Idaho State Statutes - Idaho Attorney Directory

It is the policy of the state of Idaho that
the juvenile corrections system will be based on the following principles:
accountability; community protection; and competency development. Where a
juvenile has been found to be within the purview of the juvenile corrections
act, 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. It
is the further policy of the state of Idaho that the parents or other legal
guardians of the juvenile offender participate in the accomplishment of these
goals through participation in counseling and treatment designed to develop
positive parenting skills and an understanding of the family's role in the
juvenile's behavior. It is the further intent of the legislature that the
parents or legal guardians of the juvenile offender be held accountable, where
appropriate, through monetary reimbursement for supervision and confinement of
the juvenile offender, and restitution to victims of the juvenile's delinquent
acts. In enacting this legislation, the legislature finds that the juvenile
corrections system should encompass the following aspects: day treatment,
community programs, observation and assessment programs, probation services,
secure facilities, after-care and assistance to counties for juveniles not
committed to the custody of the department of juvenile corrections.
The following is a brief description of what the legislature intends to
become the components of Idaho's juvenile corrections system:
Probation. Probation officers would have twenty-four (24) hour on call
responsibility for juveniles and would monitor their activities on a
continual basis. Probation officers would be responsible for assisting
juveniles and their families in accessing counseling or treatment resources,
close supervision of juveniles' activities, supervision of restitution and
coordination of other services provided to juveniles. Juvenile offenders
ordered into the custody of the department of juvenile corrections would be
monitored by a county probation officer.
Day treatment. Day treatment programs would be time limited nonresidential
treatment and educational programs. Included in these programs would be
trackers who would provide intensive supervision of juveniles through daily
contact and by counseling juveniles regarding employment, education, courts,
family and life skills. Nonresidential alcohol and drug programs would provide
outpatient assessment and counseling for juveniles with substance abuse
problems.
Community programs. It is intended that community programs would exist
throughout the state to provide twenty-four (24) hour residential supervision
and treatment options to juveniles in close proximity to their families and
their community. It is intended that these programs would strengthen the
juvenile's relationship with family, engender a commitment to school and
employment, promote the development of competency and life skills and help
juveniles generalize appropriate behavior into their environment.
Observation and assessment. Regional observation and assessment centers
would be provided, either directly or on a contract basis, to conduct
observation and assessment of the juvenile in a short-term residential
experience. It is intended that these programs would maintain standardized
home and daily routines with intensive daily programming.
Secure facilities. Secure facilities would provide secure confinement,
discipline, education and treatment of the most seriously delinquent
juveniles. Programs at the secure facilities would be designed to help
juveniles recognize accountability for delinquent behavior by confronting and
eliminating delinquent norms, criminal thinking and antisocial behavior and
making restitution to victims through community service or other restitution
programs.
It is the further intent of the legislature that the primary purpose of
this act is to provide a continuum of programs which emphasize the juvenile
offender's accountability for his actions while assisting him in the
development of skills necessary to function effectively and positively in the
community in a manner consistent with public safety. These services and
programs will individualize treatment and control of the juvenile offender for
the benefit of the juvenile and the protection of society. It is legislative
intent that the department of juvenile corrections be operated within the
framework of the following principles to accomplish this mission:
(1) Provide humane, disciplined confinement to a juvenile who presents a
danger to the community.
(2) Strengthen opportunities for the juvenile's development of competency
and life skills by expanding the juvenile's access to applicable programs and
community resources.
(3) Hold juveniles accountable for their delinquent behavior through such
means as victim restitution, community service programs and the sharing of
correctional costs.
(4) Invoke the participation of the juvenile offender's parent or legal
guardian in assisting the juvenile to recognize and accept responsibility for
his delinquent or other antisocial behavior and hold the parent or legal
guardian accountable, where appropriate, through the payment of detention
costs and restitution to victims and through attendance at programs for the
development of positive parenting skills designed to promote a functional
relationship between the juvenile and his family.
(5) Develop efficient and effective juvenile correctional programs within
the framework of professional correctional standards, legislative intent and
available resources.
(6) Provide for a diversity of innovative and effective programs through
research on delinquent behavior and the continuous evaluation of correctional
programs.
(7) Assist counties in developing meaningful programs for juveniles who
have come into the juvenile corrections system but who have not been committed
to the custody of the department of juvenile corrections.
(8) Provide programs to increase public awareness of the mission of the
juvenile corrections system and encourage public participation in developing
an effective juvenile corrections system designed to aid in reducing juvenile
crime in this state.
(9) Develop and maintain a statewide juvenile offender information
system.

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