Juvenile Justice
Juvenile Justice Services (JJS) is the only program in Central Texas that works directly with the local education system to provide case management, advocacy, and support to Special Education students (ages 11-17) who are involved in, or at risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system.
These students are often victims of peer pressure, teasing, abuse, and lack an understanding of the harm their actions may be causing, due to their disability. They may not understand that stealing is wrong, or that hitting hurts people. They may be attracted to gangs, who offer them a peer group that they have never experienced. When left to continue these actions, they are at-risk of getting involved in more severe behavior that can eventually lead to arrest.
The Arc believes that a community-based prevention program that meets the needs of Austin’s at-risk youth with developmental disabilities, is essential. The goal of the program are to reduce or prevent recidivism in criminal matters and to provid neccessary sopports for at-risk youth, to remail in school, reach gradution and gain successful emplyment.
We take action by providing education within the home and help in locating community supports. For those who have already become involved in the system, we help them meet the terms of their probation and avoid any further criminal activities. In addition, The Arc provides advocacy by accompanying families to court to ensure that the families understand the proceeedings and to educate the court on how the child's disability may have played a part in the behavior relating to the charges.
Our goal is to reduce the number of troubled youth in the Central Texas juvenile justice system, as well as to reduce the extremely high drop-out rates for teenagers with developmental disabilities.
Contacts
Tina Pastorini
Manager of Family & Caregiver Support Services
tpastorini@arcofthecapitalarea.org
