REGION RECEIVES GRANTS FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM

BEAUMONT - Grant money received by local agencies will help ensure that
young people entering the juvenile justice system have the counseling and
assessment services they need.

The Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission received $47,785 through
the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act fund, part of
$4.6 million awarded to 96 programs in the state.

"The money will be used for psychological evaluations, counseling, drug and
alcohol assessment, some transportation and some residential placement for
juveniles referred to detention and probation," Shanna Chance, director of
SETRPC Criminal Justice program, said.

Chance said that last year, about the same amount of grant funds served 111
children.

"There were 52 psych evaluations done, 35 drug and alcohol assessments, 83
counseling sessions, eight residential placements outside of our area and
four emergency medical visits," Chance said.

The Substance Abuse Division of SETRPC also recently received $62,320 from
the Safe, Drug Free Schools and Communities Act fund. That money will be
used for crisis intervention, counseling, addiction and resistance training
for youth on probation.

"We pay for assessment and provide for training to juveniles to get them
back on the right track," Chance said.

In addition, Mothers Against Drunk Driving received $28,642 for drug and
alcohol prevention programs in schools in Jefferson, Hardin and Orange
counties.

"Educating our children is the greatest step we can take in preventing
juvenile crime," Gov. Rick Perry said upon receiving the $4.6 million for
state programs. "These juvenile justice and prevention programs foster
learning and responsible decision making that help keep children from
entering or returning to the juvenile justice system."

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act funds are distributed by the
Governor's Criminal Justice Division to programs across the state that are
dedicated to promoting education, training and prevention. Other areas of
focus are treatment and rehabilitation of juveniles throughout the juvenile
justice system.