Intake Services
Processes incoming referrals for Class B misdemeanors or above from all law enforcement agencies within El Paso County and makes the initial recommendation on case disposition.
Responsibilities
Review police reports to verify jurisdiction and probable cause
Provide initial victim notification
Conduct juvenile background investigation
Conduct interviews of referred youth and their families
Conduct risk and need assessments
Responsible for detention or release recommendations.
Recommend court intervention or other alternatives.
Provide service referrals based on youth/family needs.
Programs and Supervisions
Is a 3-6 month supervision for first time, low to moderate risk and need misdemeanor offenders. A strength-based formal agreement is signed by youth and family outlining all DP requirements of their DP participation. The assigned probation officer ensures public safety through provision of case management and supervision to facilitate successful completion.
Important points about Deferred Prosecution and programs:
- Used primarily for first time offenders
- Not to exceed more than six months
- Completion of program closes case
- Community Service is required
- Restitution to victim must be paid as part of participation in DP
- All participants must attend two educational presentations as part of DP participation (One on Bully Prevention and one on Decisions and Consequences)
- Other services that may be required are group cognitive skills training (NCTI), Parenting Classes, assessments, counseling, mental health services and other services aimed to assist with rehabilitation and reparation of harm to the victim or community.
Program under Deferred Prosecution aimed to serve youth and families in which mental health is a driving factor to offending behavior and focuses on providing linkage to long term support services. EMPOWER provides parenting skills training classes and academic support by UTEP LSPI students. Families meet regularly with the EMPOWER Team to review compliance and monitor youth and parent’s completion to case plan goals
The JCCC is a prevention service whereby trained volunteers meet with families of at-risk youth, assess risk/needs and create a service plan aimed to assist family within a period of 14-30 days. In some cases, the volunteer may keep the case open for up to 60 days so that family can link to the appropriate community based services. Prevention services are aimed to prevent continued issues which may lead to future Juvenile Justice Involvement.
MST is an evidence-based therapeutic service provided by the Emergence Health Network to Pre Adjudicated youth under Home Detention or Deferred Prosecution. MST provides intensive and flexible services based on the developmental need of the family. Based on this piece of the model, service dates and times are adjusted per family and flexible week to week based on behaviors being displayed and worked on by the family and therapist. MST is an evidence-based model and families are asked to meet at a minimum twice (2x) per week to maintain adherence to the model.
Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program (JJAEP)
Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program (JJAEP): Program utilized for students expelled from any of the nine local school districts for certain felony offenses which occur on school grounds or school sponsored events. The Ysleta Independent School District provides the educational services for JJAEP and students attend school at Cesar Chavez Academy. The goal of JJAEP is to allow students to perform at grade level and the JJAEP must provide an educational program that results in student academic progress in the areas of reading and math. The Texas Juvenile Justice Department oversees the JJAEP and for the years from 2017-2022, all compliance monitoring has resulted in outstanding results for compliance and improved attendance and academic improvements for JJAEP students.
