County approves $72,000 grant-funded contract for juvenile handgun-intervention accountability board member

The White County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 4 approved a contract with Taryn Dockery to serve as a community accountability board member for the county's handgun intervention program, at an hourly rate of $60 and under grant funding not to exceed $72,000.

Rebecca, identified in the meeting as youth services staff, told the commissioners the program is "in response to increased, weapons offenses by juveniles in our community." She described the program as court ordered for referred youth and families, meeting nine times with parental participation required. Rebecca said the program covers "basic understanding of the legal system," a law-enforcement panel, a victim impact panel, and medical training provided by Purdue University nurses including "stop the bleed and CPR" instruction.

Rebecca gave participant numbers as of June 30: "21 kids and their families referred, 19 have completed," and said "over 75 percent have not gone on to have another offense. We're still tracking them, and we'll continue to track them until they turn 18." She also said there were five current participants in a program that started in July.

Rebecca explained the funding: the position and related services are covered under a Criminal Justice Institute grant (referred to in the meeting as an ICGI/Criminal Justice Institute grant) with a total award of $72,000 spread across multiple community accountability board members and related roles; approximately $20,000 of the grant funds had been spent to date. The board voted to approve the contract as presented.

The approval covers the contract for services as described in the meeting and does not alter court orders that require attendance for referred youth.