Family of Woodstock, Inc., in conjunction with Ulster County Probation started a Juvenile Community Accountability Board (JCAB) which meets with youth who have committed a crime to review the impact of their actions and help create a plan to help the youth make restoration to their community. This is an evidence based restorative justice model that relies on community volunteers in order to work.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED: contact Dana Katz at 845-514-0239 or dkatz@fowinc.org for the application or download it here.
…
The Ulster County Probation Department, in conjunction with Family of Woodstock’s One80 program, is developing a Juvenile Community Accountability Board (JCAB).
The Juvenile Community Accountability Board is a program at that seeks to help juveniles charged with a delinquency offense to understand the impact their behavior has had on the community, and to allow them an opportunity to repair the harm that was caused. The JCAB operates on the principles of balanced and restorative justice while focusing on juvenile accountability. The JCAB comprises community members who are trained to facilitate meetings with the juvenile, their parents and the victim (if they choose to attend). The Board members are all volunteers who live, work or have some vested interest in the community.
The JCAB Process
At the initial meeting the Board focuses on what happened, who was harmed, and how the harm can be repaired. An individualized contract is then developed that will require the juvenile to complete specific activities or to engage in certain programs designed to repair the harm. The process allows the juvenile to understand the impact of their offense and learn ways to avoid re-offending. When the requirements of the agreement are met, an exit meeting is held and the case is closed.
JCAB Benefits the Victim and the Community while Teaching Accountability
• Provides the victim an opportunity to be heard and contribute to the process.
• Allows the community to participate in resolving problems of crime and delinquency in their neighborhood.
• Provides juveniles with positive role models and shows juveniles that there are adults in the community who care about them and what they do.
• Helps juveniles to understand the broad impact their actions have on their community.
• Promotes juvenile realization that there are consequences for the harm they caused and that they will be held accountable to repair the damage.
• Enhances juvenile sense of accomplishment and self-esteem by completing the program and serving their communities.
Download Juvenile Community Accountability Board Application
