A school-based initiative to divert students from the criminal justice system will soon be implemented in Round Rock ISD.
The district’s police chief shared information about the upcoming First Offenders program in January.
What you need to know
RRISD Police Chief Ryan Urrutia said the program would allow students to have their juvenile arrest record erased through structured intervention, avoiding prosecution.
The intervention model is intended to reduce recidivism, or the tendency to reoffend, Urrutia said.
The details
Urrutia said the program will primarily serve students ages 10-16, but Williamson County Juvenile Services will allow the program to include 17- and 18-year-olds.
Requirements of the program include but aren’t limited to:
Students and parents must consent to participate.Students must complete the program to avoid being referred to the court system.Depending on the offense, the program may require restitution or community service.Student eligibility depends on the type of offense, and whether or not it is their first, Urrutia said. The program outline shared by the police chief focused on THC and vaping-related offenses. Additional information about the program is available on the district’s BoardDocs site.
What they’re saying
“This is a great opportunity for our families not to have to take on the financial burden of retaining an attorney as well because they go through the process,” Urrutia said. “This is not a court proceeding. It’s just an agreement between the board and the district. So that that helps them all.”