“The long-term payback of diversion programs is to keep juveniles out of adult courts when they grow up.” ~ Jerry Friend, Juvenile Detention Center
“Anything that keeps youth busy tends to keep them out of trouble.” ~ Candy Clark, Quorum Court
“It’s very progressive of Washington County to put some money behind programs that could just make a difference in a young person’s life,” ~ Candy Clark, Quorum Court
Back in April, we reported that Washington County Juvenile Court and Northwest Arkansas Aikido had paired up to decrease recidivism in Washington County, Arkansas. (Martial Art of Aikido Employed by Juvenile Court to Prevent Recidivism) Here’s a summary of their latest update.
The Northwest Arkansas Times recently reported that numbers in the Juvenile Detention Center have decreased since 2005. Those who work with the youth, attribute the decrease to “an infusion of diversion programs since that time.” The diversion programs offered include Aikido, fishing, and Teen Court, among others.
“Since 2005, when we started our programs, the numbers continually go down.’ Jerry Friend said.”
Because of the success of the program, funding for the programs increased by $50,000 this year.
“There was $60,908 budgeted for them last year, and this year, the budget is $116,687. The programs are designed to keep troubled juveniles out of the Juvenile Detention Center and/or juvenile court.”
The Aikido program is overseen by Adam Loomis, an intake officer for Washington County, with the actual classes being taught by the chief instructor of a local dojo (Aikido school). Aikido’s uniqueness lies in the fact that rather than perfecting offensive moves like punches and kicks, Aikido students work on perfecting techniques that will temporarily immobilize the attacker without causing injury, such as pins and wristlocks. Its successful execution requires the practitioner to blend his movements with those of the attacker and move together to dissipate the conflict peacefully. Therefore, it serves as a very valeable metaphor for teens for how to handle various types of conflict in our daily lives.
The Northwest Arkansas Times quotes Loomis:
“The biggest thing that we teach them is that they have options and to see these options. There’s more than one way to handle a situation.’ He said they also learn respect for authority and themselves, as well as accountability…”
“Loomis said there are two things youth need: a taste of success and a passion, whether it is riding motorcycles, fishing or martial arts. He talked about a young man who continues to be involved in Aikido.”
“Loomis said there are two things youth need: a taste of success and a passion, whether it is riding motorcycles, fishing or martial arts. He talked about a young man who continues to be involved in Aikido.”
The report continues by giving an overview of some of the other diversion programs in the county, such as “Principles and Families”, “Teen Court”, “Hooked on Fishing”, “On the Web”, etc. They conclude with a couple quotes in regards to the overall concept of the diversion programs and their success.
“The more feedback I get, the better that I like that,” Friend said. “It’s an easy way to divert kids, and most of them we never see again.”
Friend said the long-term payback of diversion programs is to keep juveniles out of adult courts when they grow up.
Candy Clark, who is new on the Quorum Court, talked about the diversion approach, and she said that anything that keeps youth busy tends to keep them out of trouble.
“It’s very progressive of Washington County to put some money behind programs that could just make a difference in a young person’s life,” Clark said.”
I think that says it all…
Read the original article here.
Technorati Tags: aikido, martial arts, at-risk youth
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