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The Buffalo County Finance Committee approved a one-year contract agreement recommended by the teen court advisory board to hire the organization for $8,715, beginning July 1.
Family Resource Center of Menomonie, Wis., the current provider of teen court coordinator services, gave notice it would no longer provide services after its contract agreement expires June 30, according to Buffalo-Pepin County Circuit Judge James Duvall.
Duvall told Buffalo County finance members that Family Resource Center was contracted for an estimated $7,800 under a current agreement.
Positive Alternatives is a private, nonprofit organization that provides assorted services to at-risk children and families in West Central Wisconsin.
Teen court is a program that involves a panel of students who recommend penalties for first-time juvenile offenders arrested for minor offenses.
“It’s been a very successful program,” Duvall said, reducing caseload in the justice and human services system and lowering the percentage of repeat offenders.
Teen court in Buffalo and Pepin counties handles an estimated 25 to 30 cases a year, Duvall said.
Schools in the two counties, as well as the counties, fund the program. Pepin County pays $2,000 a year, while Buffalo County donates $150 a year, Duvall said.
Each area school normally gives the program $500 a year. Duvall said teen court currently had about $12,000 in its revenue account.
He asked that Buffalo County increase its contribution to the program in 2009.
