Offering a Second Chance

Big mistakes often have serious consequences, but sometimes it’s possible for a second chance to give hope to those who need it. One court in Ohio is doing just that.

It’s not quite a specialized docket – like the Veterans, Drug, and Mental Health courts – but the Allen County Juvenile Court is helping teens and young adults get their lives back on track through a treatment program.

 

The juvenile court judge and a team of specialists are giving 14- to 21-year-olds a chance to avoid placement in a detention facility. They enter a treatment program that focuses on changing personal attitudes and correcting the behaviors that would put them behind bars.

 

The Allen County program gives the teens a second chance at life, and usually by the time they finish, they will have gone through more than 200 hours of counseling and meetings with treatment specialists. Two Lima teens are featured in the video below. Take a look.