Currently in Georgia, 8 out of 10 high risk youth are likely to reenter the criminal justice system as adults. And, astonishingly, it costs roughly $90,000 annually to house a juvenile in a youth detention center. To offset this growing statistic, Georgia is opening Juvenile Justice Career Centers to help juvenile inmates reenter the work force and keep them on a path of rehabilitation (the key focus of the juvenile justice system). There are plans for seven career centers to open this fall in locations including: Americus, Atlanta, Augusta, Eastman, Macon, Midland and Milan. The career centers are an initiative of the Department of Juvenile Justice’s new Reentry Services Unit, a five member unit established as a result of the recent Juvenile Justice Reform Law. The career centers will be located within existing educational areas of Youth Detention Centers and staffed by trained career counselors.
Existing programs within Youth Detention Centers seek to teach the youth necessary skills needed in the workforce. The addition of the career centers offers the supplementary advantage of empowering youth to develop long-term career plans and insights on job retention as well as training for job skills, work ethic, resume' building, and conduct in the job market. The program allows non-violent offenders to establish marketable skills and self-confidence which will lead to a reduction in recidivism. Part of this service requires youth to develop their own customized career plans and establish relationships with representatives from the Department of Labor. Statistically, recidivism is reduced when career counseling services are engaged within the Juvenile Justice System and those who obtain jobs shortly after release are more likely to not become a repeat offender. The new initiative was recently announced by the Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner, Avery D. Niles.
Existing programs within Youth Detention Centers seek to teach the youth necessary skills needed in the workforce. The addition of the career centers offers the supplementary advantage of empowering youth to develop long-term career plans and insights on job retention as well as training for job skills, work ethic, resume' building, and conduct in the job market. The program allows non-violent offenders to establish marketable skills and self-confidence which will lead to a reduction in recidivism. Part of this service requires youth to develop their own customized career plans and establish relationships with representatives from the Department of Labor. Statistically, recidivism is reduced when career counseling services are engaged within the Juvenile Justice System and those who obtain jobs shortly after release are more likely to not become a repeat offender. The new initiative was recently announced by the Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner, Avery D. Niles.
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