WOODSTOCK – Senior Probation Officer Bill Pickens said some of the juveniles he’s worked with probably could have stayed out of the system if the proper program was available to help them.
Mental health issues, drug abuse and family dysfunction can be factors that drive criminality, Pickens said, and it’s “not as simple as just putting it in a little box and saying, ‘This is what it is.’ ”
A new training program at the McHenry County Probation and Court Services Office works on better processes of engagement with offenders, and is very specific to an individual’s needs, said James Edwards, Juvenile Division chief managing officer.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all program, but it’s a series of practices that can work with any of the criminal justice clients based upon their individual needs,” Edwards said.
Looking at cases this way can help when it comes to working with juveniles who have mental health issues.