LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- A new study from the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) and the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) shows Arkansas' reform of its juvenile system is working.
Fewer kids are being committed to the Department of Youth Services, but funding could be pulled. Stimulus money has helped fund community programs across the state for the last three years. It's to help juveniles with all sorts of issues like drug addiction and behavior problems. Stimulus money has run out and it appears state funding is next.
Hunter Huneycutt, 16, was headed down the wrong path.
"I'm talking meth, crack, cocaine. Mostly weed though," says Huneycutt.
A juvenile judge ordered him to United Family Services. Instead of being committed to the Department of Youth Services, he undergoes drug and family therapy with his mother Kerri Gillis.
"This program is a lot of running, meetings, and a lot of time, but it's definitely worth it," says Kerri Gillis.
It's also one of 13 programs that could lose state funding. Paul Kelley is the Senior Policy Analyst for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.
"We are disappointed the governor did not put a $1.5 million into the budget," says Kelley. "We have data that will show more reductions and commitments and more savings to the public."
Spokesperson Matt DeCample with Governor Beebe's office says, "In general, we have a tight budget proposal this year and unfortunately are not able to fund some programs. In fact, some legislators want us to cut down the state's budget even more."
Juvenile judge Wiley Branton Junior has drastically reduced the number of children he sentences to DYS. Instead, he's opting for community programs.
"Our responsibility or goal is to rehabilitate children," says Judge Branton.
But he does take issue with this report. He says it suggests a minor offense mean a child is low-risk.
"Sometimes a child will present with a minor shop-lifting offense but if you look in their background, you may see they are using cocaine, crack, marijuana, or don't go to school, says Huneycutt.
For Huneycutt, he's glad the court system and his mother gave him a second chance to turn his life around.
"I think Arkansas' doing the right thing," says Huneycutt.
Huneycutt is so impressed with this program, he's requested to stay in it, one year longer than he's supposed to. Arkansas has seen a 20 percent drop in the number of youths in state custody under these programs.
This report describes the work that has been done to build reform over the past four years under the steady and skilled stewardship of Ron Angel, Director of the Division of Youth Services.
The full report is available online in PDF format.