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Do-over: Middlesex County starts “Clean Slate” program
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In an effort to redeem themselves in the eyes of the law for various “minor” offenses, 40 juveniles, ages 12 to 17, started six weeks of training, community service and a variety of other duties in an effort by a coalition of Middlesex County agencies to thwart off future delinquent behavior. For those who successfully complete the program, no charges will be filed for their initial offenses.
It is funded by a $10,000.00 special initiative authorized by the board of freeholders through the Middlesex County Council for Children’s Services, in which the funds are made available through State/Community Partnership operated by the Juvenile Justice Commission.
With parental permission, youths who are chosen by police officers in 13 municipalities, sign a contract agreeing to perform community service and may also include additional requirements, from including paying restitutions and offering apologies, to writing essays on the consequences of criminal behavior. The cases are overseen by Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Ralph Cretella.
In six training sessions, held once a week for three hours at the Middlesex County Police Training Center, the youngsters take part in interactive programs, instructional periods, mentoring activities that promote teamwork, education, self-esteem, self-examination and overall cooperation.
Guest speakers at the program will include judges and police officers and the youthful offenders will be taken on tour of the Middlesex County jail in North Brunswick, and be required to sit through a municipal court session in their hometowns.
The goal stated by Assistant Prosecutor Cretella is to “hopefully keep them out of the criminal justice system”. I can’t help but think, a tour ? An essay? The program is reminiscent to me of one that was in progress long ago, when I was a Middlesex County high school student. Only then it was called “Scared Straight”. It was court appointed and intimidating, with the participants being temporarily locked into the very foreboding structure formerly known as Rahway State Prison, currently named East Jersey State Prison. The “guest speakers” weren’t judges and police officers, they were “lifers” – prisoners sentenced to a maximum security prison for life – and the penance didn’t include an essay and an apology, but something much more effective: Staring at who you could be, putting one foot in the future, but with the chance to be pulled back to the present and change the ending to that story. If only we could all have that chance. Only in childhood, and then, only sometimes, do we get a “do-over”. It is a gift – it is a time machine, a Charles Dickens-like clairvoyance where the outcome is still dependent upon your next move. Let’s hope writing an essay and cleaning community centers has the reverberance of the sound of steel doors locking behind you, and that lectures by white collar judges have the same stomach churning effect as a 6’4” 300 lb tattooed prisoner promising to greet you with a smile every morning if you want to join him in his world. I for one hope the “Clean Slate” program works splendidly, and they can all sit around a campfire singing kumbayah. If not, you always know where to find Bubba.
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