Alabama Lawmaker Prefiles Bill to Create Pilot Intervention Program for Youth Offenders

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Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Pike Road, has prefiled House Bill 33 (HB 33), proposing a pilot program that would require minors who commit nonviolent offenses to attend an intervention class at a youth detention center. The program aims to deter youth from reoffending by providing them with a firsthand understanding of the consequences of their actions.

Ingram emphasized the need for such a program, citing the growing difficulties in managing and guiding young people, particularly in the aftermath of COVID-19. "We are losing our youth by not having a handle on them," he said in an interview on Tuesday. He noted that many parents are overwhelmed, often working multiple jobs, which limits their ability to supervise their children as closely as needed.

The intervention class, which would last a few hours, requires the participation of both the minor and a legal guardian. The goal, according to Ingram, is to give these young offenders a sense of what incarceration feels like, in hopes that this experience will deter future criminal behavior.

The Alabama Department of Youth Services (DYS) will select the counties that will participate in the pilot program. The selection will be based on criteria such as the number of local juvenile delinquency cases and population growth. However, DYS has indicated that it was not involved in the creation of the bill and is currently reviewing it. "DYS has not been involved in any discussions in regards to the conceptualization and/or details of the bill," the department said in a statement.

The program will be developed by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) with input from the governor's office. It includes a test to assess the participants' understanding of the material, which they must pass to complete the program successfully. Participants will also be monitored in a database to track any further criminal behavior and to ensure they are attending school.

The pilot program is designed to run for five years. Ingram believes that this initiative is crucial for catching young offenders early and redirecting them towards a better path. Reflecting on his own troubled youth, Ingram stated, "I was in the trenches for several years, and I had mentors that were able to get a hold of me and straighten me out. I just feel like this is a piece that is missing from this state."

The proposed program is similar to Jefferson County’s Reset Program, a pretrial diversion initiative for low-level offenses, although it differs in that participants in HB 33 would be required to visit a detention facility as part of their intervention.