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Benton and
Franklin Counties
Juvenile Justice Center
5606 W. Canal Place, Suite
106
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 783-2151
FAX (509) 736-2728
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Mission Statement: "The mission of
the Benton/Franklin Counties Juvenile Justice Center is to provide the
highest quality programs and legal services for youthful offenders and
dependent children."
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JUDICIAL PROCESS The Benton/Franklin
Juvenile Justice Center adjudicates all legal matters concerning children
0-18 years of age. Juvenile proceedings are part of the Superior Court
of the State of Washington scheduled through the Legal Process Unit. Juvenile
offenders may, based on their prior criminal history and alleged or adjudicated
offense, be referred to Diversion or Community Supervision Units. Offenders
may also be held in Detention prior to, or following court hearings. Evaluations
and assessments are provided by the Diagnostic Unit. Abused and neglected
children, found dependent by the court, are represented by the Guardian
Ad Litem Unit.The
Purposes and Goals: Benton/Franklin
Juvenile Justice Center has several essential purposes and goals:
1) To provide a fair, consistent, and efficient legal proceeding
for the community, the youth, and families.
2) To protect the community from juvenile offenders.
3) To protect victims and seek restitution.
4) To provide protective legal service to dependent youth who are
abused, neglected or who have no parent.
5) To provide detention service for those youth who are dangerous
to the community, likely to run away before standing trial, or who are
sentenced to detention as punishment for their crimes.
6) To evaluate juveniles so that the best treatment plans can be
selected for purposes of rehabilitation.
7) To provide or locate treatment resources for juveniles and provide
supervision for juveniles who remain in the community.
Specialized Services Division:
The Specialized Services Division provides a continuum of services to youth
from the time they enter the Benton/Franklin Counties Juvenile Justice
Center, through diagnostic and court proceedings, to incarceration and
treatment. Most services are provided on the premises of the Juvenile Center
with court staff, private counselors, and psychologist. The services include
Diagnostic Sexual Offender Treatment, Community Commitment Program, Intake
Unit, Project Youth Recover, and Parole.
How you can help... Benton/Franklin Juvenile
Court Diversion Unit:
Each year, more than 35,00 juvenile offenders are referred to Diversion
units throughout the state. Typically, thesse cases involve youth ages
8 to 17 who are alleged to have committed offenses such as shoplifing and
other thefts, possession of alcohol, minor assauts, malicious mischief
and trespassing.
WHAT IS DIVERSION?
Each case is handled on an individual basis by staff and/or volunteers.
A Diversion Agreement holds youths accountable by:
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Assigning youth community service work to benefit their community.
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Reimbursing citims for loss.
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Providing informational/educational programs. Several workshops are
offered.
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Assisting families in finding needed services for their children through
referrals to the Family Support Program.
Diverting a substantial number of juvenile offenders allows the Court
to spend the necessary time and resources on the more serious and chronic
offenders in the system. Most youth seen in the Diversion Unit do not return
to Juvenile Court.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers
Needed
We're
a participant in the RECA Foundation's
Adopt-a-Page sm
Program by Brad Blair
