Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Meeting

Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Meeting Recap: October 16, 2025

On October 16th, the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) convened to discuss program updates, address membership vacancies, and strategize for future initiatives aimed at preventing juvenile crime in Buncombe County. The meeting included updates from various programs, a review of potential new council members, and discussions on how to better connect with schools and the community.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to hearing updates from several key programs working with young people. TeamCourt and Earn & Learn are both experiencing high referral rates, demonstrating a continued need for these vital services. Team Court is expanding its partnerships with local schools and businesses, including a collaboration with Lowe's/Home Depot to support the Shiloh Community Garden. Earn & Learn is addressing truancy challenges by working with students on practical skills like time management – even providing alarm clocks! Pivot Point is utilizing music as a creative outlet for students, while Aspire continues to see positive results, with one student achieving straight A's after participating in the program. UNITE is serving a large number of middle school students, further highlighting the breadth of efforts underway to support at-risk youth.

The council also engaged in a discussion about the Standardized Program Evaluation Protocol (SPEP), a system designed to measure program effectiveness. Buncombe County is participating in a pilot program connecting this data with the universal referral form, which will provide valuable insights into how well programs are reaching those who need them most and inform future planning. Importantly, DJJ reported no increase in juvenile complaints within the county, indicating a potential positive trend.

While no formal votes were taken during this meeting, the council did review applications for two important vacancies: a Designated Attorney (DA) designee and a community member at large. Council members will review these applications further, with voting expected in a future meeting. Discussions centered on how to best engage youth and the community, with ideas floated for a potential awards banquet or event showcasing JCPC programs.

The meeting concluded with several key action items for council members and staff. All members are required to complete or renew their annual conflict-of-interest forms, ensuring transparency in decision-making. Hannah will share important information regarding catering and other relevant details with attendees, while the planning committee continues its work analyzing data to identify areas of greatest need. The pilot program connecting DJJ data with the universal referral form will also move forward, providing a more comprehensive understanding of juvenile justice trends.

This meeting underscored the JCPC’s ongoing commitment to supporting youth and preventing crime through collaborative partnerships, data-driven decision making, and innovative program delivery. Residents can expect to hear more about the selection of new council members in upcoming meetings, and the results of the SPEP pilot program will be crucial in shaping future crime prevention strategies for Buncombe County.