General Statute

 

 

 

General Statute 143B-845 - 852 sets out that it is the intent of the General Assembly to prevent juveniles who are at risk from becoming delinquent and develop community-based alternatives to youth development centers and to provide community-based delinquency, substance abuse and gang prevention strategies and programs.

The statute also says that the General Assembly intends to provide non-institutional disposition alternatives that will protect the community and juveniles. These programs and services are to be planned at the local level by local Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils (JCPCs) in partnership with the state.

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To receive funding for juvenile court services and delinquency prevention programs, the county Board of Commissioners must appoint a Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. The County Council shall consist of not more than 26 members and should include, if possible, the following:

  • The local school superintendent, or that person's designee;
  • A chief of police in the county, or that person's designee;
  • The local sheriff, or that person's designee;
  • The district attorney, or that person's designee;
  • The chief court counselor, or that person's designee;
  • The director of the Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization (LME/MCO), or that person's designee;
  • The director of the county department of social services, or consolidated human services agency, or that person's designee;
  • The county manager, or that person's designee;
  • A substance abuse professional;
  • A member of the faith community;
  • A county commissioner;
  • Two persons under the age of 21 years, or one person under the age of 21 and one member of the public representing the interests of families of at-risk juveniles;
  • A juvenile defense attorney;
  • The chief district court judge, or a judge designated by the chief district court judge;
  • A member of the business community;
  • The local health director, or that person's designee;
  • A representative from the United Way or other nonprofit agency;
  • A representative of a local parks and recreation program; and
  • Up to seven members of the public to be appointed by the county board of commissioners.

Each year, the JCPCs conduct a planning process which includes a review of the needs of juveniles in the county who are at risk of delinquency or who have been adjudicated undisciplined or delinquent and review the resources available to address those needs. The councils then prioritize community risk factors for youth, for families and for the community and determine the services needed to address those problem areas. The councils develop and advertise a request for proposal process and submit a written plan of action for the expenditure of juvenile sanction and prevention funds to the board of county commissioners for its approval. In addition, the JCPCs evaluate the performance of programs for juveniles and the services they provide, work to increase public awareness of the causes of delinquency and of strategies to reduce the problem, develop strategies to intervene and appropriately respond to and treat the needs of juveniles at risk of delinquency and provide funds for services for treatment, counseling, or rehabilitation for juveniles and their families.

Regional consultants from the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's Community Programs section provide technical assistance and support to each Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, to county government for juvenile justice planning and fiscal management and to local programs for program development and compliance with operating and performance standards.

Community Programs provides overall program planning and management to assure uniform service standards, coordinates and provides training and consultation for local staff, collects data, responds to legislators' and other requests for information or recommendations, and develops policies and procedures for the Division. The Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, through Community Programs , manages aid to county funds allocated from the North Carolina General Assembly for county government development and continuation of local juvenile justice programs as planned and recommended by the Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils.