JUVENILE PROBATION

Our Mission

The Mission of the Randall County Juvenile Probation Department is to provide quality preventive and rehabilitative services for youthful offenders, youth at risk of offending, their families and the community. These services should be provided in a way that assures an appropriate level of supervision and services for the needs of the youth and their families; promote the safety and welfare of the community and create a professional, healthy efficient workplace so that those served can become self-sufficient, productive, law-abiding citizens.

The Randall County Juvenile Probation Department believes:

• Individuals have worth regardless of their choices
• Individuals have the capacity to change
• Individuals should be held accountable for their choices
• The community deserves to be safe
• Victims deserve an advocate
• We are an essential part of the change process

Overview of Services

A juvenile (ages 10-17) can enter the juvenile justice system in a variety of ways; however, referrals are most often made by local law enforcement officials. Most arrests of juveniles in Randall County result in a referral to this department. Once a juvenile is referred to this department, a decision is made on how to best serve the needs of the youth, his family and the community. In most cases and effort is made to provide the youth with the opportunity to remain in his or her own community. If the need exists, the youth is referred to Juvenile Court. The juvenile court has basically three options regarding the disposition of juvenile offenders: probation while remaining at home, placement on probation outside of the home, or commitment to the Texas Youth Commission. If a child is placed on supervision, a probation officer is assigned to that child and monitors their behavior, provides appropriate counseling and guidance for the youth and his or her family, and visits the child’s home and school.

Additionally Randall County Juvenile Probation offers services besides traditional probation, which are available to any resident of Randall County. The services are as follows:

1.Youth and Family Diversion Program This program is devised to provide an opportunity, for a child to be diverted from formal or informal supervision. This program allows a youth and his family to participate in an organized program that will inform them of consequences that can occur if they continue to act out. This program is offered each month, on Saturday, from 9am to 12. Referrals are made to other social agencies after the program, dependent on the needs of the family.

2.Choices This is a puppet program offered for K-3^rd grades of Potter and Randall Counties. This program offers a prevention and intervention program focusing on the choices of being drug and crime-free. Tours of the Youth Center of the High Plains are also made available on a limited basis. Speakers and educational programs are available to grades 4 – 12.

3.Family Adventure Weekend Family Adventure Weekend is an intense weekend family workshop that serves the families of adjudicated youth. The purpose of this weekend is to assist parents and youth with communication, building trust and improving parenting skills.

4.P.R.I.D.E (Potter Randall Intervention and Drug Education) This program is designed to reduce the risk of alcohol/substance abuse for the youth of Randall and Potter Counties. Services provided include, but are not limited to: Crisis Intervention, Case Management, Individual and Group intervention, family services, referrals, consultation and aftercare.

5.Victims Assistance Coordinator Victims of juvenile offenders are provided an explanation of the juvenile justice system, sent a restitution packet, and assisted in receiving services from the Attorney General’s Office/Crime Victims Compensation Division. This program is an advocate for the victim as the case proceeds from initial referral to its final disposition.

6.High Plains Adventure The ropes initiative is a form of experiential therapy that facilitates team work and group cohesiveness while at the same time encourages the development of confidence and self esteem with individual participants. This service is open to public groups upon availability of facilitators.

Audited Financial Statements:

• Juvenile Probation Audit Report - August 31,2004
• Juvenile Probation Audit Report - August 31, 2003
• Juvenile Probation Audit Report - August 31, 2002

Contact Information:

You can reach the Randall County Juvenile Probation Department at 9300 South Gerogia, Amarillo, Texas or by phone at (806) 468-5706 or by email at rcjp@rcjp.com.