From detnews.com: Young sex offenders strain Berrien County budget

I found this little article on detnews.com off the AP wire today.  Apparently, treatment for juvenile sex offenders may not even be spared from the budget axe.

Officials say the cost of treating juvenile sex offenders could push Berrien County Trial Court’s 2010 budget over the targeted amount by $677,000.

Total court spending is estimated at $22.2 million, while the budget target is $21.54 million. A hearing before the county board’s finance committee is scheduled for Sept. 8.

Elvin Gonzalez, administrator of the trial court’s Family Division, says the county currently has 33 juveniles requiring costly out-of-home placement. He says that includes 12 sex offenders needing placement in specialized treatment programs at a cost of $100,000 per year, the average stay required for an effective outcome.

Asked by Commissioner Gloria Gillespie whether the county could provide expanded, less expensive foster care for young sex offenders, Gonzalez said such youths often can’t live in the community.

Juvenile sex offenses have always been difficult for me.  On the one hand, a child who commits a sex offense is in serious need of treatment.  On the other hand , the application of SORA and other aspects of an adjudication, make the impact of an adjudication draconian for the minor.  I believe there must be a public policy decision made regarding whether a juvenile who commits a sex offense can be rehabilitated.  If so, he or she should not be forced to register as a sex offender once successfully released from the Court’s jurisdiction.  It does not serve the public good or the minor to make him or her register as a sex offender if they are not a risk to the community.  If it is not possible to rehabilitate a juvenile sex offender, alter the system to treat juvenile sex offenses in the same manner as adults, where the goal is to protect society from these dangerous individuals and eliminate the pretext of attempting to help them.

© 2009, Melinda Deel. All rights reserved.