A Fresh Start for Teen Offenders

Learn More...

• CLICK to Read the Full Transcript

  In Marion County, the Juvenile Department turns restitution into real world training so that teens learn to build skills and positively engage with the community. From cooking to carpentry, youth gain hands-on experience that prepares them for life beyond the system. You’re watching The Local News Network brought to you by the Physical Therapy Project. I’m Sadie Smith. Around 1,000 youth enter the Marion County Juvenile Justice System annually, a number that has increased since the COVID pandemic. The Juvenile Department provides accountability, intervention, and redirection for youth, ages 12 to 18, to live a crime-free future.

  We’re always growing, we’re always learning, we’re always trying to reach out and give better opportunities for kids within the community because the big challenge that we have in the community, and if I was given a call to action with anybody, I would say, “Community, get out there, get opportunities available for our young people,” because that’s where the challenges are for them right now in the community, is that they don’t have safe places to go. They don’t have safe opportunities to be able to reach out and engage in positive activities. And ultimately that’s what it is that we’re trying to do here.

  The Alternative Programs launched in the late 1970s and has continued to expand to further engage with the community. They now offer hands-on training in culinary arts, customer service, carpentry, small engine repair, metal fabrication, and welding. Youth then apply those skills and sell products at the Fresh Start Market and other community events throughout the year.

  I can’t tell you how important it is for a kid to take a piece of wood from the milling process all the way down into carpentry and then create something with their own hands and then have the opportunity to put it for sale at the market and have somebody come in and buy something that they made with their own hands that ultimately there’s that sense of pride for them. “Hey, somebody actually was willing to pay some dollars for something that I ultimately created.” And to be able to see that in a youth’s face and that understanding of it all is a great impact.

  At the market, youth learn barista skills, merchandising, stocking, and sales while serving smoothies, coffee, and food at the cafe. Jalyssa Gonzalez says she was unsure about the program when she joined about a month ago. Now she’s learning how to make drinks, hold conversations, and grow her confidence.

  Honestly, it was really scary at first just ’cause I’m only 16, so it’s like, I feel like conversations with people and just scared of messing up, is really hard. But once I went to Fresh Start, I could have goals now, like real goals.

  Alternative Programs group worker, Marco Garcia, runs the community service program where youth fill court and credit-based hours. He trains participants and often sees their growth firsthand.

  It starts off with kind of deer in the headlights, like we all do, really, not really sure what’s going to happen and kind of fear of the future. And as they get comfortable with us and work with us and we build relations, we’re able to really kind of focus on the training aspect and really confidence. Learning a purpose here is something that’s very important, not only for us, but for the youth as well. It allows them to take what they learn here and move on to something bigger and better.

  The campus also includes a 14-acre garden and orchard where Master Gardeners work with the department and youth to grow fruits, vegetables, and other plants. The produce is either sold at the Fresh Start Market or used in the culinary program, so the youth eat what they’ve grown. The department also grows plants and flowers that will be available to purchase at their spring sale in May.

  We want to give the community an opportunity to just to be part of what we do. Whether it’s purchasing wood from us, whether it’s purchasing widgets that are made by youth, by staff. We just want them to continue to be curious of what we do and support us by just coming in and saying, “Hi.”

  Local businesses and organizations offer youth food service licenses and other certifications. Staff assist with resumes, mock interviews, counseling, education support, and early intervention. Gregg says no other Juvenile Department in the US offers this level of support or variety of resources.

  And we truly believe that each and every kid that we have can make a different choice, can make a different path, and be successful in life. They just need the help and the push to help get ’em there.

  The Fresh Start Market is open from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, and the spring sale runs Fridays and Saturdays, May 2nd through the 10th at the Marion County Juvenile Department. For more information about this and other stories, visit midvalleylocal.news. Thank you for watching this edition of The Local News Network. I’m Sadie Smith.