Benton County OKs Training For Juvenile Probation Staff

Friday, August 29, 2014

BENTONVILLE -- Benton County's justices of the peace Thursday earmarked $17,800 so the the county's juvenile probation staff can go to California and Oregon to observe model facilities in those states.

Circuit Judge Tom Smith and Petie Cobb, chief probation officer, told the Quorum Court the county will be reimbursed the $17,800. Cobb said Benton and Washington counties have been chosen as pilot programs by Arkansas.

Cobb said the state Division of Youth Services is paying for the program but can't pay expenses for non-state employees. Cobb said the county will bill the state and be reimbursed.

Cobb said the program is meant to help tailor the services provided to juvenile detainees in the Benton County facility.

"We will be doing risk assessments to determine the juvenile's risk level and then offering services based on that risk assessment," she said.

Smith said the pilot program should help Benton County become better at helping juveniles placed in the facility.

"We have a fantastic detention facility and a great staff," he said. "We hope to turn that center and use those people to do more than just hold those kids."

The justices of the peace approved the request unanimously.

The Quorum Court approved each of the other five items on its agenda in a 26-minute meeting:

• The second reading of an ordinance amending the personnel policy.

• Authorizing an application for a $14,407 grant from the Department of Human Services' juvenile accountability block grant program.

• Spending $6,257 to repair a truck for the Building Safety Division.

• Spending a $46,981 insurance reimbursement for a Road Department truck damaged in an accident.

• The first reading of an ordinance amending the planning code.

NW News on 08/29/2014