Certified substance abuse juv. probation officers

Item 495 #1h

Language
Page 290, line 17, strike "$42,092,627" and insert "$42,204,723".

Explanation
(This amendment provides $112,096 general fund the second year to provide one juvenile probation officer who is a certified substance abuse counselor in each of the 32 juvenile court service units (CSU). This will be accomplished by upgrading one existing juvenile probation officer position in each CSU to a senior level and by providing the training required to receive the substance abuse counselor certification. These specialized staff members will conduct substance abuse assessments of drug-involved juveniles awaiting adjudication by the court, as well as of those referred by the courts to each office for supervision. In addition, they will provide technical assistance to lower-level officers in the supervison of drug-involved juvenile offenders. This amendment is a recommendation of the Virginia State Crime Commission study (HJR 443, 1997) of drug-involved offenders and implements House Bill 664, 1998 Session.)