IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION congratulating the Independence Youth Court upon its 20th anniversary and extending sincere appreciation for providing educational and counseling services to teen offenders that enable them to overcome burdensome obstacles and pursue more positive roles in the community.
Intro
RESOLUTION # 15884, May 9, 2006
INTRODUCED BY Dennis Waits, County Legislator
Body
WHEREAS, the Independence Youth Court was established in December 1985 and held its first court session on Law Day, May 1986, in the historic Harry Truman courtroom; and,
WHEREAS, as the first teen court in the State of Missouri, the Independence Youth Court has served as a positive model for youth courts at the local, state, and national levels; and,
WHEREAS, through a collaboration with the Independence Police Department, Independence Health Department, Independence Fire Department, Jackson County Family Court, Blue River Community College, Counseling Advocacy Referral Education program, and Police Training Academy, the Independence Youth Court offers an array of educational programs and counseling free of charge to juvenile defendants including Safe Streets, anger management, truancy prevention, advanced alcohol and drug intervention, shoplifting diversion, tobacco education, and fire prevention; and,
WHEREAS, in 2002 the Independence Youth Court was named by the Urban Institute, an agency of the Office of Juvenile Justice, as one of the nation's top four youth court program sites and the youth court is listed on the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency program website as a model evidence-based program; and,
WHEREAS, notable achievements of the Independence Youth Court include 9,669 hours of training, 37,297 court operation volunteer hours, 90,524 community service hours, 1,610 teen offenders completing 11,370 hours of Safe Streets school, and a remarkable recidivism rate of less than 5...
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