The Faulkner County Juvenile Drug Court (FCJDC) announced expanded partnerships with the University of Central Arkansas and other community partners.
Juvenile drug treatment courts are designed for youth with substance abuse disorders who come into contact with the juvenile justice system. These courts offer an important way to respond to the needs of the youth and treat their complex disorders, which require specialized intervention.
“Adolescents with substance disorders frequently have mental health disorders, traumatic histories, and other risk factors that present unique challenges for the court. As such, it is imperative that the court develop a strong team to support youth,” said Judge Troy Braswell ’02. “We are excited to announce the expansion of this team and explain how it will impact our youth, their families and our community.”
The Drug Court partnered with the UCA Department of Occupational Therapy to support youth through life skill training and providing opportunities for leadership and giving back to the community. The program, which meets weekly, invites participants to attend meetings on campus and be surrounded by positive peer influences.
As a result, Dr. Lorrie George-Paschal, UCA professor and leader of this program, has been added to the Drug Court team. George-Paschal began working with FCJDC in 2015 after mentoring a UCA student whose thesis focused on reintegration after incarceration.
Other additions to the Drug Court team include two school resource officers, Deputy Kevin Miller with the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office and Officer Sean Julian with the Conway Police Department; two community representatives Jerry Boyer, who serves on the Faulkner County Quorum Court, and Daniel Tyler, executive director of Deliver Hope; and Bobby Strobel with Central Arkansas Workforce Services.
Originally, the team included Braswell; Jim Lane, Faulkner County Public Defender; Monica Didion, Faulkner County Juvenile Court Prosecuting Attorney; Leslie Dawes and Laine McConnell, drug court coordinators; Faye Shepard, 20th Judicial District Juvenile Division chief of staff; therapists Kristy Kennedy and Aaron Croy; and Dr. Ed Franklin, education representative.
Carol Crews, chief deputy prosecuting attorney said, “We’ve had the honor of partnering with Judge Braswell’s drug court and have had a front row seat to it’s quantifiable success. Rehabilitation works best at the juvenile level while our young people are still malleable.”
The Faulkner County Juvenile Court also partners with a number of UCA faculty, staff and students.
UCA professor of piano Dr. Neil Rutman volunteers as a boxing instructor, having been a former collegiate boxer.
“We have a blast boxing safely in the Faulkner County Juvenile Court Boxing Club!” Rutman said. “But this is really about giving the young men love, role models, encouragement and alternate choices to make a great future.”