Coalition helping first-time offenders

OLD TOWN – A collaborative effort to keep first-time offenders out of the court system, while having them still pay the consequences of their crimes, has gotten off the ground in area communities.

The River Coalition, a nonprofit organization that focuses on children and their families in the river communities of Alton, Bradley, Greenbush, Milford and Old Town, has developed a comprehensive juvenile diversion program to deal with a variety of crimes committed by first-time offenders ages 10 to 17.

The effort among the Orono and Old Town police and school departments, Penquis CAP and the Maine Department of Corrections is under way and going smoothly, according to its creators.

“We’ve been tweaking this as we go,” Jodi Meyerson said Tuesday. Meyerson is an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer with a bachelor’s degree in mental health and human services who is coordinating the diversion program.

She explained Tuesday that the diversion program has three sectors:

. Boomerang is designed to deal with first-time alcohol and substance abuse offenses.

So far, one group has completed the Boomerang program and a second group is about halfway through. Meyerson, who handles all referrals to the program, said she has seen students charged with possession of alcohol, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

“There’s a variety of approaches for this program,” Meyerson said, noting that offenders watch videos and hear from substance-abuse officials about the dangers of underage use as well as establish a relationship and open line of communication with their parents.

. The Community Resolution sector is geared toward low-end misdemeanor crimes, such as shoplifting or criminal mischief, and forces offenders to meet face to face with their victims.

“It’s geared toward the victims being satisfied with the results,” Meyerson said. “The child has to hear how their actions affected other people personally.”

. Back on Track is a Penquis CAP program for students who have been suspended or expelled from school.

Students generally are required to perform some type of community service and reflect on their offense.

Each program has its own set of criteria for offenders to meet, but parents, community members, law enforcement officials and a facilitator are critical aspects.

“The program’s really strict, too,” Meyerson said. “You can’t just go through the motions; you have to be engaged and involved or you get summoned.”

In addition to the offender being a nonviolent and willing participant, a parent or guardian also must agree to attend the sessions. If the student offends again while participating in the program, the student’s chance to stay out of the court system immediately is rescinded.

“It’s good for the parents, too, because a lot of parents feel like they’re alone,” Meyerson said. The coalition is hoping to offer a separate parenting program soon.

The goal of the diversion program is to decrease substance abuse, recurring offenses and negative school behaviors by dealing with first-time offenders in a creative way. Even after offenders complete the program, Meyerson continues to follow up with them for three additional months by encouraging them to reach goals they set before finishing their last session.

Similar efforts have been tried and proven effective throughout the state, but the Old Town-Orono program is more comprehensive than others of which its organizers are aware.

“I think that’s what’s great about this program, is it gives an alternative to police, to parents and to the school,” Meyerson said.

Referrals to the program can be made by police, the Department of Corrections or parents. For more information or to refer your child to the program, call the River Coalition at 827-8744.