The Best Chance At Success: Insights from Arkansas DYS

Adolescence is a time of significant psychological and biological change, making it a challenging time for many young people. Several factors can contribute to hardships during this period in life and set the stage for unfavorable outcomes. These factors include exposure to violent behavior at home, lack of parental supervision, struggles with school, and negative influences from peers.

The Division of Youth Services (DYS) in Arkansas is tasked with giving youth who are involved in the juvenile justice system the tools, support, and guidance they need to navigate this critical period and succeed throughout life.

DYS Director Michael Crump says the Division operates five secure detention facilities in Arkansas for those ages 10 to 21 and also has a diversion residential program at Camp Robinson known as the Civilian Student Training Program (CSTP). This program serves as an alternative to committing youths to detention facilities.

“We also work with ten community-based providers across the state. These providers play a crucial role in helping us manage and rehabilitate youth outside of secure facilities,” explains DYS Assistant Director of Treatment Kimberly Key-Bell.

What Is Juvenile Delinquency?

The juvenile justice system uses different terminology from the adult system to emphasize rehabilitation. Instead of being charged with crimes, juveniles face delinquency charges. Likewise, they are not found guilty but rather the alleged delinquent behavior is determined to be true or not.

When a prosecutor believes a juvenile has broken rules—problematic behaviors ranging from skipping school to violence—he or she may choose to file a delinquency petition, which summons the juvenile to an adjudication hearing. At this hearing, a juvenile court judge weighs the evidence. If the allegations are found true, a juvenile is “adjudicated delinquent.”

If adjudicated delinquent, a judge then decides whether that young person should be placed in a secure juvenile detention facility or if there are appropriate alternatives, like counseling, probation, community service, electronic monitoring, or another rehabilitative program.

DYS then determines what services a committed youth will receive, where the youth will be placed, and how long the youth will be held in custody. This is based on how much of a risk they are deemed to be to others and also themselves.

“Youth who are committed to our units by the court undergo an assessment that categorizes them as low, moderate, or high risk. This assessment helps us determine the necessary interventions and treatments,” explains DYS Assistant Director of Prevention Adrian Sanders.

Young people categorized as moderate or high risk are generally those who will be committed to DYS custody.

Related Story:

A Path Forward

A treatment plan is then developed to support the child, aiming to ensure they stay out of trouble and become a positive contributor to the community upon their return home.

Key-Bell emphasizes that parents play a vital role in this team. Engaging families in the treatment process can address dynamics that may have contributed to the youth’s behavior.

“If we have a kid whose home was in dysfunction prior to commitment and we’ve done nothing while the youth is in commitment to address that dysfunction, we’re sending them back into the dysfunction in the home,” says Key-Bell. “What we do while the youth is in custody affects how they succeed when they go home.”

The majority of juveniles in secure facilities are not violent offenders. “They’re mostly just young and lost,” says Crump, trying to dispel a misconception that many of these young people have committed serious crimes and could be beyond help.

“The average teen stays in a detention facility for about six months and is then given aftercare for another six months,” says Crump. In some circumstances, the availability of state beds for committed youth can fall short, so the state collaborates with county detention centers to provide temporary accommodations.

The expense of housing a juvenile in a detention facility can be substantial. According to Crump, it averages $320 per day per child, totaling over $116,000 annually. Costs can rise even further with the need for extra medical care and medications.

“I look at it like about every nine beds occupied for a year, that’s around $1 million,” notes Crump. “Intensive in-home services are a less expensive option. This usually involves visits to the home about three times per week. It’s a lot less expensive to provide that level of care first and try that than it is to lock them up.”

The Juvenile Justice Landscape

Two key factors are transforming the juvenile justice landscape: a significant increase in the possession of firearms and the heightened danger posed by drugs, like the powerful opioid fentanyl.

Youth carrying firearms has become pervasive. This trend is not confined to any single region or demographic; it is a nationwide concern that affects urban, suburban, and rural areas alike.

“The acceptance of guns in society and our history of trauma play significant roles. Many of our kids are genuinely scared and they tell me they feel the need to protect themselves. Sometimes they have no intention of using the gun and don’t want to,” says Key-Bell.

The fear-based decision to obtain a gun often results in minor-in-possession charges. DYS Director Crump says most of the kids are not getting the guns from their home. He says in the majority of cases, young people are stealing guns out of unlocked cars.

Substance abuse is another critical issue intertwined with youth crime. Key-Bell points out that around 60-65% of youth in custody come in with a substance use issue. The connection between substance use and delinquency is clear, she says, with many offenses driven by underlying addictions.

She mentions some youth in custody have expressed that they can’t perform well in school unless they are under the influence of drugs. She points out that this often stems from untreated issues, such as ADHD or anxiety, which need to be properly addressed. This way, the child can concentrate on their studies, so they are not resorting to substances to get through the school day.

Key-Bell says young people in custody are offered group therapy and peer recovery support. “We’re also able to connect them with a peer or sponsor in their area,” she adds.

Arkansas currently does not have any state residential inpatient drug treatment facilities for young people needing more intensive care. Private facilities are often the only option for this type of care.

Alternatives To Detention Facilities

Treatment and diversion programs are being implemented to steer youth away from the formal juvenile justice system. These initiatives have proven effective in fostering rehabilitation and decreasing recidivism, offering essential support without the need for incarceration.

“We really have to shift our focus to what we can do better in the community,” says Crump. “We need more partners and it’s about relationships. It’s not just the relationships between the different entities that provide services to help these kids. It’s also building relationships with the child’s family. We’ve got to make sure that the family sees DYS as someone who’s there to help.”

Sanders highlights the significant role juvenile officers can play. For instance, when a parent calls seeking help because their child is not attending school, officers can have an impact by referring the family to appropriate services and resources to address the issue.

“Sometimes officers aren’t equipped to tell parents what they can do about truancy issues, so nothing happens,” says Sanders. He emphasizes that proper training can remedy these situations.

A Need For More Mentors

DYS is working to expand mentoring programs, especially for kids reintegrating into society after being in a detention center. “We want to be able to send those kids home knowing that there’s someone else out there that’s going to help them, making sure they stay on track and that they don’t come back to us,” says Crump.

“It can be anyone. I know for the kids sometimes it might be their probation officer. But it helps if they can have someone outside the family—a coach, a teacher, or anyone that takes an interest—who can show the child that they have someone who is there for them and wants to help them succeed.”

Many people become mentors because it is a fulfilling experience, but it is important to understand that it requires a lasting commitment. Crump emphasizes that it’s not enough to simply declare that a child no longer needs help and support after their six months of aftercare is over. The relationship must be sustainable.

“Otherwise, the child faces another instance of abandonment, leading to more trauma,” explains Key-Bell. “There needs to be a network of systems connected. When they go home, that’s what it should look like.”