§ 3085c. Commission on Juvenile Justice

(a) The Commission on Juvenile Justice is created as a joint venture between the Department for Children and Families and the Department of Corrections.

(b) The Commission shall be composed of three members:

(1) The Juvenile Justice Director, who shall be the Chair of the Commission.

(2) The Commissioner for Children and Families.

(3) The Commissioner of Corrections.

(c) The Commission on Juvenile Justice shall have the following duties:

(1) To develop a comprehensive system of juvenile justice for persons under 21 years of age who commit delinquent or criminal acts, including utilization of probation services, a range of community-based treatment, training and rehabilitation programs, and secure detention and treatment programs when necessary in the interests of public safety, designed with the objective of preparing those persons to live in their communities as productive and mature adults. The program developed by the Commission shall be consistent with the policy that a successful juvenile justice system should:

(A) hold juveniles accountable for their unlawful conduct;

(B) provide secure and therapeutic confinement to juveniles who pose a danger to the community;

(C) adequately protect both juveniles and the community;

(D) provide community-based programs and services that are located as closely as possible to the juvenile's community;

(E) maintain juveniles in their homes, with adequate support, whenever possible and appropriate;

(F) use individualized case management plans as the basis for all treatment planning and implementation;

(G) include the juvenile's family in the case management plan;

(H) monitor the case management plan to encourage rehabilitation and deter reoffending, providing supervision, service coordination, and support where appropriate;

(I) provide a comprehensive aftercare component, including follow-up and nonresidential post-release services when juveniles return to their families or communities;

(J) promote the development and implementation of community-based programs designed to prevent unlawful conduct and to minimize the depth and duration of the juvenile's involvement in the criminal justice system;

(K) be coordinated with consistency between all departments throughout the State, both with respect to general policy and to particular cases.

(2) To advise State agencies on matters of State policy relating to juvenile justice.

(3) To evaluate the adequacy of existing services to individuals involved in the juvenile justice system and their families, and to conduct studies to identify gaps in these services. These studies may include access to juvenile justice-related services and support for families of individuals involved in the juvenile justice system.

(4) To identify strategies and recommend resources to expand successful existing services.

(5) To review or participate in the development of laws, rules, and other governmental initiatives that may affect individuals involved in the juvenile justice system and their families.

(6) To provide advice regarding revisions, coordination of services, accountability, and appropriations.

(7) To cooperate with appropriate federal agencies in maximizing the receipt of funds in support of programs relating to juvenile justice, particularly those involving persons charged as youthful offenders under 33 V.S.A. § 5281.

(d)(1) There are established within the Commission, and reporting to the Juvenile Justice Director, the following positions:

(A) A Prevention Specialist, responsible for programs intended to reduce delinquency and crime among juvenile offenders, including mentoring programs, early assessments, substance abuse screening, child care services, afterschool programs, and screening for problems which contribute to delinquency and juvenile crime.

(B) An Alternative Sanctions Specialist, responsible for programs providing alternatives to incarceration, including court diversion, probation, reparative boards, and community justice programs.

(2) The Specialists designated under subdivision (1) of this subsection shall:

(A) work with communities throughout the State, and analyze data and results, to evaluate the efficiency and success of juvenile justice programs;

(B) monitor the statewide and cross-departmental consistency and coordination of juvenile justice programs and the development of the comprehensive system of juvenile justice required by this section; and

(C) work in district offices with probation officers, case workers, and other personnel of the Departments for Children and Families and of Corrections to ensure that State juvenile justice programs and case plans are administered in a manner consistent with the policies of this section and with the statutes and rules pertaining to each specialty area.

(e) The Agency of Human Services shall provide the Commission with administrative support.

(f) The Juvenile Justice Commission, the Children and Family Council for Prevention Programs, and the Governor's Cabinet for Children and Youth shall coordinate activities and, wherever possible, consolidate meetings to promote effective and efficient uses of resources and to minimize duplication.

(g) [Repealed.]  (Added 2001, No. 142 (Adj. Sess.), § 118a; amended 2003, No. 57, § 1, eff. June 4, 2003; 2009, No. 33, § 83; 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 99, eff. May 20, 2014; 2015, No. 11, § 4; 2015, No. 97 (Adj. Sess.), § 8.)