Thursday, June 25, 2009

Juvenile Justice Board Seeks Donations

By Rosalie Rayburn
Journal Staff Writer
      A youthful brush with the law can spell long-term problems — or turn into a chance to learn valuable life skills.
       Sandoval County Juvenile Justice Board members hope for the latter outcome.
       To that end, a board committee is raising funds to boost educational opportunities for at-risk kids.
       In its first year, the committee accumulated around $4,000, which will be distributed in the form of scholarships. The committee has now approved scholarship applications from 10 young people between the ages of 15 and 20. Of those, four wanted to attend summer school at Rio Rancho High School and four at Bernalillo High School, one wanted help to earn a welding certificate at Central New Mexico Community College, and one applicant needed help to attend the University of New Mexico.
       Committee members expect interest in the program to grow. They plan to reach out to businesses and other organizations asking for donations to broaden the program to include participation in sports or other activities that can have a positive influence, said Michele Rael, juvenile services manager for Sandoval County.
       The board already does this through the Scout Reach program, which aims to expose at-risk youth to positive life values. Youngsters in the Scout Reach program recently participated in a weeklong camp at a Boy Scouts of America facility near Chimayó.
       Loretta Johnson, coordinator for the Sandoval County Juvenile Justice Board, said the program has received some criticism from people who asked her why kids who have broken societal rules should be rewarded.
       Johnson and other committee members believe investing in education can reduce the likelihood that youngsters will continue along a delinquent path and instead improve their chances in the job market.
       “The intent is to keep minor offenders out of the system,” committee member Donnie Leonard said. “We're giving them a helping hand to turn their lives around.”
       Leonard is co-chair of the Sandoval County Juvenile Justice Board and is a Sandoval County Commissioner.
       That goal has helped the committee attract financial support from several sources. Rio Rancho businessman Julian Garza donated $2,000, and Leonard gave $1,000 out of funds left over from his 2008 commission election campaign. The Rio Rancho Community Foundation gave $1,000. Kiwanis Club of Rio Rancho is acting as fiscal agent for the funds.
       Typical offenses that bring kids into the justice system include domestic violence, assault, shoplifting or possession of alcohol, said Carlton Wiggins, chief juvenile probation officer for the 13th Judicial District.
       “Many of them just got into the wrong company,” Wiggins said.
       Committee members worked with juvenile justice parole officers to promote the scholarship program. Participants and their parents had to sign a contract promising to complete the school course and achieve a passing grade or return the funds, committee member Sam Thompson said.
       

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