Bannock County approves university affiliation agreements as juvenile diversion program reports falling juvenile case counts

Todd Boger, with Bannock County Juvenile Justice, told commissioners on April 8 that the county will sign two affiliation agreements to accept interns from Idaho State University and Boise State University to support the county's juvenile services.

Boger said the agreementsone with Idaho State Universitywould let counseling students work with youth and families at the county's village starting next fall. A second agreement with Boise State's social work program would allow placement of bachelor's- and master's-level social work interns, including local students doing online coursework. Boger said work from interns and AmeriCorps participants provides about 1,200 hours of service a year for the village.

The juvenile services presentation also included outcome data Boger said show a downward trajectory in juvenile court filings since the village opened July 1, 2023. "In 2021 there were 1,282 juvenile cases filed in Bannock County," Boger said. "In 2022 there was 1,293. In 2023, after we started the village halfway through the year, we dropped to 1,190. In 2024 there were 865about a 404-case drop." For January and February 2025 Boger reported 81 cases and said that projection on the current pace would put the county near 480 cases for the year.

Boger described a change in how youth are referred to the village. "When we opened, we were getting about 85% of our referrals from law enforcement citations," he said. He said the share shifted to roughly 50% law enforcement and 50% community referrals, then to approximately 40% law enforcement and 60% community referrals most recently. He told commissioners the village is averaging about 20 family referrals per quarter and that the county is arranging direct behavioral-health admits for older youth. "We're probably averaging 10 to 15 direct admits to BHC per year," Boger said of the Behavioral Health Center, which he said accepts admissions for youth 12 and older when criteria are met.

Commissioners moved and approved signing the two university affiliation agreements during the meeting. The actions were recorded as motions to approve the ISU affiliation agreement and the Boise State master affiliation agreement; both motions were approved with affirmations by the board.

Commissioners and staff discussed the practical effect of interns and grant-supported staff on the village's service capacity and outcomes, with one commissioner calling the village's trend a "fantastic trajectory." Boger emphasized the village's goal of getting support to youth before charges escalate and described coordination with local providers and the behavioral health center to manage urgent cases.

Ending

The board approved the two affiliation agreements and asked Boger to provide supporting numbers to commissioners, who encouraged continued outreach to partners to sustain the village's services.