Juvenile Offenders In Need of Supervision (JOINS) Overview
Mission
The mission of the Juvenile Offenders In Need of Supervision (JOINS) program is to prevent juvenile delinquency by diverting threshold offenders from the juvenile justice system. Threshold offenders are first-time non-violent offenders, or those youth deemed to be at the beginning of a pattern of delinquency. The program embodies and promotes the principals of Restorative Justice including the payment of restitution to the victim.
Goals
- Reducing the rate of recidivism for juvenile offenders.
- Reducing minority over-representation in the juvenile justice system.
- Successful intervention in the cases of juvenile threshold offenders.
- Support of families and youth with counseling and appropriate referrals to community resources.
- Promotion of atonement and self-esteem through community restitution and accountability.
- Restoration of victims through prompt payment of restitution and program participation on the part of the victim, if desired.
The program remains successful in addressing these goals. JOINS supports youth and their families by assessing needs and making referrals, when indicated, to community agencies. All JOINS youth are assessed by Case Managers assigned by the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS), or professional counselors from the Department’s Counseling Team. All victims receive restitution when it is appropriate to the case.
DJS Case Managers are responsible for assisting the JOINS officer in providing appropriate diversion of their cases. They are also responsible for assessing the needs of each youth, their family and incorporate required referrals into the youth’s diversion contract. A key to the program’s overall success is the positive interactions the youth receive from responsible adults during the community restitution details. The DJS Caseworker identifies appropriate sites and opportunities for restorative and atonement activities.
They also monitor the youth’s performance and mediate difficulties regarding community service. The caseworker is also responsible for maintaining records of all relevant information regarding counseling and restorative activities in the youth’s JOINS Program case file.
Expansion of Services
In August, 2009, the JOINS Team assigned officers to positions in the Pikesville and Parkville Precincts. This has now allowed for each station to have an assigned JOINS officer who is responsible for all juvenile arrests occurring within that precinct. Furthermore, the JOINS program became regionalized (Western, Central and Eastern) with officers, counselors and DJS caseworkers assigned to locations throughout Baltimore County.
This is enabling the program to provide a full compliment of services and referrals for resources that are available to crime victims, youthful offenders, and their families from a single location. In September, 2010, The JOINS Team developed specialized program to address the unsuccessful completion rate related to non-compliance with established parameters. The program is named the Improved Completion Initiative (I.C.I.). The purpose of the program is to focus on those youth who are identified as needing greater attention and support to successfully complete the JOINS program.
Benefits
- Quicker response to the delinquent act.
- Realization that the authorities (police) are providing a supportive and positive venue to avoid an arrest record.
- Minimization of the impact of disproportionate minority representation in the system.
- Opportunity to direct various social services and treatment resources toward the offender's family.
- Restoration of both the victim and the offender following the delinquent act. The victim through restitution and justice, the offender through atonement and accountability.
- Opportunity to learn through instruction and experiential means why criminal conduct is not acceptable to society.
- The community is the beneficiary of the performance of community restitution activities that mirror the volunteer activities of non-offending citizens.
Victims
The Police Department is committed to upholding and preserving victim's rights. One of the JOINS program's goals is to involve the victim in our process through the restorative justice concept. The victim is given the opportunity to attend the JOINS hearing in person, or they can prepare a Victim Impact Statement which is read at the hearing. This gives the victim an opportunity to have their voice heard and have their loss recognized by the offender. We also attempt to repair any damage inflicted by the offender's actions through community restitution. Community Restitution gives the offender the chance to reflect on their actions through "giving back" to the community. This is accomplished by offering their assistance on various neighborhood projects.
Contact Us
Contact Sergeant Garrett Leonard, Director Dr. Mark Metzger or any JOINS officer for more information about the JOINS program.
Supervisor Sergeant Garrett Leonard
410-887-3273
gleonard@baltimorecountymd.gov
Director Dr. Mark Metzger
410-887-3273
mmetzger@baltimorecountymd.gov
Western JOINS Unit
Serves the western region of Baltimore County.
Officer C. Smith
Precinct 01 Wilkins
410-887-6802
cxsmith@baltimorecountymd.gov
Officer J. Smith
Precinct 02 Woodlawn
410-887-6802
jrsmith@baltimorecountymd.gov
Officer D. Morgan
Precinct 03 Franklin
410-887-6802
dmmorgan@baltimorecountymd.gov
Officer M. Scott
Precinct 04 Pikesville
410-887-6802
mscott@baltimorecountymd.gov
Central JOINS Unit
Serves the central region of Baltimore County.
Officer J. Scott
Precinct 06,08 Towson, Parkville
410-887-2396
jscott@baltimorecountymd.gov
Officer P. McGlynn
Precinct 07 Cockeysville
410-887-7696
joinspc07@hotmail.com
Officer P. Oswald
Improved Completion Initiative I.C.I.
410-887-5841
pjoswald@baltimorecountymd.gov
Eastern JOINS Unit
Serves the Eastern region of Baltimore County.
Officer J. Rebhan
Precinct 09 White Marsh
410-391-8779
jrebhan@baltimorecountymd.gov
Officer B. Elliott
Precinct 11 Essex
410-887-6438
oelliott@baltimorecountymd.gov
Officer D. Claridge
Precinct 12 Dundalk
410-918-0148
dsclaridge@baltimorecouintymd.gov
Referrals
Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS)
Maryland Local Department of Social Services (DSS)
First Step
10400 Ridgeland Road
Cockeysville, MD
410-628-6120
Baltimore County Health Department
Baltimore County Police Counseling Team
Revised September 1, 2011
