Juvenile Recovery Court

Juvenile Recovery Court is a strengths-based coordinated approach to the treatment of juveniles between ages 14-17 who have histories of moderate to severe substance use/abuse. Juvenile Recovery Courts are built upon a unique partnership between the juvenile justice system and the Recovery treatment community. 

The overall goal of Juvenile Recovery Court is to help the juveniles develop new thought and behavior processes that reinforce acceptable behavior. The resulting outcome should be a reduction of substance use, substance relapse, and criminogenic risk/need factors, along with the implementation of pro-social changes within the family system and the juvenile's natural environment. Secondary objectives are to improve school performance and family functioning. There are four phases of required participation for graduation. 

The length of the Juvenile Recovery Court Program varies depending on a juvenile's compliance with the requirements of each phase; with an average duration of approximately 30 to 60 weeks, which includes aftercare. Each phase consists of substance abuse treatment and psychoeducation/skill development provided by contract providers. Other elements include urinalysis testing, enrollment in an educational program or school and actively seeking employment for age-appropriate youth.

The goals of the Mohave County Juvenile Recovery Court are to:

• Reduce recidivism amongst adjudicated youth by focusing on positive choices and life without substances.

• Increase the educational performance of youthful drug justice-involved individuals by utilizing existing or supplemental educational resources.
• Maintain a viable, specialized program within the juvenile justice community consisting of multi-disciplinary options. 
• Strengthen family capacity by increasing exposure to support services & resources.
• Increase family and community exposure to substance abuse prevention.

Juveniles deemed eligible for recovery court must meet the following criteria:

• The juvenile must be an adjudicated delinquent or have an adjudication pending with a delinquency risk of medium or high risk. 
• The juvenile must be between the ages of fourteen (14) through seventeen (17) who have histories of moderate to severe substance use/abuse. 
• The juvenile shall have no current or past arrests/convictions of violent offenses as defined in ARS 13-901.03 B or sex-related offenses. 
• The juvenile admits to or is found to be using alcohol and other drugs, and/ or has a history of use as documented by arrest records, probation, or commitments to ADJC. 
• The juvenile and parents (or guardian) must be willing participants and engage in treatment services as directed by the courts, and sign a release for treatment information. 
• The juvenile and family must submit to, and complete, an initial screening and agree to all program requirements. 
• The juvenile has the cognitive ability to process the information in Juvenile Recovery Court as determined in a psychological evaluation. 

Juvenile Health and Wellness Court

The mission of the Mohave County Juvenile Health and Wellness Court is to assist juveniles and their families to achieve wellness through a comprehensive, collaborative and strength-based approach to behavioral health.

Juvenile Health and Wellness Court (JHAWC) is an early intervention, strengths-based approach to provide judicial supervision and treatment accountability to juveniles between the ages of 14-18 with a diagnosed mental health condition.  The goal of our health and wellness court is to assist juveniles in finding and attending community-based services to stabilize and maintain sound mental health to reinforce acceptable behaviors within the community among our youth.  To properly address their mental health needs, the JHAWC works in collaboration with the juvenile justice system and mental health professionals. JHAWC requires juveniles to participate in 4 phases with an average total length of 9-12 months.  The actual length of the program varies depending on the juvenile’s compliance with each phase. Each phase will consist of community-based treatment and services by contracted providers.  In addition, participants in JHAWC will receive increased probation supervision.  Attendance in mental health court will be bi-weekly for Phases I-III and monthly for Phase IV.

The goals of JHAWC are: 

• Reduce recidivism among adjudicated youth by focusing on therapeutic goals and treatment compliance.
• Increase engagement in therapeutic services to include adherence to medication requirements
• Utilize and increase effective use of community based resources.
• Increase the productivity and educational performance of youth with mental health disorders by utilizing existing or supplemental educational resources.
• Strengthen family capacity by increasing exposure to family, treatment and support services and resources.

To learn more about JHAWC contact the Juvenile Treatment Supervisor – Emily Snay (928) 753-0741 ext. 4639.

Juvenile Truancy Court

Truancy Court  is a specialty court and a diversion program that was piloted in Bullhead City during the 2018 school year. This ran from 2018-2020 with a short hiatus due to COVID-19 before getting back up in running in 2021 while also initiating the Kingman Truancy Court. The goal of the program is to reduce truancy (which is defined by Arizona Revised Statute ARS 15-803 as five or more unexcused absences) in elementary, middle, and high schools in Mohave County schools. This program was originally piloted for Mohave County in Bullhead City by the guidance and direction of Honorable Rick Williams. While the current program exists in Bullhead City and Kingman, there are future plans for Mohave Valley and Lake Havasu.

During the pilot program where probation started receiving referrals on November 19, 2018, there were a total of 18 who participated in Truancy Court with 17 successful and 1 unsuccessful from 5 different schools.

The goal is to not only address students who currently have truancy issues but for the rest of their education as well. Juveniles who are successful will be attending school on a regular basis and diverted from having a delinquency record or engaging in delinquent or criminal activity in the future. While in the program the participants are given certain incentives like gifts and goodies where they can choose from the gift box and sanctions like workbooks, essays, and other options while they progress through the program.

Many factors contribute to truancy which is one key risk factor for future delinquent or criminal behavior. The Court works with many agencies and team members for the program: Municipal Court, Superior Court, Arizona Youth Partnership, local treatment and counseling agencies, local school districts, local law enforcement agencies, and Mohave County Juvenile Probation.

Building on the success of that program, the court works with our partners to give every student the support and services necessary to be successful in school. Through a rewards and sanctions program, the court addresses the needs of the students and their families for educational success.

Truancy Court is held twice a month in Bullhead City on Fridays and the first Thursday of each month in Kingman.

For more information about Juvenile Specialty Courts, please contact Emily Snay, DPO Senior at (928) 753-0741 ext. 4639.