Meetings Steering Committee(Folders 1-2)

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more beds will not totally solve the problem, however, having room to detain more juveniles means increased opportunities to try to help them to change themselves. When they are there for their entire court-ordered stay, there is more time to spend with them and more time for them to just stop and think about what they've been doing, and about the types of consequences that they'll have to face if they don't turn themselves around. Naturally this won't work on everyone, but it will hopefully work on some, and every juvenile who reforms is a victory. Vickie related a story about one youth who was heavily into gangs until entering the juvenile treatment program. He is now out of gangs and preparing to enroll in Chemeketa Community College. He is living proof that the system, when given the proper time, can work. Klaus Liebe did a brief presentation on the "dorm-setting vs. jail-like pods" debate. Klaus' research indicated that 72% of juveniles in detention in Marion County committed a felony. Of those 72%, 35% committed sexual crimes, 16% committed assault, 14% committed robbery, 3.9% commit- ted arson and 3.9% committed murder or attempted murder. Of that 72%, 14% are in gangs. According to Klaus' research, secured detention facilities are prevalent across all 50 states. He surveyed detention facilities in 10 states, and all 10 stated that dorm beds are NOT a good idea. Dorm settings = a need for higher security, increased incidences of assault against staff/other juveniles, and increased liability. In short, a dorm setting would cost more and be less safe than a secured facility. NEXT MEETING: Thursday, November 3, 1994 at 7:00 a.m. Dog Control will present amended figures, then the Health Department will present. UPCOMING MEETINGS: There will be no meeting the week of 11/7-11/11 because the Chairman will be out of town. 7