Agency Details:

The mission of the Community Justice Boards is to meaningfully and positively reach juveniles in trouble. The board functions as a collaborative effort between the juvenile, the juvenile's parents, the victim, and community volunteers. By using the principles of restorative justice we seek to provide guidance and understanding for our youth, comfort and a feeling of resolution for victims, and the empowerment of the community to make a positive impact in the lives of the children of our community. We vow to maintain a positive learning environment where the children of our community can learn the benefits of becoming the next generation of leaders in our community.

This is an alternative to prosecution program, coordinated by the Yuma County Attorney's Office, in partnership with Juvenile Court.

The County Attorney is currently partnered with the following agencies/organizations in support of Community Justice Boards:

Juvenile Court (Superior Court of the State of
Arizona, Juvenile Division)
City of Yuma, Neighborhood Services Division
City of Yuma Police Department

City of San Luis

Second Missionary Baptist Church
Calvary Lutheran Church

Goodwill of Central Arizona

Harvest Preparatory Academy

Yuma County Library District

We appreciate the assistance we receive from the following:

Yuma County Sheriff's Office (volunteers)
Yuma Sun newspaper (publicity)
San Luis News (publicity)
United Way (allows donations to Community Justice Boards to be made through United Way)

We welcome any agency/organization that would like to become involved with Community Justice Programs.

If you are interested, call Mary White at 817-4300 or e-mail mary.white@yumacountyaz.gov

Description:
We are continuously recruiting volunteers for our Community Community Justice Boards for juvenile offenders. This is early intervention with children who are in trouble with the law for the first time. Our goal is to reach these young people before it is too late.

This program depends upon community volunteers who meet together, face to face, in Conference with the juvenile, and the parent/guardian of the juvenile. If there is a victim, the victim is welcome to attend.
The child has previously admitted the crime and agreed to enter the program.

The Board allows the child and the parent to speak and asks them questions about their individual circumstances. The victim has the opportunity to address the child directly, to explain how the crime affected them.

The board members impose consequences that help the victim, the juvenile and the community. Their purpose is to hold the child accountable in a positive way -- to help the victim, the child, and the family, as well as the community. The child and parent must complete the Consequences assigned.

History:
The Yuma County Attorney is Jon Smith. It is his responsibility to prosecute all felony crimes, all juvenile crimes and many misdemeanors committed within Yuma County. His office also represents the County in civil matters.

The County Attorney's Office initiated the Community Justice Boards to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in our County.

Planning of the Community Justice Boards began in 2003. The first Boards began hearing cases in January 2005. We have five (5) Boards hearing cases within the City of Yuma and we have a sixth (6th) Board serving the San Luis/Somerton/Gadsden area.

Contact person: Mary White, Deputy County Attorney, (phone), (email)

Languages Spoken: English

Address:

250 W. 2nd St, Suite G Yuma, AZ 85364 (See a map)

Web Site: None specified

Directions:

The County Attorney's Office is located on the North side of the City of Yuma, close to the Colorado River. The County Attorney's Office is on the bottom floor of the Yuma County Justice Center on 2nd St.

Last updated on August 30, 2010