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General StatuteGeneral Statue 143B-543 sets out that it is the intent of the General Assembly to develop community based alternatives to youth development centers and to provide community based delinquency and substance abuse prevention strategies and programs.
The statute also says that the General Assembly intends to provide non-institutional disposition alternatives that will protect the community and juveniles. These programs and services are to be planned at the local level by local Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils (JCPCs) in partnership with the state.
To receive funding for juvenile court services and delinquency prevention programs, the county Board of Commissioners must appoint a Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. The council includes the local school superintendent(s), a chief of police, the local sheriff, the district attorney, the chief court counselor, the director of the area mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse authority, the director of the county department of social services, the county manager, a substance abuse professional, a member of the faith community, a county commissioner, two persons under the age of 18, a juvenile defense attorney, the chief district court judge, a member of the business community, the local health director, a representative from the United Way or other nonprofit agency, a representative of a local parks and recreation program and up to seven members of the public to be appointed by the county board of commissioners. The statute allows for some of the listed public agency heads to designate a representative from their agency for the council.
Each year, the JCPCs conduct a planning process which includes a review of the needs of juveniles in the county who are at risk of delinquency or who have been adjudicated undisciplined or delinquent and review the resources available to address those needs. The Councils then prioritize community risk factors for youth, for families and for the community and determine the services needed to address those problem areas. The councils develop and advertise a request for proposal process and submit a written plan of action for the expenditure of juvenile sanction and prevention funds to the board of county commissioners for its approval. In addition, the JCPCs evaluate the performance of programs for juveniles and the services they provide, work to increase public awareness of the causes of delinquency and of strategies to reduce the problem, develop strategies to intervene and appropriately respond to and treat the needs of juveniles at risk of delinquency and provide funds for services for treatment, counseling, or rehabilitation for juveniles and their families.
Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (DJJDP) Regional Consultants from the Prevention/Intervention Division provide technical assistance and support to each JCPC, to county government for juvenile justice planning and fiscal management and to local programs for program development and compliance with operating and performance standards.
The Intervention and Prevention Division state office provides overall program planning and management to assure uniform service standards, coordinates and provides training and consultation for local staff, collects data, responds to legislators' and other requests for information or recommendations, and develops policies and procedures for the Division. The DJJDP through the Intervention Division, manages aid to county funds allocated from the North Carolina General Assembly for county government development and continuation of local juvenile justice programs as planned and recommended by the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Councils. |
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