T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Belmont County Juvenile and Probate Court Judge Al Davies reviews programs and activities in 2022 designed to head off poor choices among juveniles and prevent more court proceedings. More programs are planned for 2023.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County Juvenile Court Judge Al Davies said his court is operating a series of programs with the goal of promoting healthy juveniles and families. The court provides services for parents and children to help avert criminal proceedings.

“We are having a lot of success with our programs,” Davies said.

New cases declined to 460 in 2020 from 626 in 2019 and 744 in 2018, but they increased to 562 in 2021, then 528 in 2022.

There were 178 cases of delinquency in 2022 compared to 171 in 2021, 127 in 2020 and 193 in 2019.

Cases of dependency, neglect and abuse have also risen, now at 74 after a steep drop in 2020.

Davies said this is likely a result of teachers being able to observe students who had been kept home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Those cases are usually the toughest cases that we have to handle,” Davies said. “Unfortunately, they’re above pre-pandemic levels now.”

However, cases involving custody and visitation disputes had decreased, along with traffic-related cases and the unruliness.

“Our delinquency cases are up just a little bit, but our unruly cases are down. We are still not at pre-pandemic levels of cases in those two areas,” Davies said. “I really think a lot of these numbers are affected by the programs that we’ve got in place, that are geared towards preventing some of these issues that are occurring from reaching court.”

He said the majority of “unruly” cases involve truancy.

Davies said preventive programs and treatment options include an alternative school, which had 412 new admissions in 2022 compared to 376 in 2021 and lower numbers in prior years.

The school is for suspended students. Davies said students can be suspended for up to 10 days. The alternative school is located at the joint vocational school, off Ohio 331 west of St. Clairsville.

The court also operates a virtual learning problem, taught by retired Shadyside school teacher Melanie Haswell. It is an option for children who have difficulties in a traditional classroom setting. Davies said this has helped many children complete school.

“The schools fund half of that program, and the court funds the other half,” Davies said.

There have only been three new cases of juveniles in court custody in 2022, compared to four in 2021 and eight in 2019. Numbers have dropped since 2011, when there were 31 such cases.

New admissions to the truancy diversion program have also decreased, now at 142 when they were close to or more than 200 during and prior to 2020.

There were no new admissions into intensive substance probation in 2022, and two in 2021. Prior years have seen more than a dozen new admissions.

Davies said the area is still recovering from the pandemic lockdowns and the attendant disruptions.

“Kids have over the past couple years been limited in everything that they can and can’t do, and that may be affecting the numbers as well,” he said.

Like many in the education field, Davies is concerned about disruptions in childhood development.

“We’re now learning that some of the actions that were taken — all in an effort to try and be safe and help — unfortunately have had the opposite effect,” he said. “I also have strong faith in our superintendents and our administrators and our teachers in Belmont County, and I don’t think the effects here have been as drastic.”

Davies said his court is also seeing more juveniles with anxiety or bipolar issues, extreme depression and psychosis.

“Unfortunately, what the court is being called upon to address more and more and more are kids with mental health issues. It’s more mental health problems we’re seeing,” he said. “We really — in the state — need to develop a way of providing kids better mental health services. … We’re turning more and more into a mental health recovery court.”

He said there are local entities geared toward mental health, but they are overwhelmed. Davies said some children try to “medicate” with marijuana, but this usually exacerbates the problem.

Davies said one of the primary issues among students is vaping.

“Vaping continues to be out of control, and what we are seeing, a lot of that is not just vaping tobacco offenses,” he said, adding many are vaping marijuana or have other drug issues. The court has two programs that address vaping. “People don’t realize nicotine is one of the top addictive drugs in our country, and they don’t realize the damage that it does to a developing brain.”

He said peer pressure is a likely cause of the increase in vaping.

“Over half of the school suspensions last year were the result of vaping offensives,” Davies said. “First-time offenders that are involved in vaping get the education and get the programs we have to offer, so that involves getting those charges filed many times.”

He said the majority of juveniles at the alternative school were caught vaping.

He said there are also programs to help parents who are struggling to address their children’s poor behavior and associations. Other programs help parents who are in danger of losing their parental rights.

“We are treating parents, we are reunifying families, and we are seeing some great success,” he said.

There are also new initiatives such as the Crossfit Program, where juveniles who have been adjudicated delinquent and are in counseling can work with their probation officers and peers to address physical and mental issues. Davies said they also learn about healthy eating and other good habits.

Planning is also underway for the next Belmont County Schools Staying Clean Car, Truck and Bike Show, scheduled for Sept. 9 at the Ohio Valley Mall, St. Clairsville, Davies said. The event raises funds for drug prevention outreach programs in the schools.

“Contributions are already rolling in from businesses and individuals,” Davies said. “We’re excited to have another community event.”

Other plans include bringing more motivational speakers to area schools.

Davies commended the probation department.

“They care about kids. They care about families. They have heavily invested in the programs we have, and they’re the ones who are operating those programs at the ground level,” he said. “Today, probation officers have to wear many hats. Basically being a social worker, being a police officer … and also being a pseudo-parent family member the kids can rely on.”

More information can be found at belmontcountyjuvenilecourt.com.