NCJ Number
160976
Journal
School Safety Update Dated: (December 1995) Pages: 1-4
Date Published
1995
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The school-based juvenile probation program in Lehigh County (Pa.) is the first of its kind to place full-time juvenile probation officers in pubic school facilities.
Abstract
The Lehigh County Juvenile Probation Department worked with the Allentown School District to develop the program to provide closer monitoring of juveniles' behavior and to assist the school district in handling increasing incidents of acting-out behavior among juvenile probationers returned to the public schools. The State now has 35 such programs, which vary somewhat in implementation and operation. One of the greatest concerns in program implementation was the ability of the school district and probation department to share relevant information while maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information. Written agreements often specify the extent of information shared and the persons with whom it is shared. A further implementation concern was thoroughly defining the role and duties of the school-based probation officers. In most cases, the school-based officers have been welcomed as members of the schools' Student Assistant Program teams. However, the probation program model requires that the program is limited to youths within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. In Pennsylvania, the programs generally agree that the probation officers are dedicated to helping youths avoid inappropriate behavior by providing guidance, assistance, and firm limits.