Youth program for juveniles may close if it doesn't get funding

SALT LAKE CITY — Facing a $5.5 million budget cut, the state Division of Juvenile Justice Services may have to close its Genesis Youth Center, which helps youth offenders pay back victims of crime. 

"Genesis is the state's only residential work camp program for boys and girls," said division director Susan Burke. "What it provides is people who are court-ordered to pay victim restitution or complete community service hours to come and get those restitution payments done in a really timely manner.

Youths from all over the state are sent to Genesis to work off debt, go to school, and get their life back on track. In 2011, 276 youths were sent to stay at Genesis, and they worked on dozens of community projects around the state. Last year, Genesis youths completed more than 74,000 hours of work, equaling more than $489,000.

"I think we return a lot of services to the community that they otherwise would be paying for, so we're pretty valuable to a lot of agencies out there," said Vanessa Jarrell, director of the Genesis Youth Center.

Gov. Gary Herbert has recommended funding to keep Genesis open, but that's not a guarantee that lawmakers will comply. On Friday, those behind Genesis asked lawmakers on the Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee to provide at least $1.6 million in funding.

If the entire budget cut stands, the division will have to close its Weber Valley Detention Center in Roy, one of its oldest facilities, and other facilities will take on the youths. They will also have to cut back receiving shelters around the state, shelters that provide counseling and care for children who have been abused. The downsizing would begin after July 1, when the new fiscal year begins.

"We've already laid off employees; we've already closed other programs," Burke said. "We've cut back on some services, and it's really critical that we continue to provide young people that come into our system with the treatment and other mental health services that they need."