32 Hours Juvenile Specialist Skill Program-Rockford

PURPOSE OF COURSE:    This four-day, 32-hour program has been designed by expert practitioners from the fields of juvenile law, social work, and law enforcement to assist recently assigned juvenile officers in the legal, moral, and social issues that they will encounter in their positions as juvenile specialists.

COURSE OVERVIEW:     The focus of this course is primarily to provide police officers with the skills, knowledge, and abilities needed to perform their duties as juvenile officers. In this unique role, juvenile officers not only enforce laws, but also respond compassionately and effectively to family problems. They serve as protectors of society by investigating criminal acts for findings of delinquency and as supporters of youths by helping them to grow out of adolescence without experiencing the stigma of police involvement.

• Specific topics to be addressed in this program include the following:

• The role and responsibility of the Juvenile Officer Gaining perspectives on the assignment

• Child development Child psychology

• Communicating with adolescents and parents Adolescents and electronic influences Intervention and prevention strategies

• Article I of the Juvenile Court Act: General provisions

• Article II of the Juvenile Court Act: Abused, neglected, and dependent minors Article III of the Juvenile Court Act: Minors requiring authoritative intervention Article IV of the Juvenile Court Act: Addicted Minors

• Article V of the Juvenile Court Act: Delinquent minors Psychodynamics of child abuse

• The role of law enforcement and social services Protective custody

• Investigative techniques

• Preparing child abuse cases for court

• Sexual abuse and sexual exploitation investigations

COURSE GOALS:    The goals of this course are to make officers particularly aware of the demographics of the burgeoning youth population, which is becoming increasingly more vulnerable to gang recruitment, violent crime, sexual exploitation, alcohol, and drug abuse, and carrying weapons. Officers will become uniquely aware of these problems and the needs facing the children, adolescents, young adults, and parents that they will be serving in their capacity as juvenile officers. Throughout the program, participation in supportive networks such as Juvenile

Officer Associations, Gang Task Forces, and high school liaison programs will be discussed and encouraged.