Legislators approve program to put juvenile criminals to work

Kiley Russell

Thursday, March 11, 1999 | 10:09 a.m.

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Non-violent juvenile criminals could enter work programs to earn money for restitution payments to victims under a proposal the Assembly Judiciary Committee approved unanimously Thursday.

The bill would give Nevada counties the option of helping to find jobs in the community for children over 14 who are convicted their first offense. Part of the money the offenders earn would go into a fund to pay restitution for any damage they did.

"We call this restorative justice," said Sen. Valerie Wiener, D-Las Vegas, author of SB77.

"The program in SB77 requires that juvenile offenders understand and become responsible for the consequences of their conduct, to empathize with their victims and be accountable for and repay the damages they have caused."

About 2,000 non-violent first-time juvenile offenders enter Nevada's justice system every year, said Ben Graham, a lobbyist for the Nevada District Attorneys Association.

Under the bill, local judicial districts would decide for themselves whether or not to initiate such a program. Any funding would have to come from local sources or from any grants or gifts the district could find.

Critics said counties can already do that on their own.

"My only concern is that we're already adding lots of stuff. It just seems the courts can already do lots of this and I'm wondering why this is necessary," said Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Las Vegas.

Wiener said the bill would establish "legislative support of this kind of program statewide."

The Clark County Department of Family and Youth Services supports the bill and urged lawmakers to pass it on to the full Assembly.

"This bill involves programs of restitution through work for juvenile offenders that include instruction skills for employment and work ethics," said Kirby Burgess, youth and family services chief.

"If enacted, it would give Juvenile Court the flexibility of ordering youth to participate in programs which serve as an alternative to incarceration."