Juvenile Treatment Court Update

In today’s Social Services and Public Safety Committee meeting, Council will hear the annual Juvenile Treatment Court update from Program Coordinator Kivvi Figgs, Judge Melissa Moore Murphy, and Judge Lindsay Hughes Thurston.

The Juvenile Treatment Court (JTC) is an alternative sentencing court that aims to reduce the number of repeat juvenile offenders by increasing their overall wellness through mental health counseling, educational workshops, and mentoring programs.

JTC’s first court date was in March 2022, and to date 70 youth have been referred to the program. 39 have been accepted, and 11 youth have graduated from the program. Currently, there are 10 participants.

Referrals come from court-designated workers, Family Court, and Juvenile Court. After successful completion of the program, youth are cleared of their charges. Participation in the program is fully voluntary for the child and their parents/guardians.

You can view the presentation slides starting on page 59 of this packet.

You can read this Herald-Leader article for stories about the impact of the program on youth and their families.

The Social Services and Public Safety Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 12th at 1pm in Council Chambers. You can attend in-person or watch live on LexTV.