Overview 

These programs are designed to provide workshops, training and programs offered for at-risk youths who are struggling with ending negative behavioral/conduct, which is totally inappropriate in today’s society. This activity may entail ungovernable criminal involvement within the home, school and community. The components offered will help to assist and protect our children. Hopefully, it will help develop positive characteristics, offer opportunities and incentives that will help them lead successful lifestyles and become independent citizens.

The Department of Juvenile Services has developed and coordinated a variety of services with several focus areas. They are as follows:

Crime Prevention Clinic

This monthly program is to deter future involvement in criminal behavior. Although the program targets first offenders and offenders referred to the court for theft-related offenses, it is open to any offender who may benefit from its content.

Girl’s Only Group

This group is designed for girls 12-17 years of age. The purpose of this group is to focus on contemporary issues that face adolescent girls. It is intended to promote self-esteem, personal growth, and development and to cultivate an overall well-being oneself. The program is co-sponsored by the Audubon Girl Scout Council..

Parents in Control Support Group

This group is designed to empower parents; build on their strengths and encourage effective parenting skills.

Community Service Program

The purpose of Community Service is to hold youthful offenders accountable for their actions. Community Service is ordered by the court as a condition of probation, in lieu of monetary reimbursement to victims.

Restitution Program

Restitution is the stipulation by the court that offenders must compensate victims for all or a portion of their financial losses resulting from crime.

Pre-Employment Skills Workshop

This workshop is for adolescents between the ages of 15-17 years of age who are interested in gainful employment. The main goals are to inspire the youth to pursue a positive direction with their lives and equip them with basic skills and knowledge to gain and maintain employment.

The Juvenile Correctional Institution Awareness Program

Youths under the supervision of this Department have an opportunity to visit Angola, St. Gabriel Women’s Prison, Hunt Correctional, and Jetson Correctional Facility to learn first hand what it means to be incarcerated. This program offers a unique and sobering perspective into prison life. It encourages the active participation of the youth. It includes a tour of the institution.

Living-Giving Tree Outreach Program

Throughout each year, employees of the Department of Juvenile Services participate in a myriad of programs designed to benefit those families they serve. One such program is the St. Alphonsus Living-Giving Tree Outreach Program. Each year, the members of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church purchase and wrap Christmas gifts for children in need. These range from baby-care products to clothing to toys and radios. Since 1990, St. Alphonsus has invited Juvenile Services to participate in their giving program. As a result of the overwhelming generosity of St. Alphonsus’ parishioners, Juvenile Services Probation staff is able to deliver Christmas gifts to needy probationers, their siblings, and even their own young children.

Internship Program

Each year, the Department of Juvenile Services trains from students, from Louisiana State University, Southern University, and other institutions of higher learning in the field of social work and related fields. The students are sworn in as probation officers and an agreement of confidentiality is signed. Under the supervision of a MSW probation officer and a LCSW staff member, these students are allowed to supervise a minimum caseload, which affords them the opportunity to work directly with troubled youths. They participate in the Department’s clinics, as well as, conduct group sessions. Additionally, they participate in in-service staff training; attend staff meetings and case staffings. This program is designed to equip students with the necessary tools to become a well-rounded professional and probation officer.

Since 1970, numerous undergraduates and graduate students from Southern University, Louisiana State University, and other institutions of higher learning have received training through this department. Some graduates have been hired by the department.

Volunteers

The Volunteer Program, initiated in 1970 with invaluable assistance from the Junior League of Baton Rouge, continues to aid juvenile offenders by increasing quality of services.

Volunteers, screened and trained, work closely with detention and probation staff. The volunteers offer an effective, positive approach which is innovative, personal, enthusiastic, and caring. Juveniles can respond to this type of commitment and dedication, precisely because it is unselfishly and non-authoritatively from concerned persons from our community.

Thousands of individuals and numerous organizations have offered countless hours on behalf of troubled youth. Many persons have accepted “Big Brother” assignments with individual juveniles on probation. Others have served in the detention facility, conducting educational assistance, arts & crafts, good grooming and personal hygiene and recreational (sports, table games, etc.) activities or classes. Volunteers’ efforts have been invaluable in assisting with various clinics. Volunteers in short, have rendered numerous skills and services which provide positive experiences to promote maturity and law-abiding behavior.

Juvenile Underage Drinking Enforcement (J.U.D.E.)

The Juvenile Underage Drinking Enforcement (JUDE) Ordinance became effective August 1, 1993, and is designed to reduce alcohol incidences with East Baton Rouge Parish Youth. The I CARE Program is pleased to join forces with The Department of Juvenile Services, Baton Rouge Police, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, ABC Office and Juvenile Court to offer Alcohol Awareness Seminar. The goal of our seminar is to heighten the awareness of the seriousness of drinking by adolescents as it relates to personal safety as well as the safety of others. In addition to the seminar, I CARE staff addresses any concerns the participants may have.

Drug Screening Program

The Drug Screening program is an intense program that targets drug offenders, high-risk probationers, and those probationers in the substance abuse treatment program. The probationer is screened randomly in a pro-active attempt to deter and detect substance abuse, to encourage compliance with supervision, or to make the appropriate referral for services.

Anger Management Clinic

This clinic is a behavior modification program that encourages participants to use less aggressive ways to respond to situations that make them feel uncomfortable, threatened or vulnerable. Participants are typically those offenders referred to the court on assault and/or battery charges.

Chemical Awareness Program

A monthly program designed for assessment, prevention, and educational purposes. Participants include those offenders who commit an alcohol or drug related offense, as well as any youth identified as high risk.

H.O.P.E Program

HOPE (Helping Ourselves Have Positive Experiences) is an adolescent peer program designed to teach adolescents how to educate their peers about HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDS’s). The target population is high-risk youth under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Services. The curriculum involves a series of learning activities, such as films, small group discussion, games, and role-playing. They view entertaining educational and culturally relevant videos depicting young teens in various situations. Although many adolescents know a fair amount about HIV and AIDS, they often do not know how to apply safer sex practices or might not be motivated to apply them. Adolescents often to feel that they are invulnerable to HIV. Many adolescents fail to use condoms or do not now how to use condoms correctly. These are some of the issues addressed during the clinic.