But once the child was diagnosed as being an “8 percenter,” the probation department provided services not only for that child, but for the child’s entire family. The rationale was that we should not wait for the child’s siblings to become involved in anti-social behavior as well. Instead, we should provide counseling services, school tutoring, drug treatment and other services for the entire family and head off the anti-social behavior. And the probation department found that by taking this pro-active approach, the number of repeat arrests was reduced by more than half. I think everyone will agree that those were wonderful results.
I am convinced that the same results can be obtained if we become more pro-active with all of the children that come into the juvenile court system. And we can begin this program by diagnosing each kid for potential problem areas at the child’s first contact with the system, and then working together to address those conditions. Not only will this reduce the emotional misery of lost young lives, but it will also substantially reduce the amount of crime in our communities, and the financial cost of the criminal justice system itself.
