May 23, 2007

POLICE DEPARTMENT APPLIES FOR GRANT FOR YOUTH ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD FUNDING

The Pasadena Police Department has applied for a $76,978 Justice Assistance
Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to help fund the Youth Accountability
Board program.

The Youth Accountability Board helps first-time juvenile offenders reflect on their mistakes and use the experience to succeed in the future. Swift and appropriate consequences are imposed on first-time offenders, parents share responsibility in the juveniles’ actions and counseling helps the juveniles and their families find solid, healthy solutions to everyday problems.

During a typical Youth Accountability Board meeting, the board meets with the juvenile offender and his or her family as well as the investigating detective and a counselor. Questions are asked to determine how and why the incident took place, home life, school attendance and grades, attendance in counseling sessions and any further contact with Pasadena Police Department. Once the board hears from all sides, they discuss and propose an accountability contract that addresses the juvenile’s criminal behavior and any other underlying issues that may have led to the criminal offense. If the juvenile and the family agree to the contract, they must commit to the terms of the contract for six months. Contracts require counseling, acceptable school grades and attendance, community service and letters of apology to family and victims.

Members of the Youth Accountability Board members are graduates of the Pasadena Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy who live or work in Pasadena and have passed a background investigation.

Visit www.cityofpasadena.net/police/comments_webmaster.htm to comment on the grant application for the Youth Accountability Board.