Youth Development Specialist

I interviewed the Youth Development Specialist from Fairfax County Juvenile Domestic Relations District Court (JDRDC) Katrina Horne. An interesting fact that she told me about the JDRDC was that JDRDC requires all of its employees who deal with the juvenile victims and juvenile offenders have to undergo an extensive two day mandatory training, which is 8 hours each day (16 total hours). There are also follow up courses throughout the year that are mandatory as well.

Ms. Horne did not directly belong to the victim services department. Her job was to provide prevention, intervention and educational programs to address specific problems for at-risk youth and their families in order to reduce juvenile crime and protect public safety. On a daily basis JDRDC was a direct link to victim services because a lot of clients throughout the program were victims or offenders.

JDRDC provides victims information about the criminal justice process and also focuses on the restitution for victims and their families. Her department provides many resources for victims and offenders; they include victim impact classes, preparation for court hearings, home visits, counseling, medical and psychological services and much more. Throughout the interview Ms. Horne stated that these programs and services can be more effective, if they include the victim more in the processes when dealing with the offender.

According to Ms. Horne, juveniles throughout her jurisdiction usually commit crimes like simple assault, substance abuse, vandalism, breaking and entering, larceny, and truancy. To counteract many of their problems many of the juveniles are victims of child abuse and broken homes. Ms. Horne explained that it is very difficult to deal with child abuse victims. She said that it is not just bruised and broken bones that are the problem; it is the long term effect on their minds which disturbs them emotionally as well as physically.

When discussing victimization