Greenville County Juvenile Arbitration Program Seeking Volunteers

GREENVILLE, SC – March 23, 2012 – Juvenile Arbitration Programs are community-based diversion programs designed for first-time juvenile offenders charged with a non-violent crime.  Offenders are diverted from the Juvenile Criminal Court System to arbitration hearings conducted in the juvenile’s community by trained volunteer arbitrators who determine punishment and monitor the juvenile’s progress throughout the program.

Recognizing the value of this diversion option for first-time juvenile offenders, Solicitor Walt Wilkins has decided to organize a juvenile arbitration program for the citizens of Greenville County.  Under the supervision of the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, the Greenville Juvenile Arbitration Program will hold juvenile offenders accountable for their crimes and the harm they cause to their victims. The program is designed to teach juvenile offenders the importance of becoming productive citizens while ensuring public safety by strengthening a community’s capacity to prevent and control crime.  Participants in the arbitration process include a trained volunteer arbitrator, the juvenile offender and his or her parent(s) or guardian(s), the victim(s) of the crime and the arresting officer.  After determining the facts of the case, the Arbitrator, with input from the other participants, decides the appropriate actions that the juvenile must take in order to make reparations to their victim(s) and deter future crimes. These actions include, but are not limited to, monetary restitution to the victim, community service, charitable donations, tours of detention centers, educational programs, topical essays and research papers, counseling and drug/alcohol testing.  Juveniles who do not wish to participate or fail to complete all requirements will be referred to the Solicitor’s Office for prosecution of the original charge in the Juvenile Justice System.

The success of the Greenville County Juvenile Arbitration program depends upon citizen volunteers to serve as Arbitrators. To develop qualified Arbitrators, training is provided by the Solicitor’s Office in the areas of Juvenile Criminal Law, Mediation, Restorative Justice, Communications Skills, Hearing format and victimization.  No prior experience in criminal law or juvenile justice is required.  To be eligible to volunteer in the Greenville Juvenile Arbitration Program you must: (1)  be 21 years of age, (2) have a High School Diploma or GED, (3) pass a Criminal Background Check (Local, NCIC and DSS), and complete 21 hours of Arbitrator training.

If you are interested in volunteering your time by serving the community as a Juvenile Arbitrator please contact Leisa Rice Shea at (864) 467-5902 or by email at [email protected] to learn more about the program.