Helping juveniles: Black Caucus presents check for DJJ after-school centers

By LEE HENDREN, T&D Staff Writer

COLUMBIA -- An Orangeburg legislator looks forward to the day when "almost every community in South Carolina" has a Teen After-School Center that is helping juveniles stay out of trouble.

In the past four months, the state Department of Juvenile Justice has launched pilot centers in three high-truancy areas for juveniles who are on probation or parole.

More than 7,000 South Carolinians fit that description. Parents, school resource officers, the Family Court and DJJ can make referrals to the centers.

The centers are run by volunteers for church and community organizations, with assistance from education experts at three universities, including South Carolina State in Orangeburg.

The centers offer tutoring, computer skills enhancement and, when facilities are available, recreational and sports opportunities, DJJ Director Bill Byars said.

"It's all designed to keep them busy" and out of trouble, Byars explained. DJJ hopes to open 10 more centers in the coming year. Eventually, "we want to take (the concept) all across the state," Byars said.

That effort got a boost Wednesday as Rep. Jerry Govan gave DJJ a check for $10,000 from the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus.

It's the caucus' biggest social initiative since the "Drop A Dime" anti-drug effort years ago, Govan said in an interview after a news conference in the Capitol rotunda.

"Many of the schools, because of the budget cutbacks, are being forced to close down their after-school programs, so this is a very timely project," Govan said.

"I'm quite sure we'll be getting some applications from the Orangeburg area. We look forward to that," the Democratic lawmaker added.

"It is estimated that one of every four African-American youths is caught up in the criminal justice system," Govan said. The centers will "provide youths with the opportunity to enhance their educational performance and increase social skills, while also reducing the likelihood that they will be incarcerated at DJJ."

"I want to thank Judge Byars and his staff for their leadership and initiative," Govan added.

Gov. Mark Sanford extended kudos to Byars for being "consistently willing to think outside the box" and to Govan and the Legislative Black Caucus for setting an example for others to support DJJ.

Sanford said the centers will "harness ... in constructive fashion" the natural energy of youths and "will make a difference in people's lives."

The governor said the concept of operating after-school centers in existing facilities owned by churches or non-profit organizations, rather than constructing new buildings, "makes a whole lot of sense."

"This is a perfect example of the kind of public-private partnerships we need more of in South Carolina," the governor said.

"This partnership can go a long way toward making sure kids who have made some mistakes have a chance to re-enter society as productive citizens, and I'd give a lot of credit to Judge Byars and the Black Caucus for working together to make this happen," Sanford said.

Other partners include SCSU's 1890 Research and Extension Program, the University of South Carolina's Computer Buddies program, Clemson University, the State Department of Education's 21st Century Grants, Communities in Schools and the South Carolina After-School Alliance.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Hendren can be reached by e-mail at lhendren@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5552.

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