Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
SMALL STEPS WITH OFFENDER REAP REWARDS FOR JUVENILE OFFICER
Richelle Goodrich, the American author of “Making Wishes,” had this to say about how little changes can incrementally alter the arc of one’s life.
“Small steps may appear unimpressive, but don’t be deceived,” she wrote. “They are the means by which perspectives are subtly altered, mountains are gradually scaled, and lives are drastically changed.”
That is the approach that Danielle “Dani” Crampton, a probation officer with the Chester County Juvenile Probation Officer, literally took with one of her charges, and which helped win her accolades from her peers last week.
The offender who Crampton was overseeing, a 13-year-old female, and the oldest of 8 children, was habitually sneaking out of the home at night and repeatedly getting in trouble for it, according to information from the office. The girl reported her home life was “crazy” and sometimes she just needed to get out.
Crampton, a five-year veteran of the county’s juvenile justice system. suggested the girl take up walking or hiking as an activity. But as the girl expressed reluctance, Crampton suggested they walk together.
“It became a regular routine for the youth and (Crampton) to go for an hour walk once or twice a week,” a spokeswoman from the office reported. “Conversations were about life — hair, nails, clothes etc. — and eventually expanded to the youth’s challenging home life.
“Prompted by the officer, (the girl) began volunteering to assist more often at home to earn additional time out of the house,” the office wrote.
“When she successfully completed supervision, (the girl’s) mother expressed both surprise and appreciation for the positive impact this effort produced.” Small steps indeed.
Crampton, a West Chester University graduate now studying for her master’s degree, was named the
county’s Juvenile Probation Officer of the Year, an award given annually in honor of the late George Bratcher, a longtime probation officer in the office.
“In her five years with our department (Crampton) has demonstrated a robust skill set with a particular strength in her ability to establish professional alliance,” the office wrote in an assessment of her work.
“With a background at (the county’s child welfare agency), and remembering her own time as a youth, she is easily able to identify with many of the issues our youth encounter.
“Her communication and motivational interviewing skills allow her to effectively establish collaborative working relationships,” the statement said. “She develops, rather than imposes, case plans in a collaborative manner which fosters youth buy-in”
Last week the county commissioners proclaimed Juvenile Justice Week, and honored those in the system, like Crampton, with a ceremony in Courtroom One of the county Justice Center.
“In partnership with local law enforcement, community agencies, families and schools, Juvenile Justice personnel supervise juvenile offenders based on their individual level of risk to the community, community, provide opportunities for juveniles to understand the harm they have caused and how they can make amends to victims, and develop collaborative plans to help juveniles to become responsible and productive members of the community,” the commissioners said in their proclamation.
The ceremony was attended by the three county commissioners — Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline — as well as President Judge John Hall, who supervises the Juvenile Court, and Judges Louis Mincarelli and Allison Bell Royer. Chief Probation Office Don Corry presided over the event.
Also honored at the event, in addition to probation officers who had reached milestone in their careers, were to former offenders who had successfully made their way through the system and were awaredde the Good Youth citation.
One youth attended a residential program due to her behavior and while there she achieved many awards of recognition in the program; her individual therapist talked highly of her. The other, a youg male, was placed in a residential program due to his behaviors. He excelled in the program and earned a successful discharge in just three months. He is independent and working with a housing program. He is set to graduate this school year, but was unable to attend the ceremony for good reason — orientation and training for a new job.
To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-696-1544.