SC, Other States Cutting Juvenille Justice Programs in Budget Crunch
South Carolina and other states are cutting juvenile justice programs as their budgets suffer from a lack of tax collections.
Published: December 26, 2008
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina and other states are cutting juvenile justice programs as their budgets suffer from a lack of tax collections. Critics say the moves are shortsighted and will eventually lead to more crime and higher costs. South Carolina Juvenile Justice Director Bill Byars is being asked to draw up plans to trim an additional 15 percent from a budget already cut $23 million since June. All five of the system’s group homes have been shuttered. Also gone are some intensive youth reform and after-school programs in detention facilities. Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia are among other states that have slashed juvenile justice spending. Advocates say they worry most about losing programs that take children out of large facilities to give them individual attention.
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Cutting the budget and taking money away from the juvenile justice is going to present a long term problem. Juveniles that are truly a menace to society are going to slip thru the cracks and slide by the system and reak havoc on society. I happen to think of myself as somewhat of an expert on this issue. The juvenile justice system is the only real leash that society has on juvenile offenders. The programs in place at this time may not be the best or the most successful, but they are there to get to th percentage of juveniles that can be rehabilitated. I know, I am one of the few that has made it. The programs and the people that participated and volunteered made a lot of difference. They helped mold the way that I see things today.
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