Pubdate: Tue, 18 Jun 2002
Source: Deseret News (UT)
Copyright: 2002 Deseret News Publishing Corp.
Contact:  http://www.desnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/124
Author: Geoffrey Fattah, Deseret News staff writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

KIDS WHO SHOVEL IT OUT . . .

. . . Do Apt Time; Offenders Under Program Clear Dung

SPANISH FORK - Distaste is written all over Juan's face as he pushes a 
shovelful of horse manure.

This is the 13-year-old's punishment for getting caught with marijuana for 
the second time.

For more than 10 years the HOPES program - Helping Offenders Perform 
Excellent Service - has tried to ensure juvenile offenders are given the 
right amount of punishment for misdeeds.

The latest batch of juvenile offenders, all under court order to serve 
community service, must clean the stalls at the Spanish Fork City 
Fairgrounds following a livestock show.

"This is like the worst thing you can do," said 13-year-old Korey, not 
mincing words amid the stench of the livestock stalls. "This sucks."

Korey had only shoveled off two hours of his 40-hour court sentence for 
drug possession. He knew he would have to come back another day.

Judges who deal with minors in 4th District Court have praised the HOPES 
program as a model in which juvenile justice has merged with community 
service in a rare kind of harmony.

"This program holds kids accountable," said 4th District Juvenile Judge Kay 
Lindsay. Also, he said, the work done by the juveniles benefits the community.

The program handles about 1,000 juveniles each year and gets half its 
funding from the state. The other half comes from contracts director Wanda 
Santiago has been able to get with Utah County cities, Utah's Department of 
Transportation, Provo City School District and Utah Valley State College.

"We only contract with public entities," Santiago said.

The work varies from washing windows and picking up trash to doing lawn 
care in public parks and removing graffiti from walls.

Judge Leslie Brown, who has served in the juvenile justice system since the 
1970s, said for many years, kids served community service hours with very 
little supervision. As a result, the juveniles often dawdled or slept while 
on the job.

There were simply too few probation officers to provide the needed 
supervision, he said.

What makes the HOPES program different is that juvenile offenders are 
supervised by young adults who are seeking college degrees in education or 
social work.

"I've always liked working with kids," said Utah Valley State College 
student Mike Palmer. "We're not just supervisors to these kids - but kind 
of mentors."

While watching the kids shovel manure, Spanish Fork Mayor Dale Barney said 
the program "is just wonderful. You wouldn't believe how much tax payer 
money is saved by doing this." Santiago said cities pay a minimal 
"supervisor fee."

Cortney, a 15-year-old from Springville, is working off unpaid tickets for 
possession of alcohol and cigarettes.

"I can't let it gross me out because it's work that needs to be done," she 
said while lifting a shovelful of manure. "It kind of teaches me a lesson. 
I mean, if you get caught with tobacco, then you have to do this."

"People feel good about this. They feel that justice is being done," said 
Judge Sterling Sainsbury. "It's a much better consequence than sitting 
there being locked up. A 20-minute lecture is nothing compared to shoveling 
manure at Spanish Fork's stalls."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager