School-Justice Unit

The Jasper County Juvenile Office assigns a Deputy Juvenile Officer to every major school district in Jasper County. Our assigned officers have offices within the school(s) which allow them to work hand-in-hand with school administration, teachers, and our law enforcement partners to identify youth who are experiencing problems. Once problems are identified, services are immediately initiated to prevent future issues.

This initiative is the first of its kind in the State of Missouri. Prevention and early intervention is key to reducing incorrigible and delinquent behavior; therefore, this unit is also developing important partnerships with our elementary schools to identify and provide services for at-risk kids before behaviors become more problematic. The unit also provides educational programs to students and parents at our local schools.

The overall goal of this unit is to quickly intervene when adolescent issues arise while at the same time keeping them from entering the juvenile justice system. These strategies, along with working collaboratively with our community partners, schools, and law enforcement, create better outcomes for children, families, and ultimately the community.