Pubdate: Sun, 24 Mar 2002
Source: Frontiersman, The (AK)
Copyright: 2002 The Frontiersman
Contact:  http://www.frontiersman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1532
Author: Naomi Klouda

YOUTH FACILITY MAY SHAVE HOURS

PALMER -- Proposed budget cuts in the Division of Juvenile Justice could 
shut down the Mat-Su Youth Facility as an overnight detention center, 
officials said Tuesday.

Some services would continue to be available, though 13 staff members would 
potentially be laid off, said Bob Fedoroff, superintendent at McLaughlin 
Youth Facilities, who oversees the Mat-Su detention center.

"The House Finance Committee is asking that we reduce our [division's] 
budget by about $1 million," Fedoroff said. "We are looking at reducing 
operations at the Mat-Su Youth Facility, which is a 24-hour detention 
center and a probation night school. That would eliminate all but a 
community [daytime] detention program."

Administrators were asked to cut $986,700 from the Division of Juvenile 
Justice budget. It costs $1,115,500 to run the Mat-Su Facility, which made 
it a likely source. The rationale was that its proximity to Anchorage makes 
it less crucial as a youth holding center than a similar facility at Nome, 
for example, Fedoroff said.

After cuts, $128,800 would remain to operate the center, which isn't enough 
to operate the facility and pay a staff of six to run a day program, 
Fedoroff said.

As it now functions, the youth facility is a 24-hour holding center for 
juveniles in trouble with the law. They remain there until the court takes 
action, which might mean release or a long-term program. It holds up to 15 
teens at a time and youths stay an average of 35 days, said Ray Michaelson, 
superintendent of the center.

The center served more than 200 youths between the ages of 12 and 17 last 
year, he said.

"Our focus here is not punitive so much as aimed at prevention. If I have 
their undivided attention for 35 days, I want them to leave with something 
better than they arrived with," Michaelson said.

The center offers a victim's impact class to teach the young people how 
victims feel when a crime is committed against them. Alcohol and substance 
abuse programs and a school curriculum engage residents on a daily basis. A 
night probation school operates for youth outside the facility.

"DJJ has to get at the root causes of juvenile behavior and offer support 
they need to follow," Michaelson said. "These young people are well worth 
the investment."

State Sen. Lyda Green, R-Mat-Su, who sits on the House Finance Committee, 
is aware of the proposed budget cuts at Mat-Su, said Jerry Burnett, finance 
committee staff for Green.

"Certainly, she is aware and concerned, but how the budget turns out at the 
end is still up in the air," Burnett said.

At the end of the final budgeting process, the amount of money appropriated 
to the division could be an entirely different amount than what is predicted.

The division will figure out how it wants to distribute the funds, he said.

"It would be premature to comment at this time," Burnett said.

Yet officials who run the facility are concerned.

"There has been a lot of community support for that facility," Fedoroff 
said. "When kids are detained here [at McLaughlin] rather than at Mat-Su, 
it makes it more difficult to retain ties to their community and their 
parents. Visiting becomes difficult. Drug and alcohol treatment is one 
example of what they are able to receive right there and by having those 
services provided by community agencies, it makes for a better transition 
back into the community."

Sean Owens, district probations supervisor with DJJ, said a big problem 
with cutting services at the center is that valuable police time will again 
be used to transport youths to Anchorage.

"Juveniles would not be in their own community -- that's another big 
problem," Owens said. "If a juvenile is institutionalized for long term, 
that wouldn't change. They would still go to McLaughlin. What would change 
is the services for kids that don't need that high degree of structure or 
who have cases pending."

Juveniles convicted of a DWI, for example, are often able to serve their 
time at the Mat-Su center, Owens said.

They are able to meet with their probation officer, who is assigned as soon 
as the police issue a report on the charges.

Probation officers from the beginning are able to help courts resolve cases 
by helping to decide whether or not formal court action is appropriate. 
Probation officers might come to an agreement with an offender to drop 
charges in exchange for probation supervision. "Or the case might be 
formally adjudicated and the person will be placed on probation," Owens said.

If the center cuts staff and programs, the role of the facility will be 
drastically reduced, staff at the center said.

"The community has said they want the detention center here, that we need 
to be in the Valley," Michaelson said. "I hope the Legislature will do the 
right thing."
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MAP posted-by: Beth