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El Paso Juvenile Probation Department Shares Key Insights from Youth Needs Study

October 15, 2024

In a collaborative effort to reduce the number of youth entering the juvenile justice system, the El Paso Juvenile Probation Department partnered with the Paso del Norte Center at Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, with support from the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and the Judicial Commission on Mental Health, to implement the School-Justice Pathways Youth Sequential Intercept Model (Youth SIM) Mapping Project.

The Youth SIM initiative brought together diverse community stakeholders—including educators, law enforcement, justice professionals, clinicians, and community-based organizations—to engage in critical discussions and create action plans to prevent young people from entering the justice system.

SIM, a nationally recognized tool for justice diversion planning, was used to map how young people interact with various systems and where interventions can prevent justice system involvement. “The most valuable outcome of our Youth SIM project has been identifying gaps in the system and developing collaborative solutions to address them,” said Chief Rosie Medina of the El Paso Juvenile Probation Department. “We focused on diversion and prevention strategies at the earliest points of contact, such as when youth first encounter law enforcement. This has sparked numerous exciting opportunities for change.”

One such opportunity includes piloting a School-Based First Offense Program (FOP) within the Socorro Independent School District. This program, led by law enforcement, addresses first-time felony-level THC vaping offenses in schools. By focusing on rehabilitation and education instead of punitive actions, the program aims to intervene early and divert students from the justice system, reducing the long-term impact of these offenses.

The results of the Youth SIM project are detailed in a report available at healthpasodelnorte.org. The report now serves as a roadmap for ongoing improvements in the local system of care.

The Paso del Norte Health Foundation supports mental health programs under its Mental Health and Well-being Initiative. For more information, visit pdnhf.org.