Lauderdale, Morgan lead by example

My View: A reduction in juvenile crime today means a reduction in adult offenses tomorrow, and that's good for all of us.

Alabama is shifting to a more progressive, research-based approach to try and stem the flow of juvenile offenders maturing into members of the state's adult prison population. And if Lauderdale and Morgan counties are any example, the shift is producing results.

As part of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act passed by the Alabama Legislature in 2008, counties are taking a systemic look at a child's background, challenges and offense, and prescribing appropriate treatment. That means instead of being sent directly to lockups, judges and court personnel are assessing the whole child before disposition.

Violent juveniles still head to state detention facilities. The difference comes with treatment for the majority of offenders - the low-risk children. These nonviolent offenders are kept at home in their communities where they receive the services they need to address core issues and problems.

Young offenders in community-based programs show consistently better outcomes than do those who are incarcerated, at a far lower cost to society.

Morgan County has been the vanguard of reform, revising its approach to juvenile justice in favor of prevention and rehabilitation years before the current legislation was passed. Called by Gov. Bob Riley "the model for Alabama," Morgan County has developed System of Services (SOS), corrections-based juvenile resource center - a one-stop shop for juvenile justice needs. Services include anger management, mental health and substance abuse counseling, parenting classes, character building and vocational services.

And here's an added bonus - crime is down in Morgan County. According to The Decatur Daily the combined adult and juvenile per capita violent crime rate is 47 percent less than the state's average. Additionally, the nonresidential services offered to children by SOS are up to 90 percent less expensive to provide than are services to residentially committed children.

Retired District Judge David Breland is one of the founding fathers of the Morgan County system. Under the direction of Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, Breland has gone on to direct, inspire and mentor leaders in counties across Alabama.

Breland advocates the importance of local Children's Policy Councils (CPC) in resource development for juvenile courts. He cites Lauderdale County as a top example. Having Kiwanis Club members, vocational rehabilitation workers, health care workers, child advocates, and more than 100 other varied members, the Lauderdale Children's Policy Council is a melting pot of collaboration. Led by Judge Jimmy Sandlin, the council has been the impetus for many new programs benefiting juveniles and their families.

The Lauderdale CPC has taken an old school and turned it into offices for various community organizations, many that directly work with juvenile offenders. Meeting at the "water cooler" has produced unlikely alliances.

Recently, the directors of two of the tenants, Habitat for Humanity and the Colbert/Lauderdale Attention Homes, bumped into each other in the break room. The Attention Homes' director mentioned that the boys' and girls' homes were old and in need of constant repair. As a result, Habitat committed to build two new homes and influenced a local church to donate the land for the boys' home. These two organizations have been in existence for decades - now they are partners.

Alabama is off to a good start. A reduction in juvenile crime today means a reduction in adult offenses tomorrow, and that's good for all of us.

Linda Tilly is executive director of VOICES for Alabama's Children.