Easttown Police Seek Volunteers for Youth Aid Panel

Easttown Police Department is seeking volunteers to serve on a new panel designed to improve outcomes for young offenders.

The department has teamed with Media-based Center for Resolutions to start a Youth Aid Panel (YAP) in the township.

A YAP consists of residents who meet with juvenile, first-time offenders charged with summary offenses, such as underage drinking, breaking curfew, criminal mischief, loitering and disorderly conduct. 

The panelists recommend a course of action for the child, and if he or she adheres to the program, the summary citation is expunged. If the child doesn't complete the program successfully, they head to district court as they otherwise would have.

"It's not a hearing ... You have to admit guilt or involvement," Easttown Police Sgt. David Felker said. "The YAP is more of a mentoring program where they say, 'Instead of a $250 fine, let's get to the root cause and keep it from happening again.' "

Felker suggested bringing a YAP in Easttown after seeing its success when he worked in Darby Borough.

Joanie Taylor, a YAP coordinator at the Center for Resolutions, said the program has a 95-percent success rate. 

"The kid might go to a traditional courtroom, sit in front of the judge, get community service, then be on their way," Taylor said. "In the Youth Aid Panel process, they're given an opportunity to give their side of the story and make amends to community. It's a learning process, rather than being punitive."

Children who come before a panel might be instructed to write letters of apology for their transgressions. If the child is 17 and considering college, the panel could even instruct the child to research three colleges, and report back on the reasons he or she would want to attend them or not, Taylor said.

Prospective panelists undergo a background check before attending four training sessions, which are scheduled for Thursday evenings from May 9 to 30. A second training session is planned for the summer. 

Two people have signed up for the Easttown YAP so far, according to Taylor, who hopes to have at least five panelists. Panels typically meet about once a month, in the evening, and a minimum of three panelists must be present for the panel to operate.

Felker and Taylor got the program approved by the Easttown Board of Supervisors after Felker initially pitched the idea to Police Chief David Obzud.

"We're fortunate to have a chief not only with an open-door policy, but who is also open minded," said Felker, who has worked in Easttown for 13 years. "If you come with an idea and are ready to do the legwork, he's behind you."

"I'm going to be here for many years. I want to see these kids grow," Felker said. 

For more information about the program, contact Joanie Taylor at the Center for Resolutions by email at jtaylor@center4resolutions.org or by phone at 610-566-7710.