Juvenile Offenders Continue to Get Out Early
TRI-CITIES—KEPR Action News continues to track problems with budget cuts at the juvenile justice center.
Young offenders keep getting let out early because there isn't enough staff to watch them all and the problem has only gotten worse in recent months.
The budget request to Franklin County commissioners from the Benton-Franklin Juvenile Justice Center reads like a crisis.
Just this year, the center had to release 59 young offenders early because of budget cuts and layoffs.
The center writes that it's too risky to have more than 35 kids locked up with only four guards.
And there's more. The budget request goes on about juvenile offenders sentenced to six to twelve months of probation who only got three month's worth.
Also, others who get signed up for the work crew program because there's no room in detention, only to have their "punishment" delayed for weeks because there's not enough staff to keep an eye on them.
The center writes that without an "immediate consequence", the program is not a "deterent."
All of this because of budget cuts last year and there's no guarantee next year will be different.
Franklin County Commissioner Brad Peck says it’s too early to say if more money will be available this year.
"Something in December will be the final approval, but until then we're just in the process," said Commissioner Peck.
Franklin County only makes up about a third of the center's budget. The other two thirds come from Benton County.
"So whatever we do is going to significantly affect potential for funding in Benton County. If we make a cut, Benton County isn't obligated to make that cut, but historically they have to keep things in balance," said Peck.
When we checked this back in May, 20 juvenile offenders had been let out early. That was an average of four a month. Now, it's up to an average of six a month.
One employee told KEPR it was like a "waltz" trying to coordinate who stays and who goes , while keeping everyone safe.
Kids who are grounded don't get off early because of budget cuts, but young criminals in the Tri-Cities are having a hard time being deterred from their choices.
The juvenile justice center calls last year's cuts "liabilities" and hopes the 2011 budget will bring back the seven positions lost this year.
Young offenders keep getting let out early because there isn't enough staff to watch them all and the problem has only gotten worse in recent months.
The budget request to Franklin County commissioners from the Benton-Franklin Juvenile Justice Center reads like a crisis.
Just this year, the center had to release 59 young offenders early because of budget cuts and layoffs.
The center writes that it's too risky to have more than 35 kids locked up with only four guards.
And there's more. The budget request goes on about juvenile offenders sentenced to six to twelve months of probation who only got three month's worth.
Also, others who get signed up for the work crew program because there's no room in detention, only to have their "punishment" delayed for weeks because there's not enough staff to keep an eye on them.
The center writes that without an "immediate consequence", the program is not a "deterent."
All of this because of budget cuts last year and there's no guarantee next year will be different.
Franklin County Commissioner Brad Peck says it’s too early to say if more money will be available this year.
"Something in December will be the final approval, but until then we're just in the process," said Commissioner Peck.
Franklin County only makes up about a third of the center's budget. The other two thirds come from Benton County.
"So whatever we do is going to significantly affect potential for funding in Benton County. If we make a cut, Benton County isn't obligated to make that cut, but historically they have to keep things in balance," said Peck.
When we checked this back in May, 20 juvenile offenders had been let out early. That was an average of four a month. Now, it's up to an average of six a month.
One employee told KEPR it was like a "waltz" trying to coordinate who stays and who goes , while keeping everyone safe.
Kids who are grounded don't get off early because of budget cuts, but young criminals in the Tri-Cities are having a hard time being deterred from their choices.
The juvenile justice center calls last year's cuts "liabilities" and hopes the 2011 budget will bring back the seven positions lost this year.
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