The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1975-05-13-SHS-min.pdf SUBCOMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES May 13, 1975 The Subcommittee met in Room 111, Lexington Town Office Building at 7 30 P M. Present were Margery Battin Kitty McGraw J R. Campbell Mary McKenney Joan Chapin Edward MacLean Elizabeth Clarke Jacqui Michelove Jacqueline Davison Setha Olson Nancy Haley Margaret Raffel Leona Martin NEXT MEETING Tuesday, June 10, 1975 8 00 P.M. Room 111 (Changed from May 27) TOPIC Unmet Needs in the Mental Health Area MVMHA QUESTIONNAIRES Residential facilities most often mentioned as the greatest needs Same finding in survey of five towns done by Office For Children Mrs Davison reported on an article in the Journal of the Massachusetts Associa- tion of School Committees which suggests a plan of action for establishing de- tention centers and providing rehabilitation and training, on a regional basis, making use of re-trained, unemployed school teachers PANEL Lt. Michael Forten, Lexington Police George Kennedy, Probation Officer, Concord District Court David Wilson, Counselor, Lexington High School The panel made brief presentations and the entire group discussed the subject of juvenile offenders DEFINITIONS "Station Adjustment' - Disposition of a case by local police officers without reference to court "In Lieu of Station Adjustment' - Court (judge) makes infor- mal disposition, no records kept. Record does, however, appear on the local police blotter FORTEN Chiefly concerned about help for first offenders Often children 13-15 years old, they are already losers," rejected by peers or par- ents Find out the reason Get to the parents Possibly remove them to another home or another neighborhood Every child should be given the opportunity to find himself before he gets into real trouble He would put a closed school building into the management of some group to provide a multi-purpose facility, and would require that parents pay for necessary treatment. Probation is a farce Officers are well qualified, but over-extended and under- paid. They must spend hours in court and see offenders by appointment in groups, while a parole officer is free to drop in on aprolee unannounced. He is opposed to station adjustment. Policeman is enforcement officer, with plenty of authority should not also be judge Better to refer to impartial third party, the court. 2 - Subcommittee on Human Services May 13, 1975 WILSON Emotional problems are hatched at home Values of parents are imposed. Often there is no communication between parents and child, or in- vidious comparisons with peers or siblings The first sign usually shows up at school, the child hits the parents where it hurts He refers to counseling services in various places in Greater Boston, rarely to Mystic Valley (overcrowded and no feedback) , never to Met. State (also over- crowded, patients seriously damaged) Concord Court, unlike city courts, tries to deal with individuals Sends kids to a variety of places private professionals, groups, clinics, hospitals A.0 E program at L.H S Alternative Choice Education Drop-out prevention, takes place outside the school, in the community Fourteen students currently, with three teachers The need. More supportive services and facilities KENNEDY His first contact with the offender is at arraignment in court The case is continued for 2 to 4 weeks while he makes an investigation and the lawyer, if any, prepares his case He has 80 to 100 cases at a time, 90% from Lexington, 10% from Lincoln. Probation Officer talks to parents and school and recommends whether probation is necessary, or the case should be continued without a finding For a minor offense, a single hearing and immediate disposition "in lieu of sta- tion adjustment. For others, several hearings and disposition If continued without a finding, hearing is put off until later and case is usually dismissed. Records are sealed and available only to other certified government agencies, not to employer or school About 50% of first offenders get maximum services to avoid recidivism. Needs Temporary shelter where juvenile can be held for a week or two rather than have bail set or be sent to Roslindale Private treatment facilities Funding resources - the greatest need. Is Court Experience Beneficial? All believe that it is However, they agree with Mr MacLean that it is deleterious for kids to spend hours, while awaiting their cases, watching injustice being dispensed witnessing the inconsistencies in disposition of serious motor vehicle violations Lt. Forten suggested that all juvenile cases should be heard separately on an appointed day, and all ap- plauded the suggestion. Do Juvenile Offenders Cross Socio-economic Lines? Miss Haley pointed out that it is a myth that alcoholics come from low-income or broken families The panel agreed it happens in all kinds of families Where parent-child communication is good, however, the problem turns up later - 3 - Subcommittee on Human Services May 13, 1975 Public Education It was suggested that adult education might be tried through such things as publication of case studies, weekly reports on the job of a Pro- bation Officer, a series on "Know Your Court System" Communicate the problems to the community and let parents of troubled children learn that they are not alone. Why Doesn't Lexington Have a Juvenile Officer? Lt. Forten believes it would lead to a condition dangerously close to a police state Most cases involve a juvenile, directly or indirectly So most cases would be referred to the J 0 , who would be over-worked and would have much too much authority The rest of the force would learn nothing Respectfully submitted, Bettie Clarke Acting Secretary