Juvenile Probation Services

COURT WATCH: The juvenile spends several hours observing sentencing hearings in the district and circuit courts. The juvenile is also required to complete an essay which details the juvenile's impressions of his or her observations in court. No cost.

DRAWING ASSIGNMENT: This is a series of twelve assignments which the juvenile must complete within a specified period of time. This option is usually recommended for young or low functioning juveniles. This assignment presents helpful information about the juvenile to the Probation Officer. No cost to family.

OFFENSE BOOKLET: This is a series of seven essays which must be completed by the juvenile. Each essay must be at least three pages in length. The topics of the essays are chosen such that the juvenile, in order to complete the essay, must examine the consequences of his or her actions. No cost.

LETTER OF APOLOGY: Letters can be written to victims or parents. The length of the letters varies according to the offenses and the juvenile's writing ability. No cost.

YOUTH EDUCATION ABOUT SHOPLIFTING PROGRAM (Y.E.S.):  This is a correspondence program which is intended to increase the juvenile's understanding of the impact which shoplifting has on the community. The family must pay a $65.00 cost directly to the program. Upon the juvenile's completion of the correspondence materials, Y.E.S. completes an evaluation of the juvenile's work product and provides it to the probation officer.

DAY TREATMENT:  This program is the most intensive community-based program the court utilizes. It is a six month program which provides daily structure to the juvenile and his or her family. Including individual, group, substance abuse, and family counseling. The juveniles are under the supervision of the Day Treatment staff for as many as six days per week from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Day Treatment is funded by state and county funds.   The cost of the program is $500.00 per juvenile.

STRAIGHT TALK: A program for kids aged 8-17 who are fire setters. This program is not for violent kids or kids who have been in substance abuse treatment. It meets on one Saturday per month from 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Participation of a parent is mandatory. No cost.

EMPLOYMENT: The juvenile may be ordered to complete a number of applications and submit copies of the applications to the probation officer for review prior to turning the applications in to the potential employers. Once employment is obtained, the juvenile may be required to maintain that employment and focus his or her attention on skill development and responsible work     ethics. Typically, once the juvenile is employed, he or she is required to provide the probation officer with copies of all pay stubs.

LIVINGSTON YOUTH TOBACCO EDUCATION PROGRAM (L.Y.T.E.): Juveniles attend a 2 hour educational program which addresses the health effects of tobacco use. The family is required to pay $20.00 directly to the program. Classes are held on the third Monday of each month from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

SCHOOL: Attendance is required. Weekly school progress reports detailing the juveniles' academic and behavioral performance may also be required. Probation Officers may also choose to require juveniles to bring their textbooks to probation meetings (textbooks are frequently the places juveniles display their gang affiliation).

ELECTRONIC MONITORING (TETHER): A monitoring device used to enforce house arrest. Cost is $6.50 per day plus connection, disconnection and dispositional visit costs.  All costs are assessed to the family. Approximately 2 of this cost is reimbursed by the State of Michigan.

JUVENILE MRT/JAIL TOUR:  Livingston County 44^th Circuit Court-Family Division-Juvenile Unit has partnered with Livingston County Community Corrections with the assistance of the Livingston County Jail/Sheriff Department. This program provides youth who have come to the attention of the Court, the opportunity to tour the Livingston County Jail and to hear about jail life from the perspective of a select group of ex-inmates. The ex-inmates discuss the choices that they made throughout their teenage year that lead them in the direction of incarceration. They also discuss the choices that they are currently making that are leading them to a positive law abiding lifestyle.  The goal of this program is, to change attitudes, behaviors and beliefs that many of the Livingston County Youth have about how the choice they make today won’t effect their lives tomorrow. 

INTENSIVE IN-HOME COUNSELING: The court contracts with private, masters-level counselors who have extensive experience working with juveniles. The contracts with both male and female counselors. Counseling is provided for a maximum of 90 days, usually 1-3 hours per week. Counselors are paid $65.00 per hour from a joint budget of the court and the Family Independence Agency. No cost to the family, if they attend all scheduled counseling session.

WRAPAROUND SERVICES: A wraparound specialist creates a service plan for the juveniles and their families. A team counseling and behavior modification approach is utilized. The wraparound team may consist of a probation officer, a school teacher, a C.M.H. therapist, an F.I.A. worker, and, most importantly, friends or neighbors who the family relies upon for emotional support. Wraparound specialists are hired via contract by C.M.H. The program has a limited number of openings, so care must be chosen in referring families for wraparound treatment. The program is funded by joint community funding, which includes court funding. No cost to the family.

SEX OFFENDER ASSESSMENT/COUNSELING: An assessment to the community risk level can be conducted. There is also individual and group counseling for male offenders that have been evaluated by the therapist. Duration of counseling is generally from one to two years.

COUNSELING: May be arranged privately by the family for individual and/or family counseling.

RUNAWAY/SHELTER PROGRAM: Livingston Family Center – Provides counseling services for youth and families. (810) 231-9591 The Livingston Family Center provides educational, supportive, and
therapeutic services to youth and their families. The LFC offers counseling, treatment services, and prevention programs; supervised visitation and child exchange site. Therapy services are provided on a sliding-fee scale based on family income. Some insurance plans are also accepted.

The Connection Runaway and Homeless Youth Program and Emergency Youth Shelter is one of the Livingston Family Center programs, that provides * Free * 24 / 7 * Confidential * individual and family counseling, support and emergency shelter for teens ages 13-17. Participation in the program is voluntary. The shelter offers safe, emergency shelter for up to 14 days, along with counseling, support groups and case management services at no charge. Parents must give their permission and teens must participate in all counseling and services. The program is funded in part by the State of Michigan DHS, Department of Health & Human Services, MSHDA and the Livingston County United Way. Call 866.440.SAFE (7233).


?JUVENILE COURT SUMMER GIRLS’ GROUP? -  sponsored by the Huron Valley Girl Scout Council, is aimed toward the education and empowerment of young women through positive activities. The group focuses on building strengths, stressing the importance of physical health, identifying and pursuing healthy relationships, and planning for the future. The group is facilitated by two Juvenile Probation Officers; Tanya Morrow and Angela Noffsinger. The group will begin on July 5, 2006 with a parent meeting and participant assessment. The group will end on August 9, 2006. The group will be held every Wednesday from approximately 9:00am until 3:00pm.
 

SUBSTANCE ABUSE ASSESSMENTS: May be ordered by the court to be completed at the families' expense. Typically, the evaluation is ordered immediately subsequent to adjudication.

RANDOM URINE SCREENS: Urine samples are taken at the court under the supervision of two probation officers or samples are taken by an outside company. The results are analyzed by an outside facility. Results of the test analysis are transmitted to the court by facsimile within seven days of the date on which the sample was taken. Cost is paid by the juvenile ranging from $7.00 to $17.00 per sample.

REAL LIFE: The program targets juveniles age 13-17 who are 1st time offenders for an alcohol or drug charge. The Real life program is run by the University of Michigan Hospital for the juvenile and parents. The program uses educational and experiential speakers. Targeted at high risk behavior due to alcohol and drug use. Attendance of a parent is mandatory. Cost to family is $100.00.

PRIVATE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT: May be inpatient or outpatient and is usually funded by the family's insurance. On rare occasions the court will pay for substance abuse services.

MIP EDUCATION WEEKEND: This is a combination of the weekend boot camp program and substance abuse counseling. It provides an intensive, physically rigorous weekend lasting from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon. This program is partly grant funded, the family is assessed a cost of $100.00.

OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT OPTIONS

DETENTION:

• DETENTION CENTERS: At Times the court utilize available juvenile beds within the state when our other options have been exhausted. The costs vary range from $195.00 to $285.00 per day depending upon the facility available. Costs are assessed to the family.

BOOT CAMP PROGRAMS:

The court may order a juvenile to attend a 30 day to nine month, military type residential program. The cost range from $155.00 to $300.00 per day. Costs are assessed to the family.


RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT/PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS:

Placement costs range from $158.00 per day to $300.00 per day. Costs are assessed to the family.