Skull was a sixteen -year old male who identified himself as involved in a gang. He was charged with substantial battery and resisting arrest, due to a fight at a party with a rival gang member. Skull already had a history of truancy and a police record for several thefts, vandalism, underage drinking, and curfew violations. He was smoking marijuana on a daily basis, not attending school, and had experienced little success in the educational environment outside of sports. Skull also exhibited significant anger management issues and was viewed as a threat to the community. The family was supportive and very concerned about his behavior.

Skull's mother was very involved in his life and was doing her best to raise her four children without any assistance or involvement from their father. Skull had felt like the man of the family from an early age. Skull, being the oldest male, felt responsible for caring for his mother and younger siblings. He had joined a gang around the age of eleven in hopes that it would provide addditional protection for his family. Despite the concerns of his family and the court, Skull was allowed to return home until the next court proceeding. He was referred for electronic monitoring and an intensive home supervision program.


To make this long story short, there was great concern that Skull ws using drugs and alcohol and that he needed treatment, but the prosecutor did not agree and petitioned for him to be sent directly to a juvenile correctional facility. Skull entered the voluntary ninety-day alcohol and drug treatment program and began to work on his sobriety, anger issues, gang involvement, and criminal thinking patterns. Although it was difficult to coordinate, given her work schedule and responsibility for the other children in the household, Skull's mother came to visit on a regular basis and participated in family sessions.

The involved professionals assisted with coordinating child care an arranging transportation so she could be there for Skull, who struggled at first and was having a hard time adjusting to the rules of the facility. His mother and the team encouraged him to remain in treatment and try to focus on a positive future, and they reminded him of the stayed correctional order. Skull ultimately decided to engage in treatment and he completed the ninety-day program. The team of professionals, along with Skull and his mother, created an aftercare plan that initially included ongoing drug counseling and support, individual counseling, intensive supervision and monitoring,group supports, and placement in an alternative educational setting.


And through the alternative school, Skull got involved in a program that offers troubled youth the experience of building homes for underpriviledged families. Skull was able to gain valuable work skills, as well as time to focus on positive activities. Although he still struggled with school, with his past gang involvement, and with making good choices, he was able to significantly decrease his police contacts and he had no further arrests as a juvenile.


Skull remained at home with his mother and siblings and was eventually released from the juvenile court-order services. The "stayed" correctional order was in place until the juvenile court closed the case on Skull's eighteenth birthday. In closing, parents always stay involved in your kids life it is very important so that they will not go through what Skull did.