LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) -
The Angelina County Juvenile
Services supports the goal of the newly created juvenile justice department.
"We don't want to see
kids locked up," said Mark Gorman, the director of juvenile services in
Angelina County.
Gorman has sent three
offenders to lockup in the last year. The majority are at home.
"That's the idea is try to
provide those services in the community first before we have to remove a child
from their home and place them either in a residential facility and/or a locked
facility," Gorman said.
The key is to keep teen
offenders involved in local programs. Monday, one group learned job skills. Tuesday,
they'll tour a university and end the week with an Astros game. The activities
have a common goal.
"It provides them with
skill building and self esteem," said Jessica Rucobo, a community liaison officer.
A recommended 10-percent
budget cut could threaten the very programs that keeps delinquent youths home.
The Texas Criminal Justice Coalition is concerned.
"These programs, when
they're fully funded, will actually save money," said spokesman Benet Magnuson.
"They are the best solution that will keep kids from coming in and out of the
juvenile justice system. So, if we fund them at the right level we're going to
see savings in the end."
Last year, Angelina County
received 243 referrals, a significant drop from the 297 seen the prior year.
Burglary and misdemeanor assaults have dropped, yet sexual assault referrals have
tripled.
"We've been fortunate
across the state to have fewer referrals," Gorman said. "Overall referrals to
departments are down."
Gorman attributes the drop
in referrals to the support community-based programs are receiving. The concern
is the momentum will go away if the funding disappears.
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