Parent-Teen Relationship Emphasized in Program for First-Time Offenders

It’s a Wednesday night ritual at the South County court: a dozen teenagers arrested for drug- and alcohol-related crimes file into a courtroom with their parents in tow.

But the youngsters have not come to be sentenced. They’ve come for counseling.

Under a program launched by the Sheriff’s Department, first-time drug and alcohol offenders can choose to enter a diversion program instead of facing charges in juvenile court.

Deputies initiated the program--called Stop Short of Addiction--after watching a rapid rise in the number of juveniles arrested for drug-related crimes over the past decade. Sheriff’s officials said they felt frustrated at not being able to help many of the offenders trapped in the cycle of addiction.

“We have kids we encounter who say, ‘I’ve got a problem. What should I do?’ ” said Sheriff’s Sgt. Roger Neumeister, who oversees the program. “We’re a front door for a lot of this stuff.”

Stop Short conducts drug testing as well as intensive substance abuse education and counseling. Run by the Orange County Bar Foundation, the program also accepts juveniles referred by their parents. Organizers are planning to expand the service beyond South County and to offer it to schools.

In a departure from many diversion programs, Stop Short places a special emphasis on the relationship between parents and teens. In many cases, those bonds have frayed in recent years, and social workers concentrate on rebuilding them.

Parents and children are encouraged to confront each other about their feelings toward each other and the substance abuse. The sessions often prove emotionally draining, especially for parents who didn’t know how serious their child’s drug habit had become.

“Usually, there isn’t a dry eye in the house,” said Margie Diaz, a social worker who runs the program.

Since March, when the program was launched, 57 juveniles have attended the classes--ranging from a 12-year-old caught drinking alcohol to older teens hooked on methamphetamine.

Graduation Just the Beginning

While offering a second chance for youngsters, the program is not an easy ride, said a parent named Maureen, who asked that her last name not be used. Her 17-year-old son entered the program in August after deputies caught him with a small plastic bag of marijuana.

Offenders face lectures from recovering addicts and law enforcement officials on the tragic--sometimes fatal--effects of drug use. And youngsters who fail a drug test or refuse to attend sessions face the prospect of juvenile court.

“There were no soft punches,” Maureen said. “I think that this was a real, true wake-up call for him.”

After the last session, social workers evaluate each youngster, referring those with serious addictions to further treatment. And in all cases, social workers try to keep track of the progress the youths make once they graduate from the program.

“We don’t just slap them on the back and congratulate them at the end,” Diaz said. “It’s really only the beginning.”