KIDS WHO SHOVEL IT OUT . . .

. . . Do Apt Time; Offenders Under Program Clear Dung

SPANISH FORK - Distaste is written all over Juan's face as he pushes a
shovelful of horse manure.

This is the 13-year-old's punishment for getting caught with marijuana for
the second time.

For more than 10 years the HOPES program - Helping Offenders Perform
Excellent Service - has tried to ensure juvenile offenders are given the
right amount of punishment for misdeeds.

The latest batch of juvenile offenders, all under court order to serve
community service, must clean the stalls at the Spanish Fork City
Fairgrounds following a livestock show.

"This is like the worst thing you can do," said 13-year-old Korey, not
mincing words amid the stench of the livestock stalls. "This sucks."

Korey had only shoveled off two hours of his 40-hour court sentence for
drug possession. He knew he would have to come back another day.

Judges who deal with minors in 4th District Court have praised the HOPES
program as a model in which juvenile justice has merged with community
service in a rare kind of harmony.

"This program holds kids accountable," said 4th District Juvenile Judge Kay
Lindsay. Also, he said, the work done by the juveniles benefits the community.

The program handles about 1,000 juveniles each year and gets half its
funding from the state. The other half comes from contracts director Wanda
Santiago has been able to get with Utah County cities, Utah's Department of
Transportation, Provo City School District and Utah Valley State College.

"We only contract with public entities," Santiago said.

The work varies from washing windows and picking up trash to doing lawn
care in public parks and removing graffiti from walls.

Judge Leslie Brown, who has served in the juvenile justice system since the
1970s, said for many years, kids served community service hours with very
little supervision. As a result, the juveniles often dawdled or slept while
on the job.

There were simply too few probation officers to provide the needed
supervision, he said.

What makes the HOPES program different is that juvenile offenders are
supervised by young adults who are seeking college degrees in education or
social work.

"I've always liked working with kids," said Utah Valley State College
student Mike Palmer. "We're not just supervisors to these kids - but kind
of mentors."

While watching the kids shovel manure, Spanish Fork Mayor Dale Barney said
the program "is just wonderful. You wouldn't believe how much tax payer
money is saved by doing this." Santiago said cities pay a minimal
"supervisor fee."

Cortney, a 15-year-old from Springville, is working off unpaid tickets for
possession of alcohol and cigarettes.

"I can't let it gross me out because it's work that needs to be done," she
said while lifting a shovelful of manure. "It kind of teaches me a lesson.
I mean, if you get caught with tobacco, then you have to do this."

"People feel good about this. They feel that justice is being done," said
Judge Sterling Sainsbury. "It's a much better consequence than sitting
there being locked up. A 20-minute lecture is nothing compared to shoveling
manure at Spanish Fork's stalls."