Juvenile Justice in Wyoming |
The purpose of this survey is to get a snapshot of current programs and partnerships in place surrounding early intervention of at-risk youth in Wyoming communities. We are also interested in the challenges afterschool programs face regarding service to difficult students who are at-risk of entering the formal juvenile or criminal justice system.
Afterschool programs have a unique place in a students day to divert risky behaviors by providing quality expanded learning opportunities, increasing academic success and positive youth development. Afterschool programs help to prepare students for college, career, and life.
Wyoming ranks 2nd in the nation for youth who are under court order to a detention facility or other residential placement. Removing a child from his/her home and community has been shown to increase risk for future criminal behavior. Wyoming also ranks 4th in the nation for school referrals to law enforcement. Research has shown that formal processing of youth through court systems (as opposed to informal responses) does not reduce subsequent offending and probably increases likelihood that they will reoffend. In Wyoming, both of these statistics are attributed primarily to a lack of community-based options and resources due in part to Wyoming’s rural nature. This survey is the beginning of an effort to divert more children from our formal juvenile justice systems.
Thank you for your time and thoughtfulness in answering these questions.