Our community is coming together to help turn troubled kids' lives around. Volunteers donate their time to give teens that have broken the law a second chance.
Judge Ruth Ann hall spends her days hearing juvenile court cases. In 2008 she reinstated the Juvenile Conference Committee or JCC. Since that time 200 juveniles in Madison County have gone through the program instead of serving time.
“They don't do better if we lock them up. They actually do worse so we can do much more for our children in our community then if we send them to be locked up,” said Judge Ruth Ann Hall.
The committee is made up of volunteers. Employees of the juvenile detention centers look at the juvenile's charge and criminal history. The juvenile may be referred to the JCC. This panel hears all side of the issue.
“They make the decision based on what they feel is appropriate as far as a punishment goes or a rehabilitation,” said Judge Hall.
Part of the program involves monitoring and mentoring the offender. The volunteers like Theodore Tyson and Glenda Reitzell call their assigned juvenile and get to know them outside of the JCC meetings. Both volunteers have seen the program change lives.
“I had an individual that no one knew at age 15 that the individual did not know how to read. I got them in a reading program the family, child everything changed,” said Theodore Tyson.
“I think that there's a very good likelihood that the program literally saved her life. I think that she could have been suicidal if we didn't get her into some mental health counseling,” said Reitzell.
If the juvenile completes what the panel recommends Judge Hall dismisses the case, hoping a lesson has been learned and that she won't see the offender again.
