THE PUBLIC MIND: OPERATION PAYBACK HAS GREAT BENEFITS FOR AREA'S YOUTHS AND COMMUNITY

To the Editor:

A few weeks ago in one of your editorials you complimented the Circuit Court's use of ordering community service work and restitution for the adults who were convicted of the vandalism of buses belonging to the Jackson Public Schools.

Since 1986, the Juvenile Court of the 32nd Judicial Circuit (Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, and, as of Aug. 28, 1991, Perry counties), through a program known as Operation Payback, has been using both of these treatment components when dealing with youths who are referred to the Juvenile Office for offenses ranging from repeated curfew violations (a status offense) to major felony offenses.

The objectives of Operation Payback are as follows:

1. To provide victims with a means to secure full or partial loss recovery;

2. To increase the offender's awareness of accountability for delinquent behavior;

3. To promote victim and community involvement in offender rehabilitation;

4. To increase the victim's and the community's sense of confidence in the juvenile justice system by reducing their fear of offenders and their hostility toward them, and by increasing their perception that justice has been served; and

5. To provide youth with an opportunity to make things right to their victim and/or the community without removing youth from their homes.

Community service hours are assigned in a range from 5 hours to 150 hours depending on the reason(s) why a youth was referred to the Juvenile Office, if the youth had previously been referred, and the youth's age. Also, a youth can earn credit for positive behaviors such as:

1. Is in school full-time;

2. Works full or part-time;

3. Is involved in extra-curricular activities at school;

4. Has no prior record with the Juvenile Office;

5. Maintains grades of "C" or better for each grading period;

6. Attends tutoring each week;

7. Shows up on time for work; and

8. Earns a grade of 90 percent or better on their weekly work evaluation form.

In previous years Operation Payback depended on grants, and donations from service clubs such as ZONTA, in order to operate. However, with the exception of the salary for one supervisory staff, who is paid by the circuit, Operation Payback is now paying for itself. The program operates a lawn mowing and leaf raking service by contracting with private citizens to mow and rake their lawns. Youths who have to earn money for restitution and/or court costs, work in this area to earn the money needed to meet their financial obligations.

From Jan. 1, 1986, through June 30, 1992, 1,222 youths have been assigned to perform community service and/or restitution. The communities of Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Marble Hill have benefited from 22,694 hours of community service work, and, $49,352 has been paid by youths to their victims.

We feel that the youths and community have been well served by our program.

Ruth M. Waldon

~Chief Juvenile Officer/Administrator

32nd Judicial Circuit