A new training class will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. beginning September 2, 2008 at the Richland County Sheriff's Department’s Region Three Headquarters located at 6429 Bishop Avenue (near the intersection of I-20 and Monticello Road).  For more information, email or call Program Coordinator, Sergeant Kim Myers at (803) 309-1624

Download application to become a volunteer

OVERVIEW

The School-Based Youth Arbitration Program is an intervention option for first time, non-violent student offenders. The overall intent of the program is to change the way schools handle student crime. The purpose is to restore safety within the school, and at the same time, prevent at-risk students from entering the justice system. The program is based upon the principles of restorative justice and provides an effective means of addressing student safety, reducing reliance on suspension, expulsion and police charges, while reintegrating offending students back into the school community. The restorative approach focuses on a three-way relationship between the needs of the victims, student offenders, and the school community. 

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

The newly developed Richland County Sheriff’s Department School-Based Youth Arbitration Program is the first program of its kind in South Carolina operated by a law enforcement agency. The program will focus specifically on crime in schools.  It is supported by an agreement between 5^th Judicial Circuit Solicitor, W. Barney Giese, and a contract with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). The program is a direct response to the number one charge associated with cases referred to DJJ, which is disturbing schools.  Last year alone, (Fiscal Year 2005-06) over 2,700 disturbing schools cases were referred to solicitors across South Carolina for prosecution or other resolution.   

The School-Based Youth Arbitration Program is modeled after the Community Juvenile Arbitration Program, which operates in 14 of the 16 Judicial Circuits in South Carolina.   

The program goals are:

• To hold student offenders accountable for their actions by restoring the harm they cause to their school and victims.

• To increase the competency and learning of student offenders so they can become productive, law abiding citizens.

• To ensure school safety by strengthening the school’s ability to prevent and control crime and wrongdoing.

PROGRAM BASICS

A Richland County Deputy Sheriff will coordinate the program.  Community volunteers will be trained in conferencing in order to guide student offenders, their parent(s), School Resource Officers, victims, and school officials in the development of restorative solutions. Offending students must volunteer to participate and must take responsibility for his or her offense.  After determining the circumstances of each case, the volunteer facilitator will mediate the appropriate course of action the student must take in order to repair the harm caused to his or her school and victim(s).  Each Arbitration conference will conclude with a written agreement that stipulates sanctions the student offender must complete. These sanctions may include:

• Apologizing to the victim(s).

• Participating in victim impact education.

• Paying monetary restitution.

• Performing school/community service.

• Making a charitable donation.

• Attending educational programs i.e. gang awareness or substance abuse seminars.

• Participating in counseling.

• Attending a Teen After School Center.

• Writing essays.

• Interviewing public or school officials.

• Participating in appropriate field trips, i.e., visit correctional or emergency facilities.

• Educating the school community about offense related issues, i.e., write an article for the school newsletter regarding the impact of bullying in schools.

Successful completion of the program will enable the student offender to make amends for his or her offense and avoid referral to the formal justice system.  If the student does not successfully complete the program, he or she will be referred to the Solicitor’s Office for formal action.

The Program will not accept violent offenders or previous diversion program participants.

PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS

The success of the program will depend on community participation and volunteerism. The school volunteer conferencing facilitators will come from all walks of life.  Each volunteer will:

• Be screened by the South Carolina Law

• Enforcement Division and the South Carolina Department of Social Services.

• Be approved by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

• Receive 21 hours of required training. The volunteer must also receive 9 hours of follow-up training for each consecutive year of service.

• Be at least 21 years old and a high school graduate.

Aligning community volunteers with the Sheriff’s Department, school personnel, Solicitor’s Office, and DJJ will build partnerships and harness resources that will have a positive impact on entire school communities, reduce disruptive behavior, repair the harm caused by school crime, and promote a safe learning environment.

For more information, email or call Program Coordinator, Sergeant Kim Myers at (803) 309-1624

Download application to become a volunteer

Crime Weakens Relationships

BARJ Restores Relationships
 

Copyright © 2007 Richland County Sheriff's Department