FOR PARENTS
Your Child has been charged with a crime or is accused of violating the conditions of probation or supervision. In order to have the best outcome at sentencing, you and your child need to show the Judge that all of you are performing at your best. You and your child are responsible for his behavior from now until you go before the Judge.
The Juvenile System will not “fix” your child.
The Juvenile System is designed to supervise youth, not treat them. The Judge has to balance what is in the best interest of your child and the risk to public safety. At sentencing, your child will be placed on probation or he could be committed to a residential program. There are many factors the Judge will consider, including if your child has prior juvenile offenses, whether he attends school and is achieving or is a behavior problem, whether your child listens and obeys you, and whether your child has done anything to help himself, like starting counseling or getting a job.
You have to take steps to make changes so that you can show the Judge that your child is not a risk to the community or to himself. In order to convince the Judge that your child should remain at home, your child needs to:
✓Be in school and obey the rules at school
✓Get counseling
✓Stay away from drugs and alcohol
✓Stay away from kids that will get him in trouble
✓Show remorse
✓Obey the rules at home
Included in this pamphlet are resources to help you and your child achieve those goals. These are not all of the programs available. Call 211 for more resources or contact the Client Services Program of the Public Defender’s Office (772) 462-2048.
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SCHOOL
Your child needs to be in school. DO NOT WAIT to enroll or re-enroll to see what happens in court.
Contact the St. Lucie County School District at (772) 429-3600
If your child is having trouble (bad grades or poor behavior) then you need to explore alternatives. Call your child’s guidance counselor or call the Alternative Student Placement Office or Student Services at (772) 429-3600. Meet with the school, they can advise you of your child’s options within the school district. For example:
Performance-Based programs (Where the child works at his own pace)
Transferring schools (Maybe your child needs to start fresh)
Exceptional Student Education (ESE) evaluations (Maybe your child is frustrated because he is having trouble learning)
If your child is already an ESE student, you need to meet as soon as possible with the ESE director to discuss whether the type of classroom or the services he is receiving need to be changed. Call your child’s school. DO NOT assume that the school is providing counseling for your child, call them to make sure. Then make an appointment to meet with the counselor.
If your child has been expelled, call the Alternative Student Placement office to determine what his options are within the school district. There are alternatives outside of the school district as well:
IRCC Adult Education (772)462-7400
(GED and Diploma programs)
PACE Center for Girls (772) 595-8880
St. James Academy (772) 468-6198
You are your child’s voice. It is your job to MAKE SURE your child is getting the services he needs. DO NOT assume that the school will do it for you.
If you feel you need an attorney for an expulsion hearing or other school matters, contact Florida Rural Legal Services (772) 466-4766.
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COUNSELING
Your child may need counseling. Start counseling now. DO NOT WAIT until he is sentenced. DJJ DOES NOT pay for counseling. There are several programs that counsel children and adolescents. Many programs have a sliding scale so that their fees are based on what you can afford.
Family Emerg. Treatment Ctr (FETC) (772) 467-3052
Family Preservation Services (772) 595-3773
Suncoast Mental Health Center (772) 489-4726
HPS (Helping People Succeed) (772) 221-4961
New Horizons (772) 468-5600
Catholic Charities (772) 460-1419
Family Support Services (772) 466-8535
Strengthening Families (772) 465-6011
Also, the school district has contracted with some programs to provide counseling if you do not have the ability to pay for it. Do not assume that the school is providing counseling: ASK FOR IT!
Student Services (772) 429-4526
You may be able to get counseling through your church.
If you have health insurance, contact them and ask for providers in our area.
These are just a few agencies who counsel children. There are many others in our area. Call 211 or contact Client Services at the Public Defender’s Office for more information. (772) 462-2048
If you feel your child is in danger of hurting himself or of hurting someone else, you may need to consider admitting him to the hospital for his safety and for mental health treatment.
In an emergency, call 911.
New Horizons (772) 468-5600
Family Emerg. Treatment Ctr (FETC) (772) 467-3052
Center for Emotional and Behavioral Health (CEBH)
1(800) 226-4764
Columbia Behavioral Health (561) 881-2672
Sandy Pines (561) 744-0211
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DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
If your child has been caught with drugs or you suspect drug use: GET AN EVALUATION! Your child may need counseling, or it is possible that counseling is not needed. If he has been evaluated by a Substance Abuse Counselor, the court will consider the recommendations, including if it says your child doesn’t need counseling.
There are programs that have a sliding fee scale based on what you can afford.
DATA (772) 595-3322
Inpatient, Outpatient, and Evaluation
CARP (772) 465-4353
Inpatient, Outpatient, and Evaluation
Recovery Associates (772) 878-9368
Outpatient and Evaluation
Tykes and Teens (772) 220-3439
Outpatient and Evaluation
Substance Abuse Council (772) 770-4811
Outpatient and Evaluation
If you suspect that your child may have tried drugs, there is a prevention and treatment program called Program Success (772) 460-0902. There is no cost for this program.
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RESTITUTION
Be prepared to pay restitution. It is important for the judge to know that your child is remorseful/sorry, and that your child can try to repay the victim. If this is a financial hardship, let the judge know that you will make payments as you or your child are able. Making REGULAR monthly payments, even if it is only small ($5 or $10) shows the judge that you are trying and not ignoring his court order.
Have your child write an apology letter. Give it to your child’s attorney.
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AT HOME
Show the Judge that you have control over your child. If the Judge doesn’t think you have the ability to discipline your child, he will consider placing him in a residential program. Kids should not be out late at night. Impose a curfew appropriate for your child’s age.
Your child should have consequences and loss of privileges at home due to the behavior that got him in trouble. The Judge needs to know how your child responded to those consequences.
Sign your child up for an after-school program or encourage him to participate in sports. There are many programs available in our area, this is just a short list:
Boys and Girls Club (772) 460-9918
YMCA Fort Pierce (772) 465-0330
Port St Lucie (772) 878-7337
Port St Lucie Parks and Recreation (772) 878-2277
St. Lucie County Parks and Recreation (772) 489-4FUN
Frontline For Kids (772) 464-0100
VIOLATION OF PROBATION
If your child has violated probation, he needs to work extra hard to comply with the probation sanctions. If your child does not, he will go to a residential program. He is still on probation and needs to comply with all sanctions. Meet with his probation officer to find out what he can do to remain on probation. If your child has not completed the court-ordered essay, apology letter, or community service hours, this needs to get done as soon as possible and turned in to the probation officer. DO NOT WAIT until disposition/sentencing. If your child is having problems at school, he needs to work harder to follow the rules. Your child should work to bring up his/her grades. Ask for tutoring, if necessary. Get your child involved in after-school programs, so there isn’t free time to get into more trouble.
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