NCJ Number
204572
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 66 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2004 Pages: 60-63
Date Published
February 2004
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Idaho's juvenile justice system depends on collaboration among State juvenile justice agencies and between State and local juvenile justice agencies and personnel.
Abstract
The Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections was established in August 1995 to assume juvenile justice responsibilities from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. This department operates under the mandate of the Juvenile Corrections Act, which states that "the court shall impose a sentence that will protect the community, hold the juvenile accountable for his actions, and assist the juvenile in developing skills to become a contributing member of a diverse community." The Juvenile Corrections Act creates a partnership between the Department of Juvenile Corrections and the 44 counties that compose the State. Through this partnership, the department and local county juvenile justice agencies depend on one another to serve communities and juvenile offenders effectively. State and local officials work together to develop policies and procedures for such undertakings as funding, training, reporting, and programming. District liaisons facilitate communication and collaboration between State and county juvenile justice officials. District liaisons assist in developing alternative interventions, prevention, and diversion programs to keep juveniles from being committed to State custody and to expedite the transition back into the community after treatment. At the State level, the Board of Juvenile Corrections was created by the governor in 1997 to advise the governor and the department director on fiscal, policy, and administrative matters related to the juvenile correctional system. Other juvenile agencies involved in collaboration at the State level are the Juvenile Justice Training Council, which sets standards for statewide training for juvenile corrections personnel; the Custody Review Board, which reviews the release of high-risk juvenile offenders from custody; the Juvenile Offender System Board, which is charged with the ongoing development of a statewide data system for tracking juvenile offenders; and the Idaho Juvenile Justice Commission, which is the State advisory group responsible for performing the duties required by the Federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.