DATE: Thursday, February 27, 1997           TAG: 9702260126

SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS         PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY BARBARA J. WOERNER, CORRESPONDENT

                                            LENGTH:   81 lines

JUVENILE COURT TOUTS PREVENTIVE SERVICES

While President Clinton and congressional leaders were hashing out details of new proposals to fight juvenile crime, the Norfolk Juvenile Justice and Domestic Relations Court was holding town hall meetings to inform citizens of the juvenile programs already available.

The court also emphasized services relating to family abuse and violence. A new service that will go into effect Saturday will provide prosecutors for every domestic violence case, including those classified as misdemeanors.

The two town hall meetings, held Tuesday and Wednesday, were sponsored by the juvenile and family court, its citizens advisory committee and Police Assisted Community Enforcement.

``We wanted to give citizens the opportunity to learn more about what the court does and how we respond to the problems of juvenile delinquency, family violence, truancy and runaways,'' said Chief Judge William P. Williams.

It was the first time one of the oldest juvenile and family courts in the nation went formally outside the walls of the courthouse to meet with Norfolk residents, according to Kevin Moran, director of Norfolk Court Services..

``Our judges and others on the panel, including myself, have appeared at various forums dealing with juvenile delinquency, but this is the first time there was ever an initiative like this spearheaded by the court itself,'' he said.

Williams said that the meetings were simply to tell people what the court could do and to get feedback on what could be done in the future.

``I find that people just don't know what to do when they have a problem child,'' said Williams.

Although the court does not intervene until an arrest occurs or a petition is filed, Williams said, most juveniles that come in contact with the system go on to become law-abiding adults.

``The crime rate is down slightly,'' he said. ``Most of the juvenile offenders who come through this system are mostly good kids that have done something stupid like shop-lifting, or speeding, and they don't become adult offenders.''

Often, the Intake Department of the Norfolk Court Service Unit will refer first-time offenders to community agencies or other services, such as the Street Law Program, that deal with the beginning stages of delinquent behavior. Street Law is an eight-week, two-hour-a-night program for first-timers.

The Street Law Program, staffed by volunteers, teaches skills to help the young offenders make better choices in troubled situations. One part of the program involves a visit to a local prison and evaluation of how the crime impacted the victim, the child's family and community.

Another service, the Restorative Justice Program, involves the child in restitution and accountability to the victim. Community service, court-ordered payment of a monetary sum and meetings between the offender and victim are some of the components. The goal is to help offenders understand the impact of their delinquent behavior. However, programs like these do not exempt all first-timers from a court appearance or act as a band-aid solution to the serious crimes committed by juveniles.

Williams also said that recent changes in the law allow stricter measures in dealing with serious crimes. In cases of robbery, rape, and murder, juveniles can be certified to be tried in criminal court as adults. The age of 14 is not too early to be sent to prison.

Another hot-button issue addressed at the two meetings was the court's role in domestic violence situations.

``I think that there's a perception because of the O.J. Simpson case and other reasons that the courts do not respond to domestic violence,'' said Williams. ``I don't think it's true in a general sense and in Norfolk's case it's absolutely untrue.

``It's one-day service here - we respond immediately to a person who comes to our court seeking a protective order against an abusive spouse or partner,'' he said. ``That order will be just as tough as the person who is willing to request it needs it to be.''

Willliams said that providing prosecutors for every domestic violence case will be possible because the General Assembly appropriated more money to help curb domestic violence. Commonwealth's Attorney Chuck Griffith expanded his staff to take the misdemeanor cases.

``I think knowing things like this increases the public's confidence in the procedure of the court to know that there will be attorneys in court along with our dedicated group of volunteers,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Williiams

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