile arrests in Dodge County (ages 0-17) by law enforcement department for the past

three years. The following information was obtained from Nebraska Crime Commission

database.

CY 2014: Juvenile Arrests in Dodge County (Under 17) Department Name Number Dodge County Sheriff 36 Fremont Police Department 178 Nebraska State Patrol 0 Scribner Police Department 3 Total 217




2015-2017 Arrests for Juveniles Aged 0-17 in Dodge County

Offense 2015 2016 2017

Totals 254 193 245

Uncontrollable/Truancy 3b 61 32 61

Liquor Laws 40 27 39

Simple Assault (3rd degree) 12 12 18

Larceny 18 22 23

Vandalism/Graffiti 0 0 9

All Other Offenses (except traffic)

29 22 13

Drug Abuse Violations 59 43 43

Disorderly Conduct 18 18 26

Curfew (Juvenile Only) 1 1 0

Driving Under the Influence 0 0 1

Burglary 4 6 2

Motor Vehicle Theft 0 0 0

Stolen Property/Unlawful Taking

0 0 1

Aggravated Assault (1st assault)

5 1 0

Weapons 1 1 0

Sex Offense (including forcible rape)

4 2 8

Offense Against Family and Children

0 1 0

Arson 2 5 1 This data was collected from the Dodge County Attorney’s office. All offenses were charged out as either Diversion or a Juvenile Petition. This data does not include law violations or status offfenses that were declined. Of note, some cases were consolidated.

The Dodge County Attorney’s office has utilized the Community Youth Coordinator to

prevent juveniles from entering the court system. If a ticket comes in and is declined, we

can still provide, and pay for if necessary, voluntary services and/or resources for the

family through grant funding and community collaboration.


Juvenile Intake and Detention

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative,

“juvenile detention has critical, long-lasting consequences for court-involved youth. Youth

who are detained are more likely than their counterparts to be formally charged,

adjudicated and committed to an institution. Detention disrupts already tenuous

connections in school, services and families. Over the long-haul, the detention experience

negatively impacts educational and employment levels.”

Under Nebraska State Law, sections 43-248 and 43-250, law enforcement is to deliver the

custody of a juvenile to a probation officer for intake. The probation officer’s decision to

detain or release the juvenile from custody is based on the results of the juvenile detention

screening instrument described in state law under Section 43-260.01. If detained,

according to state law, youth may only be held for forty-eight hours before receiving a

hearing from the court. In Nebraska, it is the probation officer’s responsibility to conduct

a formalized intake assessment and determine appropriate placement based off the

recommendations from the assessment. Probation officers take into consideration what

placement is available at the time. The probation officer is also responsible for attending a

detention hearing if the youth is detained and present the reasons for detention. At that

time the court will look at alternative placements, if any are available, that are the least

restrictive. The court then determines whether the youth shall be released or continue in

the detention placement. Delayed release is pursuant to parental request for services prior

to accepting back into the family home. The court will also take into consideration the least

restrictive placement that will ensure the juvenile’s safety and reduce any constitutional

infringement.


The following are statistics provided by District Six Probation Data Analyst.


These charts show the genders specifically for juvenile intakes for the last three fiscal years.


https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/forms-publications?field_publication_report_type_tid=1&=Apply

https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/forms-publications?field_publication_report_type_tid=1&=Apply


Juvenile Diversion

Dodge County has an active diversion program and fulltime diversion director funded by the

County. When a juvenile is arrested or cited and released, the Dodge County Attorney

reviews the case and determines if the youth is eligible for diversion services. To be

eligible a youth must be a first time offender with no prior diversion or probation record.

Crimes committed by youth which are eligible for the Diversion Program include; Criminal

Mischief, Trespassing, Assault, MIP (Minor in Possession), Possession of Marijuana less

than an ounce, Paraphernalia, Uncontrollable/Child in Need of Supervision, Leaving the

Scene, Disturbing the Peace, Disorderly Conduct, and Shoplifting. Once the Dodge County

Attorney decides a youth is eligible, a referral is made to the Dodge County Diversion

Director for review. The Director mails a letter inviting the youth and parents to apply for

Diversion. If interested, a meeting is scheduled and the Dodge County Diversion Director

conducts an intake interview with the youth. During the intake interview, a Nebraska Youth

Screen (NYS) assessment is completed. If the youth scores in the low to moderate risk

range on the NYS, they are considered suitable for the program. Youth who score in the

high to very high risk level are further reviewed by the Director and County Attorney to

determine if Diversion is still appropriate. Once a youth is accepted into the program, a

contract is developed and signed by the youth, parent(s) and Director. A typical contract

consists of terms such as a curfew, community service, subject to random drug tests,

required passing grades/school attendance, and to report any new law violations. The youth

are monitored by the Director, whom conducts home visits (with law enforcement if

necessary) and phone calls for curfew checks. The program lasts approximately three

months and once a youth has successfully completes all conditions of the contract, the

Dodge County Attorney’s Office is notified and the original charge is dismissed.

Dodge County also has an active Truancy Diversion program and a fulltime truancy

Diversion officer funded by the Community Based aid grant, through the Crime

Commission. This position also evaluates if all school-based resources have been

exhausted. Once a referral is made to the County Attorney’s Office from a school, the

County Attorney decides if the case is eligible for the Truancy Diversion Program or if a

Juvenile Petition would be filed. If a youth is referred for the Truancy Diversion Program,


a meeting is set up by the Truancy Officer with the parents and youth. The NYS assessment

is completed and if the youth is suitable, a meeting is scheduled with the assistance of the

Nebraska Mediation Center. The meeting includes the parents, youth, Truancy Diversion

officer, and school official. This meeting is facilitated by a trained mediator from the

Nebraska Mediation Center. The focus of the meeting is to help determine what issues

were contributing to the youth’s truancy and how the Diversion program could effectively

address the issues. If the youth and family agree to participate in the program, a contract

is developed with conditions such as a curfew, subject to random drug testing, attend school

(only allowed to miss 4 total days of school), and work with any community agencies as

determined to be necessary for the youth’s success. The Truancy Diversion officer checks

daily on the youth’s school attendance and if a youth was not in school the officer attempts

to locate the youth/parents to find out why the youth was not in school. The Truancy

Diversion program lasts an average of 18 weeks spanning multiple quarters to ensure

improvement. Eligible youth include first time truancy offenders or those who had been on

formal Diversion for truancy in the past. Once a youth successfully completes all

conditions of the Diversion contract, the County Attorney’s Office is notified and the case

is dismissed. Please refer to the Community Youth Coordinator section on the next page

for more information. The following data was obtained from the Dodge County Attorney’s

Office.

Dodge County Referrals to Juvenile Diversion 2015:

2016: Juvenile Diversion Number Referrals 63 Successful Completions 51 Redirected to Court 5

2017: Juvenile Diversion Number Referrals 64 Successful Completions 54 Redirected to Court 10

Data pulled from JCMS *Note some youth were referred and not enrolled, or some parents may have refused Diversion.

Juvenile Diversion Number Referrals 93 Successful Completions 62 Redirected to Court 16


Dodge County Juvenile Diversion

Data collected from JCMS Demographic Reports from 1/1/2015-10/26/2018


Community Youth Coordinator The Dodge County Juvenile Services Team created the position for the Community Youth

Coordinator, (CYC). The CYC will continue to work at diverting truant youth from the

court system, but will also work with crossover youth and at-risk youth identified within

the community. The CYC is responsible for providing case management services, as an

alternative to court involvement, to youth identified with at-risk behavior, truancy issues

and to youth with a prior abuse/neglect history who commit a delinquent offense (crossover

youth). This position will provide referral services to youth and their families through

prevention and aftercare services to prevent a higher system of care. This position is a

community effort to connect families to resources and services in partnership with Dodge

County, Nebraska Probation, Dodge County Attorney’s Office, Nebraska Mediation

Center, Fremont Family Coalition, and the Fremont United Way.

The CYC is responsible for scheduling a family focused meeting immediately upon

receiving a referral. The CYC completes an intake and assessments, and based on the

findings from the assessment will connect the youth and their family to local services and

resources to address and support case success. If a youth is referred from the County

Attorney for truancy or is identified as a crossover youth, an additional meeting is

scheduled with the youth and family to discuss contributing issues and develop a Diversion

plan of services and contract. In attendance at this meeting include; DHHS caseworkers,

Probation, school staff, therapists, GAL, etc. The Diversion contract may include but is not

limited to; educational services, substance use evaluation and/or treatment, mental health

evaluation and/or treatment, community service, mentoring, accountability check ins,

written assignments, pro-social activities, etc. The youth and family are required to

participate in the youth’s Diversion plan and contract until all conditions are successfully

completed. The Coordinator will also assist the youth and family in developing an aftercare

plan. Truancy and Crossover programs are free of charge for the youth and family.


The CYC is responsible for providing case management services for all youth enrolled in

the Truancy and/or Crossover Diversion programs and this includes but is not limited to

home visits, tracking daily school attendance, phone contact with family, school officials,

service providers, and school visits. The amount of contact and visits are determined by

the youth and family needs. If a youth and/or family do not agree to the Diversion plan

and contract, the County Attorney will file a Juvenile Petition.

The Community Youth Coordinator is responsible for building and maintaining existing

partnerships and knowledge of available preventative community resources, and regularly

attend Fremont Family Coalition meetings/trainings, facilitate the quarterly Dodge County

Truancy Task Force meetings, and facilitate the quarterly Juvenile Services team meetings.

The Community Youth Coordinator will also be responsible for applying for the

Community based-aid grant and managing the grant dollars. This includes submitting

quarterly narratives and cash reports to the Crime Commission.

Utilizing the above processes, the Community Youth Coordinator will be promoting

positive youth development by increasing the awareness of prevention, intervention, and

educational services to youth and their families within the community.


Juvenile Probation Nebraska Probation uses a specific supervision approach for juveniles whose level of risk

indicates a need for higher intervention and incorporates intensely structured supervision

case management and services. Core to this approach is cognitive behavioral restructuring,

targeted treatment interventions, family focused case planning and community team

approach as a method to reduce the juvenile’s risk of further delinquent behavior. The

probation officer’s supervision upholds the Juvenile Court standards of balancing the

juvenile’s best interest while maintaining public safety and strives to keep juveniles in the

least restrictive environment whenever possible. Nebraska Probation is committed to

providing Evidence-Based, family inclusive services designed to change behavior and

strengthen the competency of our youth, enhancing community safety.

Youth on probation in Dodge County are assigned to a juvenile specific probation officer.

The juvenile probation officer is responsible for assessing the youth’s risks and needs as

well as the youth’s strengths. The juvenile probation officer targets interventions based on

the juvenile’s risks and needs and builds upon the juvenile’s strengths and identified

support systems. The juvenile probation officer also works closely with the juvenile’s

family and school officials to monitor their progress, reinforce their positive behavior, and

sanction any violations. When a youth satisfactorily completes all required conditions of

their probation order, they are referred for a release from probation.


The following are statistics provided by District Six Probation Data Analyst for all

juveniles on Probation for the last 3 fiscal years.


These two charts show the gender for all youth on Probation in Dodge County for the last

3 fiscal years.


These charts show the demographics for all juveniles on probation for the last three fiscal

years.


Section V

Identified Priority Areas

& Corresponding Strategies


PRIORITY AREAS Priority 1. Promote positive youth development by having a mentor program that is community based, geared towards youth involved in the juvenile justice system. General Description Dodge County does not have a mentoring program for high risk youth. We plan to utilize the model, Youth Initiated Mentoring (YIM). This is a unique evidence-informed model that has been implemented in Douglas County in order to meet the challenges of matching juvenile justice involved youth with mentors. This model empowers youth and incorporates their voice in identifying and engaging potential mentors within the constellation of caring adults already a part of their lives. The youth are then matched with their selected mentor in a formal mentoring model. The formal mentoring structure ensures the screening and training of the mentor is supervised, facilitated, monitored for a year or longer, and supported by mentoring programs utilizing best practices. This model is research-based and collaborative with the ultimate vision to bring about systemic changes that allow mentoring programs to serve more high risk youth with higher quality services. This is done in part by leveraging existing resources across the entire sector and community. Relevant Data Dodge County had 1.86-2.86 suicide related calls to Boys Town Hotline from 2011-2015 Per 1,000 Population (Ages 10-14) Source: Region 6


o Students who meet regularly with their mentors are 52% less likely than their peers to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class. (Public/Private Ventures study of Big Brothers Big Sisters)

o In addition to better school attendance and a better chance of going on to higher education, mentored youth maintain better attitudes toward school. (The Role of Risk, 2013)

o 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking. (Public/Private Ventures study of Big Brothers Big Sisters)

o Young adults who face an opportunity gap but have a mentor are: 81% more likely to participate regularly in sports or extracurricular activities than those who do not. (The Mentoring Effect, 2014)

Source: http://www.mentoring.org/why-mentoring/mentoring-impact/#1442856309069-add22431-aa80 Contributing Factors • Dodge County has a mentoring program, but only for low risk youth • FPS had 52 students drop out in the 2016-2017 school year • Dodge County previously had Big Brothers Big Sisters, however it closed due to

funding • Pro-social activities are always encouraged from Diversion and Probation

http://www.mdrc.org/publication/role-risk

http://www.mdrc.org/publication/role-risk

http://www.mentoring.org/program-resources/mentor-resources-and-publications/the-mentoring-effect/

http://www.mentoring.org/program-resources/mentor-resources-and-publications/the-mentoring-effect/

http://www.mentoring.org/why-mentoring/mentoring-impact/#1442856309069-add22431-aa80


Strategy 1 Implement the Youth Initiated Mentor Program at the Hope Center. The mentor program will be administered through the Hope Center for Kids in Fremont. They will do the YIM for 50% of youth and another mentor program open to any youth for the other 50% of their time. Community based-aid funding will provide $20,000 for the YIM model mentor program. Hope Center for Kids is providing the remainder to employ a Mentor Coordinator. This will be a new position and housed at the Hope Center. This position will be in charge of coordinating with juvenile justice partners to match youth with mentors through Youth Initiated Mentoring.

Parties involved Hope Center for Kids, Dodge County Attorney’s Office, District Six Probation office, and Community members.

Timeline Year 1 & 2 – First pilot year of the program. Collect data and submit it to the Crime Commission and Midlands Mentoring Partnership. Year 3 – Continue submitting data and building program.

Resources Required Funding from Crime Commission, funding from the Hope Center, cooperation from Probation, Diversion, school personnel, etc. Program development through the Hope Center. Training and technical assistance from Midlands Mentoring Partnership to help get the program started. Education for community stakeholders to promote the program.

Expected Results • Increased school attendance and

graduation rates

• Improved attitudes towards school

• Decrease drug and alcohol use in

youth ages 11-18

• More youth involved in the community

• Improved mental health in youth

• Decrease in law violations

• Serve 15 juvenile justice involved youth the first fiscal year


Priority 2. Reduce truancy through early intervention and community collaborative efforts. General Description Truancy is a major problem that negatively influences the future of our youth. Truancy may be the beginning of a lifetime of problems for students who are habitually truant from school. Because these students fall behind in their school work, many become frustrated and drop out of school. Youth often view dropping out as an easier resolution than trying to catch up on their school work. Truancy is often a precursor to delinquent and criminal activity. Truant students are at higher risk of becoming involved with drugs, alcohol, or violence.

Relevant Data

Truancy Referrals to Dodge County Attorney by school year

2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 53 31 27 26

The following table was collected from Fremont Public Schools showing the average

daily attendance rates for all students.


2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

2014-2015

Fremont Public Schools 94.7% 94.3% 94.3% 95.3% 95.2% 94.6% 94.5%Dodge County* 95.0% 94.6% 94.7% 95.6% 95.5% 94.8% 94.9%Nebraska Public Schools 94.9% 94.8% 95.2% 95.6% 95.3% 95.2% 95.5%

90%

92%

94%

96%

98%

100%

School attendance rates (2008-2009 to 2014-2015)

Fremont High School truancy rates, students 9-12 who missed more than 20 days per year.

School year 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017

Students more than 20 days absent 964 1018 1016 *The source data are reported by school districts. County-level rates are calculated by taking the weighted average of all public school districts within a county.


Contributing Factors • Youth who are socially isolated, have poor inter-personal skills, and lack

positive peer relationships at school • Parents who lack an appreciation for education and are ineffective in their

parenting and/or lack parental control and supervision • Family instability such as single parent households, parental discord and poor

parent-child relationships


Strategy 2 Community Youth Coordinator will continue serving youth who are referred to the Dodge County Attorney’s office for truancy. The Community Youth Coordinator will provide case management services, as an alternative to court involvement, to youth with truancy issues, to youth with a prior abuse/neglect history who commit a delinquent offense, and at-risk youth. The Community Youth Coordinator will attend monthly community meetings to be informed of all the resources in the community to better serve youth and families. The Community Youth Coordinator will initiate a facilitated meeting to identify challenges and resources for the youth Utilize community resources such as community response, and other preventative services.

Parties involved Dodge County Attorney, Nebraska Mediation Center, Fremont Family Coalition, Fremont Public Schools, and District Six Probation Office. Timeline Year 1- Continue providing services to at-risk youth and their families, truant youth, and crossover youth; monitor their attendance and provide local resources Year 2 – Evaluate effectiveness of program and ways to improve program

Resources Required Funding from Crime Commission to include; family support services, mental health, therapeutic services to serve both juveniles and families, Dodge County as housing agency and financial contributor for position; cooperation of school, law enforcement, others involved with the program, cooperative inter-local agreements among participating agencies Expected Results

• Youth who participate in the diversion program are expected to demonstrate consistent attendance in school and satisfactorily complete all conditions of their diversion agreement.

• Youth should improve their behaviors at home and school.

• Parent Involvement in Schooling – Parent(s) are actively involved in helping youth succeed in school, buy-in from parents.

• Community Values Youth – Youth perceive that adults in community value them

• Decrease in truancy rates


Priority 3. Reduce the number of youth entering the juvenile justice system.

General Description Youth in Dodge County continue to exhibit criminal and delinquent behavior. Problem behaviors consist of drug and alcohol offenses, property crimes, delinquency, and related high-risk behaviors. Research strongly indicates that keeping youth out of the juvenile justice system has numerous benefits to the youth and the community. Diversion is effective at holding youth accountable for first time offenses without the expense of entering the court system. Diversion programs can assist in decreasing the recidivism rate, promote prevention strategies for youth, and costs associated with the juvenile justice system.

Relevant Data

Leading causes of juvenile arrests in Dodge County (2014)

Liquor laws (36 juvenile arrests) Simple assault (24) Drug abuse violations (32) Vandalism (15) Runaway (31) Aggravated assault (5) Larceny (25) Disorderly conduct (4)

(Nebraska Crime Commission)

• The Dodge County Clerk database indicates the following rate of costs for legal defense for Dodge County juveniles.

Dodge County Juvenile Detention Costs

Year Amount 2014-2015 $355,952.15 2015-2016 $345,730.98 2016-2017 $372,183.36

The Nebraska Supreme Court Annual Caseload Report indicates the following rate of juvenile cases adjudicated through the Dodge County Juvenile Court for FY 2017.

Type Number Misdemeanor 89 Felony 20 Neglected/Dependent 81 Status Offender 22 Mentally Ill and Dangerous 0 Infraction 0 Total 212

Contributing Factors • Tolerant attitudes toward the use of alcohol and other substances by youth among some

segments of the population • Abdication of parental responsibility in the failure to adequately supervise and monitor

the behavior of their children, actually enabling behavior in some cases • Youth disregard for the law, authority, and community standards


Strategy 3 Utilize victim youth conferencing through the Nebraska Mediation Center. Implement more school-based prevention services. Continue the Dodge County Juvenile Diversion program and incorporate preventative services including mental health and substance abuse treatment.

The Dodge County Juvenile Diversion program is administered through the Dodge County Attorney’s office. The director and most services are funded through Dodge County. The Dodge County Juvenile Diversion Program is designed for first time offenders to avoid going through the juvenile court system. All candidates are screened through an interview process to determine suitability. The program is a minimum of three months. All Diversion agreements are individually created and some terms participants are required to complete include; community service hours, curfew checks, attend therapy, pro-social activity, drug testing as needed, and are required to routinely meet with the Director. If a youth successfully completes their Diversion Program, the County Attorney’s Office is notified and their charge(s) are dismissed.

Parties Involved Dodge County Attorney, Dodge County Diversion Services, School officials, Law Enforcement, Nebraska Mediation Center, and Probation Timeline Years 1 & 2 - Continue providing services to pre-adjudicated youth; reach out to schools to be more involved in preventative measures. Continue professional networking and building relationships with school officials to collaborate. Year 3 - Continue providing services to pre-adjudicated youth; evaluate effectiveness of programs. Sustain funding for programs, especially Victim Youth Conferencing as it is currently grant funded. Resources Required Funding from Dodge County, Nebraska Mediation Center, Dodge County Attorney as administrating agency; Dodge County Sheriff as participating agency; funding from Crime Commission, cooperation of school, law enforcement, probation, and others involved with the program Expected Results

• Reduce the number of youth being referred to court for possible adjudication.

• Measure recidivism

• Hold youth accountable for delinquent behavior

• Decrease the recidivism rate and promote prevention strategies for youth

• Understanding consequences and impact of actions


Priority 4. Reduce the detention of juveniles within Dodge County and explore other possible detention alternatives.

General Description Research strongly suggests that detention of youth has a profoundly negative impact on their mental and physical well-being, their education, and their employment. Other studies from around the country show that incarcerated youth have higher recidivism rates than youth supervised in other kinds of settings. The community believes the costs associated with detention could be better spent to help youth be more successful within the community. Relevant Data

• The Dodge County Clerk database indicates the following rate of costs for the detention of Dodge County juveniles.

Dodge County Juvenile Detention Costs

Year Amount 2014-2015 $76,235.95 2015-2016 $166,572.94 2016-2017 $3,928.52

Contributing Factors • Youth disregard for the law, authority, and community standards. • Negative peer interactions and delinquent friends and acquaintances. • Lack of parental responsibility and failure to adequately supervise and monitor the

behavior of their children appropriately and effectively.


Strategy 4 Dodge County has included detention alternatives in the Community based Aid grant. Dodge County’s current detention alternatives include Juvenile Tracker, Electronic Monitoring, and shelter care. Dodge County continues to explore other strategies to divert youth from detention including Intensive Family Preservation, Family Support, Crisis Response, Rapid Response through Region Six, and Juvenile Youth Family Conferencing through Nebraska Mediation Center. Best practice is to utilize a tracker or electronic monitoring only when detention is on the table. These services will only be utilized when detention is an option.

Parties Involved Law Enforcement, Probation, Dodge County Court, Dodge County Attorney’s office, Nebraska Mediation Center Timeline Year 1 & 2 - Continue functional programs; Probation and Law Enforcement staff training, explore other alternatives that are available Year 3 - Monitor results; conduct interim evaluation Resources Required Training for Probation staff to implement other options. Collaborations with community agencies. Expected Results

• Reduction in the use of pre-adjudication detention

• Reduce detention of youth and avoid harmful consequences

• Reduce the costs of detention within the County

• Reduce uncontrollable citations for juveniles in Dodge County

• Detention should only be used as a last resort when other efforts have been exhausted

• Increase of youth referrals for prevention from law enforcement


Appendix

A. Juvenile Justice System Analysis Tool B. Approval Letter/minutes from County Board


Appendix A

Juvenile Justice System Analysis Tool Data Points Total Population (*2016) Juvenile Population (**2016)

Total Population 36,757 3,824 White 95.2% 2,994 Black/African American 1.2% 42 Asian .7% 28 American Indian 1.2% 16 Hispanic 12.1% 744 Juveniles Arrested 240 Juveniles Detained 12 Juveniles Prosecuted 0 Juveniles Placed in Diversion 63 Number of Juveniles Adjudicated 212 Number of Juveniles placed on Probation 132 YRTC-Kearney commitments 5 YRTC-Geneva commitments 0 Sources: *2016 U.S. Census Data **OJJDP website 2016 state reports (Ages 10-17) Note: Hispanic may include another racial group.

System Decision Point: Arrest/Citation Party responsible: Police/Law Enforcement

Decision: Whether an information report should be filed, or what offense, if any, with which juvenile should be cited or arrested Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - Sufficient factual basis to believe - Degree to which a parent may push the offense committed issue - Underlying support for a particular - Fremont High School has a strict policy offense regarding law offenses and those involved in school activities - History with family/juvenile


Decision: Whether to cite or arrest juvenile for juvenile or adult offense Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - Seriousness of offense - Victim's desire-most victims don't want - Age of juvenile a juvenile cited just to know that what they did was wrong

- If the juvenile is already on probation, Law enforcement has a list of active probation cases so can properly address

Decision: Whether to take juvenile into custody or to cite and release (NRS § 43-248(1), (2); § 43-250(1), (2), (3)) Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - As stated in statute - Immediate safety risk to juvenile - Immediate/short term risk to public - Seriousness of perceived offense - Extent to which parent or other responsible adult available to take responsibility for juvenile

- Will release juvenile to responsible parent/family member - Likelihood juvenile will flee

System Decision Point: Initial Detention Party responsible: State of Nebraska Probation

Decision: Whether juvenile should be detained, placed in an alternative, or released. Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - Risk assessment outcome - Has no formal contract with any completed by Probation detention center for placement so uses

Accessibility of placement options: Madison, Lancaster, or Douglas parent's/guardians, detention alternatives, counties for secure facilities and shelter, staff secure facility, secure Sarpy for staff secure detention facility - Detention Screening instrument requires approval for override by supervisor


System Decision Point: Charge Juvenile

Party responsible: County Attorney Decision: Whether to prosecute juvenile Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - Likelihood of successful prosecution - Has formal three month curriculum- - Factual basis and evidence sufficient to based diversion program that is adjudicate supervised by the Dodge County Attorney - Diversion is used for first time offenders only

- Diversion programming is facilitated by a Diversion Coordinator under the supervision of the Dodge County Attorney - Has formal Diversion program for

truancy and crossover youth that is supervised by the Dodge County Attorney - A coordinated response for prevention or at-risk youth through a collaborative effort of County Attorney, Probation,

Fremont Family Coalition, and schools. - Services available via Diversion, Probation and likely benefit to juvenile; likelihood to rehabilitate, help juvenile

Decision: Whether youth should be prosecuted as juvenile or adult Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - As outlined in statute - Case by case basis, including the history - Seriousness of offense of the juvenile’s prior criminal record - Age of juvenile - possibility of rehabilitation of juvenile

through juvenile probation services and program. Decision: Offense for which juvenile should be charged Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors

- As outlined in statute - Determined by factual basis from police reports


System Decision Point: Pre-adjudication detention Party responsible: Juvenile Court Judge

Decision: Whether juvenile detained at the time of citation/arrest should continue in

detention or out-of-home placement pending adjudication Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - Whether there is an "immediate and - No pre-adjudication options except to urgent necessity for the protection of remain in detention such juvenile" - Whether there is an "immediate and urgent necessity for the protection of the person or property of another" - Whether the juvenile is likely to flee the jurisdiction of the court

System Decision Point: Probable Cause Hearing Party responsible: Juvenile Court Judge

Decision: Whether State can show that probable cause exists that juvenile is within the

jurisdiction of the court Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - As stated in statute - No factors reported

System Decision Point: Competency Evaluation Party responsible: Juvenile Court Judge

Decision: Whether juvenile is competent to participate in the proceedings Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - As outlined in statute - Requests are not made for competency evaluations Decision: Whether juvenile is "responsible" for his/her acts Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - "Complete evaluation of the juvenile - No factors reported including any authorized area of inquiry requested by the court." - Opinion of physician, psychiatrist, community mental health program, psychologist, or licensed therapist.


System Decision Point: Adjudication Party responsible: Juvenile Court Judge

Decision: Whether the juvenile is, beyond a reasonable doubt, "a person described by § 43-247" Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - Legal sufficiency of evidence - No factors reported presented during adjudication hearing - Whether juvenile admits the allegations of the petition (or, "pleads to the charges") - Residency - Age of juvenile Decision: Whether to order probation to conduct a pre-disposition investigation (statutory authority unclear--see also: § 29- 2261 (2) Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - As outlined in statute - Judge will order on most cases Decision: Whether to order single focus evaluation Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - As outlined in statute - Will order a PDI and evaluation for components provided by each assessment - Probation will recommend an evaluation in their respective reports Decision: Whether to order a PDI and a single focus Evaluation Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - As outlined in statute - Will usually order a PDI first with a subsequent evaluation as needed

System Decision Point: Disposition Party responsible: Juvenile Court Judge

Decision: Whether to place juvenile on probation Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - As outlined in statute - All cases will be disposed of to probation


Decision: Whether to commit juvenile to a YRTC Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - Whether juvenile is at least twelve - Judge will use if all other interventions years of age have not been effective

- Exhaust all in home community resources

System Decision Point: Administrative Sanctions Party responsible: Probation

Decision: Whether to impose administrative sanctions on a probationer Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - Probation officers have reasonable - Probation is using for juvenile cases as cause to believe that probationer has outlined by statute committed a technical violation - Examples of technical violations are positive test for drug or alcohol use, failure to report for such a test or failure to comply with substance abuse evaluations or treatment, failure to attend school, etc.

System Decision Point: Motion To Revoke Probation Party responsible: County Attorney

Decision: Whether to file a motion to revoke probation Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - As outlined in statute - If a motion is requested by probation a new court filing will be completed for a new case which invokes the revocation request

- Basis for violation, length of time on probation prior to alleged violation and whether alleged violation related to original charges/adjudication.


Decision Point: Modification/Revocation of Probation Party responsible: Juvenile Court Judge

Decision: Whether to modify or revoke probation Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - As outlined in statute - Judge will use a continuum of care approach as a result of a revocation

System Decision Point: Terminating Adjudication Party responsible: Juvenile Court Judge

Decision: Whether juvenile has satisfactorily completed their probation conditions or the treatment program of their out of home placement Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors - Juvenile's post-adjudication behavior - Judge sets a determinate set of time for and response to treatment and probation cases interventions


Appendix B

(Letter/minutes from County Board approving plan)

dodge county juvenile services comprehensive …...meggie studt, chair community youth coordinator...

Documents