Download Zipped File WP 6.1 1023JJTM.ZIP 5,527 Bytes

MINUTES OF THE
JUVENILE JUSTICE TASK FORCE

Friday, October 23, 1998 - 1:00 p.m. - Room 303 State Capitol

                                
Members Present:
    Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard, Senate Chair     
    Sen. Joseph L. Hull
    Sen. Nathan C. Tanner
    Rep. John B. Arrington
    Rep. Katherine Bryson
    Rep. Blake D. Chard
    Mr. Gary K. Dalton
    Hon. Andrew A. Valdez
    Mr. Russ Van Vleet
    Ms. Robin Arnold Williams    

Members Excused:
    Rep. J. Brent Haymond, House Chair

Members Absent:
    Rep. Steve Barth
    Mr. David J. Jordan

Staff Present:
    Ms. Chyleen A. Arbon, Research Analyst
    Ms. Esther D. Chelsea-McCarty, Associate General Counsel    
    Ms. Glenda S. Whitney, Legislative Secretary

        
Note:     A list of others present and a copy of materials distributed in the meeting are on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.
    
1.    Call to Order and Task Force Business - Chair Hillyard called the meeting to order at 1:13 p.m. He informed the task force that the audit by the Legislative Auditor General's Office has not been completed. He said the task force will request the Legislative Management Committee's approval for an additional meeting once the audit is complete.

     MOTION: Judge Valdez moved to approve the minutes of the September 25, 1998 meeting. The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Hull and Rep. Chard absent for the vote.
    
2.    Aftercare - Mr. Russ Van Vleet, University of Utah, referred to an article "Intensive Aftercare for the High-Risk Juvenile Parolee: Issues and Approaches in Reintegration and Community Supervision" by David M. Altschuler and Troy L. Armstrong. He recognized factors that have been identified as playing a positive role in youth development: nurturing and supportive families, meaningful engagement in education, vocational training, skill building, and religion. He suggested building on the strengths that the youth develop in residential placement and continue those as part of a comprehensive approach to aftercare. He concluded that we need to impact youth at an earlier age and do a better job in transitioning youth out of programs.

    Judge Valdez acknowledged that the system loses the progress made with the youth in the aftercare process and emphasized that the programs have to be family-based if aftercare is going to work.

    Mr. Gary K. Dalton, Director, Division of Youth Corrections, reported that there are 98 youth in aftercare services: 73 of those youth are on parole status, 20 are in trial placement status, and five are in aftercare transition programs. He recognized the Paramount Parole

Facility in Ogden as one of the most successful facilities available to youth on parole. He explained that it is a facility where the youth can stay or choose to go home; if there is a problem in the home environment youth know they can return to this transition or aftercare facility. He recommended allowing the division to lease or build two such transition facilities, one in Ogden and the other in the Provo area. The approximate cost would be $650,000 to $700,000 a year. Mr. Dalton said aftercare is part of a transition process that should start the day the youth walks into the division's custody.

    Mr. Ray Wahl, Juvenile Court Administrator, distributed a handout "Juvenile Justice Task Force Discussion" from which he made his remarks. He said juvenile court traditionally is not thought of as the aftercare component to the juvenile justice system. He noted that the juvenile court should be a major player in where aftercare starts and that is in the assessment process as the youth comes into the juvenile justice system. He said the juvenile court needs a classification system with a standardized approach that results in a case plan for a youth that goes through the system. He indicated that this process would not require additional funding, but that he did need the Legislature's encouragement and support.

3.    Competency Evaluations for Juveniles Draft Legislation - Sen. Robert F. Montgomery distributed draft legislation "Competency Evaluations for Juveniles." He presented an overview on the legislation which creates a procedure for determining whether a juvenile is competent to proceed in a delinquency hearing. The task force members raised several issues with the draft and Chair Hillyard asked Sen. Montgomery to address those issues and bring a new draft back to the November task force meeting.    
    
4.    Compulsory Education Draft Legislation - Rep. Duane Bourdeaux distributed draft legislation "Compulsory Education Requirements" for the task force to review. He briefed the task force on the legislation which clarifies the compulsory education requirements. After task force discussion and recommendations, Chair Hillyard asked Rep. Bourdeaux to address the issues raised by the task force and bring a new draft back to the November task force meeting.     
    Sen. Hillyard relinquished the chair to Sen. Hull.

5.    Youth Court Act Draft Legislation - Ms. Michelle Heward, Subcommittee of the Law Enforcement Strategic Planning Committee, distributed draft legislation "Youth Court Act." She explained this act would create a referral and disposition process, allow for the collection of a fee, require the voluntary participation of the youth and the parents or guardian, and establish a youth court board to oversee the creation and certification process. After task force discussion and recommendations, Chair Hull asked Ms. Heward to address the issues raised by the task force and bring a new draft back to the November task force meeting.    

6.    Youth Parole Authority Draft Legislation - Mr. Dan Maldonado, Division of Youth Corrections, distributed draft legislation "Youth Parole Authority Amendments" and explained that this act would expand the membership of the Youth Parole Authority to include pro tempore members. After task force discussion and recommendations, Chair Hull asked Mr. Maldonado to address the issues raised by the task force and bring a new draft back to the November task force meeting.

7.    SHOCAP Proposal - Ms. Susan Burke, Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ), discussed CCJJ's recommendation of having a SHOCAP coordinator. She said the state was awarded the Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant of $2.8 million. The commission is going to allocate $60,000 of that money from its planning and administration budget for SHOCAP consultant services. Over the next two years the commission will be able to assist communities that are interested in implementing SHOCAP with on sight technical assistance, training, and support.

8.    Interstate Compact Proposal - This item was not discussed and will be on the agenda in the November meeting.

9.    Adjourn -

    MOTION: Mr. Van Vleet moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Hillyard, and Rep. Bryson absent for the vote. Chair Hull adjourned the meeting at 3:43 p.m.

[Back to the Interim Directory][Back to the Monthly Schedule][Back to the Committee Listing] Utah State Legislature