Gang violence. A big problem in Los Angeles. Miami. New York. But South Puget Sound?
Think again. It’s estimated our area is home to about 350 active gang members, who raise rates of violent crime, drug sales and other delinquency issues.
In response, Community Youth Services has initiated a new program -- the only one in South Sound -- to get youth out of the violent lifestyle before it becomes a habit. Launched in February, the Violence Intervention and Prevention Program (or V.I.P.) is dealing directly with the kids involved, some as young as 10 and 11, most in the 14 to 19 age range.
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“Like people in law enforcement say, you can’t arrest your way out of this problem,” says Tony Cleaves, gang intervention specialist at CYS. Tony, who began his work with the program when it received funding last winter through the state Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, can
relate to what many of the youth are going through, seeking solace and affiliation through gang membership. “I grew up in a rough neighborhood. I know what it’s like. But mostly, these kids just want someone to listen. I tell them: Look what you can do if you get your stuff right.”
Tony and Tasha Church, V.I.P. program director who also runs Rosie’s Place at CYS, initially felt that the program would rely most heavily on referrals from schools, juvenile probation officers, law enforcement and detention centers. Although those referrals have come, a surprising number have come from youth themselves. At any one time, Tony works with about 30 gang-related youth who are now seeking a different path.
Research shows intervention can be effective in helping young gang members, in that gang organization is usually loose and unsophisticated, and the members often want to better their lives.
V.I.P. is a win-win program for both the youth involved and the community. Participants get connected with community resources, such as schools and jobs, that can help them get their lives on track. The community benefits in two ways: social service programs are cheaper than incarceration, and crime rates go down when gangs are weakened. “People have thought this was a big city problem only. It’s not. It spills over from Lakewood and Tacoma here, and we better do something about it now before it becomes any worse,” Tasha said.
For more information on the program feel free to contact:
You do something wrong. You break the law. What happens next? Society has decided that punishment follows, which often means being ostracized and penalized for the harm done.
Turning that idea completely around is a new Restorative Justice conference model being practiced in the Juvenile Diversion program at Community Youth Services.
“We decided to do conferencing with select cases to encourage more victim involvement,” said Jim St. Ours, diversion program manager for more than 25 years. “Research has shown that victims have increased satisfaction with the handling of their case with conferences versus the traditional court system.”
“We want to bring people back into the fold of the community, rather than cut them off from community,” said Jana McKinley, CYS diversion case manager.
In a Restorative Justice case, all of those affected must agree to take part - those who were harmed and those who caused the harm. An independent moderator facilitates the group coming up with the consequence, be it an apology, community service, restitution, a special project or a combination of approaches.
“It’s extremely empowering and can be quite emotional for all concerned,” Jim said.
Working with CYS on the pilot program are Beth Rodman, former director of the International Institute for Restorative Practices in Bethlehem, Pa., and Paul McCold, who has done international research on the topic.
Typically, CYS handles about 50 juvenile diversion cases monthly involving Community Accountability Boards. These CABs are made up of volunteers who meet with offenders and their parents (and occasionally victims) to decide on consequences that are appropriate.
The Restorative Justice model differs in that only those most closely involved (victims, offenders and their families and supporters), along with an impartial moderator, take part and all must come to agreement on the outcome. Adding those offended into the process is time-consuming but worthwhile, Jana said.
Jana has facilitated two restorative justice cases at CYS since March. “The real healing happens on an emotional level,” she said. Jana hopes to become trained to teach other CYS case managers how to use the Restorative process, in which everyone sits in a circle and a script of questions is discussed.
One such conference resulted in two boys writing about the harm they caused a classmate by an impulsive dare. “You can’t change what’s been done,” one boy wrote, “so I took responsibility for my actions and told the truth. This incident didn’t just affect just me. It affected a friend.”
To learn more about Juvenile Diversion or the Restorative Justice program at CYS, contact:
In Their Shoes, a first-ever fund-raising walk for Rosie’s Place drop-in center for homeless youth, was a huge success, with planners already looking ahead to next year, when they’d like it to become bigger and better.
About 50 walkers formed teams, including several youth, who helped raise nearly $3,800 in unrestricted funds, i.e., money that can be used without restriction from state or federal mandates. Tasha Church, director of the Rosie’s Place and Street Outreach programs at CYS, said the dollars will help provide things regular funding can’t support, such as canoe trips, educational outings or museum visits for homeless youth.
The June 5 event at Heritage Park in downtown Olympia was organized by Street Outreach staff member and youth advocate Nichole Ketcherside and Katharine Swilley, an AmeriCorps member working at Rosie’s Place for the last year.
“Bringing together supporters of at-risk youth and youth themselves was great,” Nichole said. “It breaks down superficial walls between youth and adult allies and does a lot to challenge the assumptions made about street youth and their circumstances. It also gives youth an opportunity to see adults as positive role models who aren’t always out to hurt and undermine them,” she added.
Look for the second In Their Shoes walkathon to be scheduled next spring!
Gang violence. A big problem in Los Angeles. Miami. New York. But South Puget Sound?
“We want to bring people back into the fold of the community, rather than cut them off from community,” said Jana McKinley, CYS diversion case manager. 
About 50 walkers formed teams, including several youth, who helped raise nearly $3,800 in unrestricted funds, i.e., money that can be used without restriction from state or federal mandates. Tasha Church, director of the Rosie’s Place and Street Outreach programs at CYS, said the dollars will help provide things regular funding can’t support, such as canoe trips, educational outings or museum visits for homeless youth. 
