Day Reporting Program
Mission & Overview
MISSION STATEMENT:
The Porter County Juvenile Services Center firmly believes that Porter County has an obligation to serve the youth within the community. We recognize youth who are considered to be moderate to high risk, present a danger not only to themselves, but also to the community. The Juvenile Services Center concludes that through a promotion of responsibility and respectful behavior, youth may be shown a positive lifestyle change. The Porter County Juvenile Services Center advocates for the rights of juveniles to receive an education in a caring, safe environment, which may foster positive lifestyle change.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
The purpose of the Reporting Program is to provide a structured, therapeutic alternative to juveniles who may otherwise be placed in detention or other secure settings. Juveniles who are court ordered into the program will participate as ordered. The Reporting Center will operate between the hours of 9:00 AM and 6:00PM. Participants will be assigned hours of attendance based on their level of need.
The cost of this program will range in amounts, not to exceed $10.00 a day, dependant on what services are being given to the participant. This cost will be rolled into your monthly payments made to the Probation Department.
Participants shall not be excluded from the program nor denied access to services on the basis of race, national origin, color, creed, gender, or sexual orientation.
Orientation Materials
ADMISSION PROCEDURE:
Participants will be court ordered to the Reporting Program through the Porter County Juvenile Court system.
General eligibility requirements for enrollment in the program include:
- Be a resident of Porter County.
- Report in person on a daily basis to the program and participate in any recommended program components.
- Follow the conditions of the Reporting Program.
- Found to be acceptable for participation in the program.
EXPECTATIONS:
Participants are expected to improve peer relationships, develop skills, and take personal responsibility for the behavior by participating in all activities, attending all educational sessions, and meeting behavioral expectations. You may be required to attend a service learning/community service project on a Saturday, during the duration of your participation in the Reporting Program. You will be expected to attend. Participation in this project will be counted towards any community service hours you may have been ordered to complete.
While you are a participant of the Reporting Program, you may also have to follow the rules of House Arrest Level II, dependent on what your Probation Officer determines is appropriate.
ABSENCES:
Participants will be expected to be on time for all programs and report each day, unless otherwise notified. Unauthorized individuals will not be permitted into the Reporting area, nor will unauthorized individuals be allowed to remain on the Juvenile Services Center grounds. Positive identification may be required prior to entry. Non-excused absences will result in the issuance of Program Violation Notices (PVN). Such notices will be forwarded to the Probation Officer of record. Absence from the program without notice to program staff, before the beginning of programming that day, will be considered unexcused. A PVN will be issued on the first unexcused absence resulting in further sanctions or additional time in the program. Unexcused absence include, not having a ride, any days absent from the program, not having a physician's excuse as required, or not being at the designated pick-up site.
Any excused/unexcused absences will be added to the participant's duration of days, as ordered by the Court.
DRESS:
Participants and family members will be required to dress appropriately, in a well kept, and clean fashion. Pierced ears/earrings will be allowed. No other facial piercings are acceptable. Sagging of pants is not allowed. A multi-layered style of shirts will not be allowed. Extra layers of shirts/pants may be required to be removed. Shorts, which are reasonable in length, will be allowed during the summer months. Skirts, halter tops/short shirts, sunglasses, sleeveless tee shirts, sunglasses, pajama pants, hip hugger pants, gang related color, doo rags, stocking caps, clothes with excessive holes, bandanas or tee shirts with logos (music, drugs, alcohol, gang related, sex, obscene language, etc) are not permitted. Flip flops are not permitted. Participants are expected to wear close-toed shoes. If a participant violates the dress policy, they will be given Juvenile Detention clothing to wear. During the winter months, only one (1) jacket/coat will be permitted. Hats may be worn to the center, but must be removed before entering. If a hat is tipped/turned to one side it will be confiscated for the day and the participant may not wear it or any other hat in the future. If pants are sagging, the participant may be required to wear a belt. Any of the above materials may result in a PVN. This list is not exhaustive and will be determined by staff discretion.
Participants are subject to pat searches, if staff believes there is reason to do so. TRANSPORTATION:
Parents or Guardians are required to transport their child to and from the Program.
DROPPING OFF/PICKING UP PARTICIPANTS:
It is the responsibility of the participant's parent to walk their child into the Reporting Program each morning and sign in. Participants will not be released from the program area, until their parents are at the center to pick them up. Parents must come into the center and sign their child out of the program.
STUDY MATERIALS:
Participants are permitted to follow the course of study from their school or participate in the program's course of study. It will be the responsibility of the family to provide the program with the participant's study materials. Those participants, who report to the program after school, are required to bring at least one course of study material to work on or review while at the center. Program staff/tutor will be in contact with the participant's school and determine which subject is their weakest or which subject they are furthest behind in; the student will be required to bring this course work to the program.
RETURNING TO SCHOOL:
If at anytime, the participant's home school allows them to return; they may be terminated from the program or ordered to attend the Reporting Program after school.
DISCIPLINE:
The following is the protocol for discipline issues:
Parents and participants are responsible for knowing program rules and procedures upon receiving this document.
A. Program Violation Notice (PVN)
Participants and parents/guardians will be informed of the expectations upon orientation or at which time they are ordered to participate. Program violation notices will be issued if persons do not comply with the program guidelines, procedures, and expectations. Specific incidents that may warrant issuance of PVN's: tardiness, unexcused absences, and inappropriate conduct in the center. This list is not exhaustive.
A daily log will be kept which can be accessed and reviewed by the Probation Department and the Juvenile Court.
If there is a pattern of disruptive behavior, threats, or verbal provocation, by a participant or his/her family members, the participant may be dismissed from the program and referred back to court and/or detained.
B. Dismissal
- Aggression and/or consistent pattern of disruptive and uncooperative behavior may result in dismissal from the program. A recommendation for return to court will be made to the Probation Department.
- Depending on the severity of the aggressive or disruptive behavior, participants could be detained at the Juvenile Detention Center.
ILLNESS:
If a participant is ill, a parent/guardian must call the facility and speak with a staff member, prior to the beginning of the program. Chronic absences will prolong the amount of time in the program and may result in dismissal. The program may require a physician's excuse, within 48 hours, to verify the illness. If the participant claims illness prior to leaving home, please do not send them to the Reporting Program; a participant who arrives to the program and claims illness will result in a family member being called to retrieve their child (participants are not allowed to leave the premises on their own unless the parent approves this action). This may result in the center's nurse to evaluate the participant. The participant will be assigned one (1) additional day to the program. Additionally, if a participant has a contagious illness, such as strep-throat, lice, etc. the participant will not be allowed to return until seen by a physician, brings a doctor's note to the program, and/or is evaluated by the Juvenile Center's nurse.
BOUNDARIES:
Participants are to remain in the Reporting Program area unless otherwise authorized by staff. Contact whether it is verbal, written, or physical with other juveniles in the Juvenile Center is prohibited. There is to be no physical contact between participants unless involved in an approved activity which requires such contact.
Exchanging of personal information is prohibited and subject to PVN's. Personal information includes, but not limited to: phone numbers, addresses, and social media information.
MONEY:
Participants are prohibited from bringing money to the program. Program staff is not responsible for lost or stolen property, including money in the participant's possession. Money is considered contraband.
DESTRUCTION OF COUNTY PROPERTY:
All items used by participants in the program, are the property of Porter County. Defacing/damaging any item is a violation of the rules and will be immediately reported to the court. A participant's parent/guardian may be required to pay restitution for the damaged and may result in criminal action.
COMPUTERS:
Computers will be available for participants to use during class time. They are to be used strictly for Program activities or homework. Participants are not to be on social media websites, pornographic sites, YouTube, or any other site that is deemed inappropriate by staff. Participants are not to use the computers without staffs' permission.
TELEPHONE:
Participants will not be allowed to use the facility telephone. However, in the event of an emergency, an exception will be made. Cellular telephones must be turned off during the program and given to staff. Failure to do so will result in confiscation of the cellular telephone during the program.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:
All participants should dress ready to participate in recreation daily, as determined by staff. Participants will wear their own clothes and are not expected to shower. Following public school procedure, if a participant cannot take part in recreational activities, a physician's note must be presented to staff.
LUNCH:
All participants will be provided a lunch. You will be expected to eat what is served that day. Please notify staff of any food allergies at the start of the program. No outside food or drink will be allowed.
CONTRABAND:
Participants are not allowed to have anything prohibited by law or which has been deemed dangerous, including, but not limited to the aforementioned items. All personal belongings left at the Juvenile Services Center and not claimed within 30 days will be discarded. Prohibited items: Bandanas Drugs of any kind Locks/lock boxes Gang related items Lighters, matches Glass items Wallet chains Cigarettes Pornographic material
Gum Cellular phones Food, candy Knives Needles/safety pins Nails, bolts, screws
Wire/string Alcohol Bullets/guns Explosives of any kind (fireworks) Drug paraphernalia
Clothing promoting drugs/gang activity MP3s/ iPods
This list is not exhaustive. It may include any other item which is deemed potentially dangerous/inappropriate.
All contraband will be confiscated by the Juvenile Services Center. Illegal contraband will not be returned and will be subject to criminal charges being sought against the participant. Legal contraband will be returned to the participant's parent.
Contraband may be deemed dangerous or not dangerous. Point loss incurred will depend on the seriousness or inherent danger of the item.
MEDICATION:
The Juvenile Detention Center is staffed with a full-time nurse. The nurse will be responsible for distributing medication during her scheduled times at the center. This means that all participants shall be responsible for taking any morning medication prior to arriving at the center and any evening medication at home, after leaving the center. If a participant needs to have medication administered while they are at the center and the nurse is not available, a qualified staff member will dispense the medication. All medication must be brought to the Reporting Center in the original prescription bottle and be correctly labeled. Any injuries, depending on the severity, which occur during scheduled nursing hours or which are severe in nature will be evaluated by the center's nurse. Any injuries that occur outside of the nurse's schedule hours will be subject to having emergency personnel called. Parents and guardians will be responsible for any fees incurred.
In the case that a participant needs an over the counter medication, (i.e. headache, stomach ache, etc) these will be available to those participants whose parents/guardians gave permission for their child to receive such.
SAFETY:
Juvenile Service Center staff is trained to provide a safe and consistent environment. Safety and security are priorities, and are necessary for the protection of all participants and staff from harm, threats of harm, or one's own impulses. All Juvenile Service Center staff is certified in First Aid/C.P.R. and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention.
Safety is ensured by continued monitoring of all behaviors and activities, securing the environment, and personal items. Any items that are considered potentially dangerous are sent home with the student's family or destroyed. Upon entering the facility each day, all participants and their property will be subject to search for items not permitted. It is recommended that participants not bring items of value to the Juvenile Services Center.
You are expected to behave and follow all rules and procedures. Inappropriate behavior will result in staff redirection, discipline, and if necessary, more serious consequences. Reports of your behavior will be sent to your Probation Officer/Court. All program staff is trained in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, this means that the care, welfare, safety, and security of all participants is the first priority. Staff will physically escort or physically restrain you, if necessary, for your protection or the protection of others. We may also use hand cuffs, leg shackles, and other types of mechanical restraints if you get physically out of control.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
In the event that local schools would be delayed or closed due to weather conditions, participants will be required to attend based on their home school's decision. If your home school is on a 2 hour delay, you will be expected to attend the Reporting Program, but with the delay in place. If your home school is closed for the day, you will not attend the Reporting Program.
If Government buildings are closed due to inclement weather, participants are not expected to attend. The local closings can be heard on FM radio station Indiana 105.5 or on their website.
If Government buildings are closed for reasons other then inclement weather, all participants will be notified prior to the start of daily programming.
DISCHARGE FROM THE PROGRAM:
Participants will be discharged from the program upon meeting all conditions set forth by the court.
- Successful completion will result if all expectations are met and the participants' Probation Officer determines this to be true. The participants' family will be notified of a successful completion.
- Unsuccessful completion will result in a referral back to the Juvenile Probation Department for further action. The participants' family will be notified of an unsuccessful completion.
CONTACT INFORMATION
219-465-3520
Reporting Program Rules
A loss of ten (10) points will equal one (1) strike. Strikes cannot be earned back. If you accumulate three (3) strikes, you will be terminated from the program. There are some rules, which if broken, may result in immediate removal from the program without the possibility to return.
RULES POINT LOSS
Talking without permission 1
Standing without permission 1
Touching another participants' work area 1
Tipping/tapping on work area 1
Sleeping 1
Sagging pants/inappropriate dress 1
Interrupting conversations 1
Complaining/whining 1
Lying 1
Not following staff instructions 1
Horseplay 1
Inappropriate talk 1
Swearing 1
Disrespect to staff/or participants 2
Throwing objects ** 2
Failure to finish daily assignments 2
Refusal 2
Making threatening comments or gestures ** 3
Late to the Program 3
Gang related drawings, gestures, etc ** 5
Touching another participant ** 5
No Show/No Call to the Program 5
Theft ** 5
Possession of contraband, not dangerous ** 5
Possession of contraband, dangerous ** 10
Damage to center property ** 10
Walking out of center without permission 15
Striking another person ** REMOVAL
This list is not exhaustive. Program staff has full discretion to take points how they see fit for justifiable reasons. Reasons will be reviewed by the Program Director upon requests from the participant. ** Any of these violations may be considered for arrest or criminal action depending on the severity of the offense
Any loss of points will be discretionary to the Probation Officer of record and could result in additional time in the program.
REGAINING LOST POINTS
Points may be regained by having an "excellent day." An excellent day will be defined by no point loss and an agreement by the Program Staff and their Supervisor after discussing the participant's behavior for that day. If both are in agreement, the participant will regain one (1) point.
How Regaining Points will work:
Participant must have lost zero points in the day
Program Staff must agree that the participant is deserving of regaining points
Only one (1) point will be regained per day
Once a participant earns one (1) strike or more, those strikes are there to stay
THIS SET OF GUIDELINES IS TO BE CONSIDERED THE JUVENILE'S FIRST WARNING. STAFF IS NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL WARNINGS PRIOR TO ASSESSING POINT LOSS.