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Juvenile court highlights diversion successes, asks board to continue Paige lease funding
Summary
Juvenile Court Services told the Board it served 162 kids/families at its Hope Receiving Center last year with 98% not entering the formal system, and requested continued funding for a Paige office lease of $24,000 per year to sustain local hearing capacity for rural residents.
Casey Lightoot, director of Juvenile Court Services, framed the department’s work as prevention‑focused and highlighted recent diversion results that local officials said they want to preserve. "We served 162 kids and families across all of the programs; 98% never penetrated the system further," Lightoot said in her presentation, describing the Hope Receiving Center as an off‑ramp that keeps youth and families from formal court processing.
Lightoot presented data that since 2021 juvenile deflection programs have served 672 youth with about 97% not moving further into the juvenile justice system, and she described a range of treatment, school‑based and contract‑partner services that support those outcomes.
Paige office and lease request: Juvenile court leaders reminded the Board the Paige office — a wing in Seato High School used for local hearings and services in outlying communities — was initially funded by fees and later by ARPA. Lightoot said the department cannot absorb the ongoing rent without county support and that the increment request in the packet is for $24,000 per year for a 10‑year, renewable lease with the school district.
Why it matters: Juvenile court leaders and supervisors argued the Paige office gives rural residents easier access to court appearances and services, reducing travel burdens and keeping community‑focused diversion resources local.
Board reaction: Supervisors praised the juvenile programs’ outcomes and asked for more analysis of what is driving increased juvenile case complexity in the county. Members encouraged continued community outreach and legislative advocacy to protect funding streams that support prevention services.
What’s next: The youth services data and Paige lease were included in the manager’s recommended FY27 materials. Juvenile court staff said they will continue to provide program measures next year to justify continued funding.
