Rehab for youthful criminals rates high

Missouri's rehabilitation program for youthful offenders is getting national attention for its success at operating smaller centers as opposed to the large, prison-like facilities it ran in decades past.

These successes of the Missouri Division of Youth Services prompted a visit Tuesday by 18 delegates from the state of Mississippi's Department of Human Services and Division of Youth Services. The delegates are touring residential-care facilities in Southeast Missouri to get ideas for improving their own systems.

Over the last six months, Missouri's Division of Youth Services has been host to more than 100 visitors from other states looking to emulate the state's methods, said Mark Steward, director of the Missouri Division of Youth Services.

"We've had groups come here from Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi and South Carolina," he said. "And next week, an Illinois group will tour facilities in St. Louis."

The Mississippi group first toured the New Madrid Bend Youth Center before arriving at the Girardot Center in Cape Girardeau. Tours were led by residents, who described their classes and therapy sessions and told the delegates how Missouri's program has helped them.

"It's not like a prison," a resident named Tim told the group. "They give you a lot of help."

The tour gave the delegates a chance to see how a successful state program is built, said Thelma Brittain, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Health Services.

"We were very impressed with the facilities here," she said. "They are very care-oriented, with the emphasis being on rehabilitation rather than penalization. This is the direction Mississippi is moving in."

One of the young tour leaders in Cape Girardeau impressed her with his positive outlook on the future, she said.

"He felt regret and remorse for what he had done to his victims," she said. "He's healing, and he's being rehabilitated back into the system."

Only about 6 percent of youthful offenders who go through Missouri's Division of Youth Services program end up in adult prisons, Steward said. This is one of the primary reasons why other states are visiting.

"Many other states have 50 to 60 percent, if not higher," Steward said.

Willie Blackmon, director of the Mississippi Division of Youth Services, said his state faces funding challenges and suffers a 35 percent staff vacancy rate.

"We're looking at more rehabilitation-oriented programs as opposed to the current military-style programs we have now," he said.

After touring the Girardot Center, the group attended a reception at Mollie's Cafe, where speakers included Missouri Supreme Court Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., a native of Cape Girardeau and leading advocate for Missouri's at-risk youth. Several of the region's political, academic and legal leaders were in attendance.

Today the group will wrap up its visit by touring the Cape Girardeau Day Treatment and Sikeston Hope Day Treatment programs and Poplar Bluff's Sears Youth Center and Sierra Osage Treatment Center.

mwells@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160