Community Programs for Utah Juveniles

There are a variety of community programs available for delinquent kids in Utah, most of which are available through private businesses which have a contract with Utah’s Juvenile Justice Services. Community programs are non-secure. Some programs are residential (where the child lives at a facility) while others are non-residential.

The Goal of Community Programs

Community programs are supposed to help juveniles transition from delinquency safely back into society. These programs are usually available to kids in the following situations:

• Youth who have been committed to Juvenile Justice Services for placement but are still under the discretion of the juvenile court.
• Youth who are under the jurisdiction of the Youth Parole Authority and who are on parole, but working towards being released into society.

Residential Options

Some residential options that may be available to youth in custody include:

• Child placed with a single adult or family
• Group homes. These can be general or quite specific, depending on the needs of the youth.
• Wilderness programs
• Specialized boarding homes responsible for extremely delinquent kids

Non-Residential Services

These services are available on an out-patient basis:

• Psychiatric evaluations
• Counseling
• Therapy
• Job training

Community Transitional Programs

Transitional programs are designed for juveniles on parole who require extensive services before returning to membership in the public at-large. There is a lot of supervision, particularly to protect the community. Some learning opportunities in these programs may include: training for independent living, job training, serving the community.

Utah Juvenile Defense Attorney

Don’t hesitate to consult an experienced Utah juvenile defense attorney if your child is in legal trouble. You may not know all the questions to ask, but a top-notch attorney will be able to guide you and your child through the potentially confusing juvenile court process. The right phone call may help put your child and family on the road to recovery.