| Calhoun County had a population of 990 juveniles age 10-17 in 1998.
Records show
1.11% of those juveniles, or 11, got locked up for the commission of
crimes. Most of
them were charged with property crimes, but many were charged with
crimes against
another person or the violation of drug laws. Juveniles that are 16 or
17 years old
compile the largest number of incarcerations.
The Division of Juvenile Services now has a budget of $19 million to
manage the
offenders, but they say the State of West Virginia needs more beds.
West Virginia now
has room to lock up 76 juveniles, but that total will soon become
124.
Regional Jail Authority Director Steve Canterbury has recommended
another 96 beds
to the legislature, bringing the total to 220. Controversy surrounds
who should be
locked up. Melissa Sickmund, a researcher for the National Center for
Juvenile
Justice, believes they should be locked up only when they are a danger
to
themselves or others, or if they are likely to run away.
Cindy Largent, a Deputy Director for the new juvenile system, says
kids often end up
in jail because they couldn't get mental health care sooner and closer
to home.
Despite the public's perception, counseling, psychological and
psychiatric services
are not readily available, particularly in rural communities. They are
not readily
available in school systems for lack of funds. Few services are
available to kids who
develop drinking or drug problems.
The West Virginia mental health centers have privatized themselves and
deliver
services to clients who can pay or have medical cards. A consistent
delivery of care
rarely happens with focus upon crisis intervention. Mental health
centers in West
Virginia have become bankrupt and most of them are bordering on
financial collapse.
The centers were originally legislated as public health providers.
Statistics: Juveniles who were incarcerated from area counties to % of
population:
Roane 12 (0.54%)
Braxton 6 (0.4%)
Clay 6 (0.38%)
Wirt 1 (0.17%)
Gilmer 1 (0.12%)
Ritchie 1 (0.09%)
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