Drop-in center in NE expands the Court’s new approach to youth on probation 
 
WHAT: Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting: Northeast BARJ Drop-In Center    (Balanced and Restorative Justice - BARJ Drop-In Center) 
 
WHERE: 2575 Reed Street, NE 
 
WHEN: Thursday, October 13, 2:00pm 
 
WHO: Chief Judge Lee F. Satterfield   Mayor Vincent C. Gray    Councilmembers Harry Thomas (Ward 5), Jim Graham (chair, Human Services     Committee) and Phil Mendelson (chair, Public Safety & Judiciary      Committee)   Family Court Presiding Judge Zoe Bush   Terri Odom, Director, Family Court Social Services Division      The Balanced and Restorative Justice Drop-In Center is a multi-faceted facility, including a satellite probation supervision office, a learning lab and a host of activities that focus on the youths’ strengths.  The targeted population includes youth who live in the Northeast quadrant of the city who are awaiting trial and would otherwise be detained, or youth facing probation revocation because of non-compliance.  Participating youth will be able to take advantage of a number of pro-social activities including:  tutoring, mentoring, education and prevention groups, life-skills, peer mediation, recreation, and field trips.  Refreshments will be provided and the Drop-In Center will also host a satellite courtroom which will serve as a backup to the juvenile arraignment courtroom in the Moultrie Courthouse.  The Drop-In Center will be open Monday through Saturday and will serve court-supervised youth and their families. 
 

FACT SHEET: Court Social Services Northeast BARJ Drop-In Center 
 
What is the Drop-In Center? The Balanced and Restorative Justice Drop-In Center is a multi-faceted facility, including a satellite probation supervision office, a learning lab and a host of strength-based activities.  Youth residing in the Northeast quadrant of the city who are pre-trial and would otherwise be detained during the trial, or facing probation revocation will be able to take advantage of a number of positive, positive, pro-social activities including:  tutoring, mentoring, education and prevention groups, peer mediation, recreation, and field trips.  Refreshments will be provided and the DropIn Center will also host a satellite courtroom.  The Drop-In Center will be open Monday through Saturday and will serve court-supervised youth and their families. 
 
How did the Superior Court come up with the idea? In January 2002, the president signed into law the DC Family Court Act of 2001.  This act enabled the Superior Court to direct greater concentration on the provision of case management, community supervision and coordinated services to court-involved youth.  Among the many progressive initiatives developed and implemented subsequent to enacting the Family Court Act, was the BARJ Drop-In Center launched in the Southeast quadrant of the city in 2008.  The results of this measure—reduced recidivism, greater compliance with court-ordered conditions, increased school attendance and academic performance—were so successful that the Family Court elected to expand its efforts and replicate the model in Northeast DC. 
 
How Exactly Will the Drop-In Center Serve Inner-City Youth? 
 
The Drop-In Center is designed to serve youth residing throughout the Northeast quadrant of the city ages 12-18 who are either pre-trial, and would otherwise be detained, or are facing probation revocation.  The Center will operate Monday through Saturday, with programming.    Activities during the week will include: Monday thru Friday 9:00am - 3:30pm  Youth and parent(s) under Court supervision report for initial orientation following formal charging subsequent to arrest.  Youth who have been suspended from school for a period of five (5) to ten (10) days, and have not been assigned to an alternative suspension school will report for the entire duration of suspension.  Parents will be required to go to the school to gather all educational lessons for the youth and the youth will be required to attend the Drop-In Center to complete the lessons during suspension.

Monday thru Friday 4:00pm - 9:00pm

Pre-adjudicated youth and those facing probation revocation will be required to report to the Center to participate in the following activities:

 4:10pm - 5:00pm  Pro-social group facilitated by probation officers  

5:00pm - 6:30pm  Tutoring  

6:30pm - 7:00pm  Refreshments

7:00pm - 7:15pm  (break)

7:15pm – 8:45pm  Indoor Recreation: table top games. movies, etc. 

Each evening, probation officers will ensure curfews are met by conducting face-to-face checks and phone calls at the homes or court ordered placement of all youth who have court-ordered curfews. 
 
Saturdays  BARJ workshops designed to educate youth on the impact of their juvenile crime and the importance of restoration for the victim, offender and community in which the crime occurred.  Community service will also be conducted on Saturdays. 
 
Additional Information: Because this model approach to addressing juvenile delinquency has been so effective in reducing recidivism and increasing compliance with court-ordered conditions, the Family Court Social Services Division envisions has been able to replicate the model in order to serve youth residing in Northeast DC.  Through the support of the District of Columbia Courts, construction is currently underway to complete a third (3rd) Drop-In Center, located on South Capitol Street, that will serve court-involved youth residing in the Southwest quadrant of the city.  The Division is also working to leverage start-up funds to replicate this model for adolescent girls currently served and supervised by the Leaders of Today in Solidarity Satellite Office, the District’s firstever adolescent female probation initiative.   As part of the Division’s commitment to positive outcomes, staff will track the efficacy of its model by measuring re-arrest rates, failure to appear hearing rates, and failure to comply with court-ordered conditions among supervised youth residing in Northeast DC. 
 
Mission Statement for the Superior Court’s Family Court Social Services Division: The mission of the Family Court Social Services Division is to assist the DC Superior Court’s Family Court and juvenile justice system in the rehabilitation of youths through the provision of comprehensive services and probation supervision with an eye toward public safety to prevent recidivism and protecting the community.