County approves bank account to start juvenile graduated‑response incentive program

County supervisors approved a request to open a non‑interest bearing bank account to operate a Juvenile Graduated Response Program described by Supervisor Hilary Ward. The program, adapted from the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges' Commission model, uses incentives and proportional sanctions to encourage prosocial behavior; incentives may pay for GED testing, summer school, gift cards or books for enrolled juveniles.

Ward told commissioners the program would currently include about 52 juveniles and that funds for incentives would be sourced from juror pay and snack and soda sales at the probation department. "Currently, about 52," Ward said when asked how many juveniles are in the program. The board moved and approved opening the account to allow staff to begin processing incentives.