What We Do/ Jefferson County Juvenile Assessment Center

What We Do

Transports
Youth are brought directly to the assessment center by law enforcement officers. Every youth completes an intake form and in-depth interview with a trained intake specialist. Key areas assessed include mental health, substance abuse, family violence, school functioning, and peer relationships. Data is entered into the JAC database, and any areas of concern are discussed with the family members taking custody upon release.

Detention Screens
Officers call from the field when they have apprehended and charged a youth with an offense that will likely require detention as an immediate sanction. Intake specialists complete the screening instrument with the youth and officer over the phone and validate the information via ICON. If the youth is indeed detainable, the officer transports the youth to Mount View Detention Center. If not detainable, the youth is transported to the JAC and completely assessed as described above.

Referrals (Case Management)
The District Attorney's Office reviews Juvenile Promise to Appear cases and refers primarily first time offenders to the JAC for assessment and short term case management. Additionally, the JAC takes referrals for case management for district courts (truancy), local municipal courts, and R-1 schools for case management services. Upon receipt of these cases, JAC staff contacts the youth and family to arrange an intake which involves the assessment process described above, as well as an interview with the family, information gathering from school, and any other relevant sources. A contract is drawn up with the youth which states (among other things) that the successful completion of the contract will allow for dismissal of the case, and breach of the contract will cause the case to be "bumped up" to either diversion or the court. Contracts involve both sanctions and referral to services, and are monitored weekly by case managers. Typical length of case management is three months. Case managers ideally carry a load of 25-30 cases.

Phone Screens
When cases are referred for case management as mentioned above, the first step is a screen preformed on the phone to determine if the youth is appropriate for the JAC's services. If they are not, the information is kept on file for access in the future.

Arson Education
In junction with the West Metro Fire Protection District (WMFD), the JAC is able to offer a one-time arson education class to youth on case management (if applicable). This is a fee-for-service program, and brings in between $2,000-$3,000 annually. An investigator from West Metro conducts the class with assistance from a senior case manager. Both parent and youth are required to attend. Evaluation of the effects of this program on recidivism is underway.

Time Out
Probation, Parole, Social Services, and R-1 schools can use the JAC as a brief time-out for youth that may be facing detention for technical violations of placement or probation/parole violations, or at-risk of immediate charges. on a case-by-case basis, youth are brought to the JAC, complete a short assessment process, and provide background information as to their current difficulties (corroborated with referring individuals). While in the time-out, youth sit, may write an essay, clean the center, or complete other actions as requested by the referring individual. Time out has diverted many youth from detention and provides an immediate, meaningful consequence in many circumstances.

Bonding
Legally sworn-in staff bond municipal warrants, county warrants, truancy warrants, and make arrangements with neighboring jurisdictions for bonding other juveniles whose warrants are not appropriate for detention.

Sex Offender Tracking
Specialized staff track pre-adjudicated sexual offenders recommended by law enforcement and the DA's office. Tracking comprises school, community, and treatment.

Notification
Co-located staff from the DA's office and R-1 schools fulfill the requirements of HB-1119 by providing timely notification to schools when an enrolled juvenile is filed on.

Data Access
24/7 access is available to law enforcement, schools, social services, probation, and courts through the onsite SASI database (schools), LexisNexis (District court), JAC database, and most recently through CCIC/NCIC and JIS.

Felony Booking
Livescan equipment is installed and ready for use to provide a single point of entry for M-1 and felony youth in Jefferson County. Court dates for the Jefferson County District Courts will also be assigned when youth are transported to the JAC, booked, and transported to Mount View Detention Center.

Cooperating Programs
The CrossRoads program is co-located and provides mental health, family advocacy services.

	Jefferson County Juvenile Assessment Center

Home Senate Bill 94 (SB 94) Local Law Enforcement Government Adolescent Map/ Directions Contact & Staff Information		What We Do Transports Youth are brought directly to the assessment center by law enforcement officers. Every youth completes an intake form and in-depth interview with a trained intake specialist. Key areas assessed include mental health, substance abuse, family violence, school functioning, and peer relationships. Data is entered into the JAC database, and any areas of concern are discussed with the family members taking custody upon release. Detention Screens Officers call from the field when they have apprehended and charged a youth with an offense that will likely require detention as an immediate sanction. Intake specialists complete the screening instrument with the youth and officer over the phone and validate the information via ICON. If the youth is indeed detainable, the officer transports the youth to Mount View Detention Center. If not detainable, the youth is transported to the JAC and completely assessed as described above. Referrals (Case Management) The District Attorney's Office reviews Juvenile Promise to Appear cases and refers primarily first time offenders to the JAC for assessment and short term case management. Additionally, the JAC takes referrals for case management for district courts (truancy), local municipal courts, and R-1 schools for case management services. Upon receipt of these cases, JAC staff contacts the youth and family to arrange an intake which involves the assessment process described above, as well as an interview with the family, information gathering from school, and any other relevant sources. A contract is drawn up with the youth which states (among other things) that the successful completion of the contract will allow for dismissal of the case, and breach of the contract will cause the case to be "bumped up" to either diversion or the court. Contracts involve both sanctions and referral to services, and are monitored weekly by case managers. Typical length of case management is three months. Case managers ideally carry a load of 25-30 cases. Phone Screens When cases are referred for case management as mentioned above, the first step is a screen preformed on the phone to determine if the youth is appropriate for the JAC's services. If they are not, the information is kept on file for access in the future. Arson Education In junction with the West Metro Fire Protection District (WMFD), the JAC is able to offer a one-time arson education class to youth on case management (if applicable). This is a fee-for-service program, and brings in between $2,000-$3,000 annually. An investigator from West Metro conducts the class with assistance from a senior case manager. Both parent and youth are required to attend. Evaluation of the effects of this program on recidivism is underway. Time Out Probation, Parole, Social Services, and R-1 schools can use the JAC as a brief time-out for youth that may be facing detention for technical violations of placement or probation/parole violations, or at-risk of immediate charges. on a case-by-case basis, youth are brought to the JAC, complete a short assessment process, and provide background information as to their current difficulties (corroborated with referring individuals). While in the time-out, youth sit, may write an essay, clean the center, or complete other actions as requested by the referring individual. Time out has diverted many youth from detention and provides an immediate, meaningful consequence in many circumstances. Bonding Legally sworn-in staff bond municipal warrants, county warrants, truancy warrants, and make arrangements with neighboring jurisdictions for bonding other juveniles whose warrants are not appropriate for detention. Sex Offender Tracking Specialized staff track pre-adjudicated sexual offenders recommended by law enforcement and the DA's office. Tracking comprises school, community, and treatment. Notification Co-located staff from the DA's office and R-1 schools fulfill the requirements of HB-1119 by providing timely notification to schools when an enrolled juvenile is filed on. Data Access 24/7 access is available to law enforcement, schools, social services, probation, and courts through the onsite SASI database (schools), LexisNexis (District court), JAC database, and most recently through CCIC/NCIC and JIS. Felony Booking Livescan equipment is installed and ready for use to provide a single point of entry for M-1 and felony youth in Jefferson County. Court dates for the Jefferson County District Courts will also be assigned when youth are transported to the JAC, booked, and transported to Mount View Detention Center. Cooperating Programs The CrossRoads program is co-located and provides mental health, family advocacy services.