WFXG Fox54 Augusta-Your News One Hour EarlierCenter opens to keep teens out of YDC

Center opens to keep teens out of YDC

"All children have a chance. No children is disposable."
 
That's the philosophy of Columbia County Juvenile Court judge Doug Flanagan. In his years of ruling juvenile cases, he sees potential in every teenager he tries.
 
"Instead of bringing them immediately sometimes taking them to the YDC, they can be brought here with these counselors," Judge Flanagan said. "Another thing, to see if we can't work out the problem first for non-violent offenses."
 
In an effort to keep the teenage boys and girls he sees everyday out of the juvenile justice system, Judge Flanagan helped the Columbia County System of Care earn a grant of more than 174 thousand dollars to fund a new youth facility. The Family Resource and Evening Reporting Center is part of the SAFE Youth Project that will welcome first-time offending juveniles.
 
"The children that'll be coming here are normally the unrulies, truancies, people having trouble at home and minor offenses," Judge Flanagan said.
 
The youth referred to the center will go through a 12-week program of guidance and discipline. And counselors hope this system will keep these teens out of "the system" for the rest of their lives.

The center is one of 14 in Columbia County, and while other facilities target at-risk youth, the Family Resource and Evening Reporting Center is strictly for teens who are first-time offenders in the juvenile justice system.