Casework Services (Intake, Probation and Surveillance)

There are three different areas of casework services and they are intake, community probation and Intensive Surveillance Program (ISP).

Youth Services

  • The Consent Calendar handles less serious offenses and there will be no record of conviction after the juveniles reaches age 17.
  • Formal Calendar handles more serious offenses and the juvenile may be placed under court jurisdiction. Court order compliance is monitored. The juvenile will have a record of conviction until the age of 30.
  • An intake investigation is when the caseworker will do a complete assessment of the case and make a recommendation to the Court. Case management services, court order monitoring and agency collaboration (i.e. schools, police, prosecutor, etc) is a major part of the intake investigation.

Community Probation

Probation is one of the core services provided to the community to reduce juvenile delinquency. Juveniles who are ordered to serve terms of probation must follow strict and specific rules of probation before being discharged as a ward of the court. When a juvenile is placed on probation they will be under the court’s jurisdiction and be assigned a probation officer who will:

  • Ensure compliance of court orders
  • Provide case management services within the community
  • Monitor any placements that may be needed
  • Provide ongoing assessment
  • Collaborate with other agencies to provide a united service
  • Become a school liaison for the juvenile.

Intensive Surveillance Program (ISP)

The Intensive Surveillance Program (ISP) is a collaborative effort between the Court and the Ottawa County Sheriff Department. This program is designed to be a strong, behavioral intervention program with even greater supervision intensity of high risk youth living within the community. The ISP Deputies are also involved in various other court programs and services, such as Drug Treatment Court and Juvenile Community Justice, which also require greater levels of surveillance.

  • Chronic offenders
  • Court ordered
  • Intensive supervision of high risk youth
  • Case management by Ottawa County Sheriff Deputy
  • Youth requiring 80% surveillance and 20% case management services