In wake of Ida, Chester County Juvenile Probation staff pitches in to help victims

The concept of restoring people in the Chester County community is central to the work of the county Juvenile Probation Office. Its focus is on “balanced and restorative justice” for individual youth offenders, as well as whoever might be victimized by their crimes.

So it might come as no surprise that when Hurricane Ida hit the county last month, there were many who work in that office who decided that they needed to step in and do something to help those who suffered in its wake restore some sense of recovery.

In mid-month, more than two dozen of the employees in the office took it upon themselves to bring food, supplies, and in one case, home appliances to those in the areas of the county affected by Ida.

Their efforts are a reminder of the community efforts of juvenile probation officers as the county celebrates Juvenile Justice Week, from Monday through Friday, with a ceremonial event Wednesday at which those in the office are recognized for their work by the county.

The county commissioners will issue a proclamation commending those in the office for their efforts “to improve and enhance the lives of the youth in Chester County. “

“Juvenile Justice Programs can help at-risk children and their families stay crime-free, leading to fewer crimes and a safer community,” the proclamation reads. “Juvenile justice personnel are highly skilled, dedicated professionals responsible for creating balanced and restorative plans for juvenile offenders.”

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, provide opportunities for juveniles to understand the harm they have caused and how they can make amends to victims, and develop ways to help juveniles to become responsible and productive members of the community,” the commissioners state.

Chief Probation Officer Don Corry said last week that the idea of pitching in to help those who suffered through Ida was formed through various new discussion efforts within the office to address concerns raised by current events, including notions of bias and social justice, as well as the damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was a combination of things,” he said in an interview. Not only were there ongoing committee meetings to address social concerns but in the wake of the hurricane, there were people in the office whose lives were upturned by the storm, bringing home the personal devastation it had caused.

Those included a woman whose husband’s auto repair business was flooded in Downingtown, destroying equipment and cars there; a family whose basement was flooded and suffered a significant amount of damages