Several juvenile offenders in custody were provided a family style meal over the Thanksgiving holiday, and a special dinner is also on tap for the youths during the upcoming Christmas season, according to San Diego County Probation Department officials.
The special Thanksgiving meal was served to 21 males, ages 16-20, housed at the East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facilty. All of the offenders have either committed serious crimes or a high number of offenses, according to the officials.
Thirty-three family members attended the event, as well as probation department officers and Probation Chief Adolfo Gonzales. This is the second year the department has hosted a Thanksgiving special meal at the East Mesa facility.
The probation department also offered a Thanksgiving family meal to the Girls Rehabilitation Facility unit in Kearny Mesa; it served 21 youths in custody and 22 family guests.
The purpose of the family meals is to keep the offenders from feeling isolated during the holidays and build ties they’ll need to stay on the right path, officials said.
“Keeping kids in contact with their loved ones while they are at the juvenile detention facility heals and strengthens family bonds that may have been interrupted by their time in custody,” said Probation Chief Gonzales.
Supervising Probation Officer Brian Day said the goal is to help keep kids on track.
“It is beneficial for in-custody youth to feel connected to their families, hopefully strengthening their motivation to perform well in school, participate in rehabilitative programs and to avoid violence, which allows them to return home as soon as possible.”
Gonzales said sharing holiday meals together builds trust between the officers, youth and their families which is necessary in the rehabilitative process.
“Youth and families begin to view their probation officers as people who support them rather than adversaries,” he said. “It is more likely these youth will approach officers as a positive resource when they are in crisis or at a decision point, seeking officers’ counsel before engaging in risky behavior.”
–Staff
