While underage drinking is a concern for Isanti County Court Services, what Tim Dwille, Isanti County juvenile probation agent is even more concerned with is seeing 14-15 year olds registering a .15, .17 or even higher blood alcohol content (BAC). Isanti County Juvenile probation agent Debbie Lawrence agrees, indicating that it does seem younger kids are drinking more in the last couple of years. While each individual minor consumption/possession case is looked at on an individual basis, Isanti County Court Services wants to send the message that curbing underage drinking needs to be a collaborative effort, and parents especially need to be on board. "Honestly, parents will have more of an affect over their kids than us," Lawrence said. "For the most part, parents are cooperative with us." Isanti County Court Services Director J. Hancuch reported that between 2000-2004, there have been a total of 517 (308 males, 209 females) juvenile minor consumption/possession contact reports. Of those 517 contact reports, 28 juveniles were placed on Diversion and 209 were placed on probation. Hancuch explained court services receives an average of 129 juvenile minor consumption/possession contact reports per year. However, Hancuch explained less than 10 percent of all juveniles screened for minor consumption or minor possession return to Isanti County Court services as repeat alcohol related offenders. Between 2000-2004, Isanti County Court Services saw 129 adult (18-20 year-olds) misdemeanor minor consumption probation cases. Hancuch explained court services receives approximately 32 adult minor consumption probation cases each year and indicated that eight percent of all the adult minor consumption offenders had a prior juvenile minor consumption contact report. What makes Isanti County unique, Hancuch explained is the cooperation between court services and the county attorney's office. Hancuch indicated he doesn't know of another county where the juvenile probation team leader and the chief deputy county attorney meet together on a weekly basis to review and screen all juvenile contact reports. "Isanti County is very fortunate to have this process," Hancuch said. "It's really a collaborative effort on the part of both offices." Lawrence explained all minor consumption/possession contact reports come to her office and once a week she and Chief Deputy County Attorney Dan Conlin sit down together to look them over. While Isanti County does have its standard recommended sanctions and minor consumption/possession protocol, individual circumstances play a key factor. "With minor consumptions, we take them on a case to case basis," Lawrence said. "We look at if the kids have been in court before, if they have a prior record, what their BAC was, their age . . . It really depends on each individual circumstance." Recommended sanctions are as follows: 1st underage consumption: All juveniles under the age of 16 are required to appear in Court or Diversion hearing. General recommendations may include Diversion or up to six months on probation, 15 hours of community service or $60 fine, complete a chemical education class, complete a chemical use assessment, no use/possesion and submit to random drug and alcohol testing. Based on the circumstances of the offense and or the juvenile's history, some first time offenders 16 years of age or older may be given the option to pay a fine or appear in court. 2nd underage consumption: This requires a mandatory court appearance with legal guardian, six month probation, a complete chemical use assessment, submit to random drug and alcohol testing, no use/possession, consider revocation of the driver's license and serve two to four days on the Sentence to Service work crew and or a $90 fine. Parents involvement While some parents don't feel their child's alcohol consumption is a big deal, Lawrence feels most parents she works with are concerned and cooperative. "Some parents work very well with us and will call us if there has been water added to their vodka," Lawrence said. "The process is the most efficient if the parents are working with us; it helps us out tremendously." Hancuch said he feels parents' involvement is extremely important, as well as the example they set for their children at home. "We can tell if a juvenile comes in and the parent is involved with the consequences and took time to find out where they got the alcohol from in the first place," Hancuch said. "We try to find out what type of example is being set for them at home. Unfortunately, with some kids we see their parents not concerned and then the kids get the message that it's not a big deal." Hancuch explained with graduation season approaching, some parents view it as a "rite of passage," and let their children and their friends drink at their parties. Hancuch wants parents to understand that it is OK to allow their children to drink alcohol only at their homes, but not other people's kids. Parents also don't have the authority to give their own kids permission to drink at other people's homes. Underage drink and drive Since Minnesota's Not a Drop Law went into effect in 2000, it means just that -- it is illegal for a minor to have even just a drop of alcohol in their system, unless they are at home with their parents. Lawrence explained that an Underage Drink and Drive and an Underage DWI have similar consequences as an adult DWI offense. The difference between the two is a minor is charged with an Underage DWI if they are driving and have a BAC over .10. If the minor is over 16 and charged with a DWI, they then can appear in adult court. Lawrence explained they do see more Underage drink and drive offenses than Underage DWI offenses. The penalties for underage drink and drive offenses range from jail time, to chemical use assessments to a fine. Lawrence explained if a 16 or 17-year old is found guilty of an underage drink and drive offense and is ordered to serve jail time, the time is served at Lino Lakes Juvenile Correctional Facility. If the minor is over 18 years-old, they serve time in a regular jail. Community involvement Hancuch feels that anytime you are working with kids, the community needs to be involved. "Working with kids needs to be a collaborative effort with all parties including the schools, law enforcement and the county attorney's office" Hancuch said. "It takes a community to raise a child." Dwille mentioned that alcohol is the driving force behind minors getting involved with other drugs. "The problem is greater than just kids drinking," Dwille said. "The community can't turn their heads on this. We need the whole system working together." Hancuch feels a role of court services is to educate the children as well. "We need to get the message out there that underage drinking is not acceptable in the community," Hancuch said. "What we try to do in court services is provide some education and intervention. It has to be more than just giving consequences, education has to be first and foremost. We need to give kids a chance to make a positive change." As far as schools go, Isanti Middle School Principal Mark Ziebarth explained that in the eight years he has been principal, there has only been two incidents were students were caught bringing alcohol into the school. Ziebarth explained the first incident took place at a winter dance early in his tenure and the second incident took place at a winter dance a couple of months ago. "Most times, when a student brings alcohol into the school they are caught within 30 seconds," Ziebarth said. "The student district policy manual states a student caught with alcohol can be placed on out-of-school suspension and a referral can be made to authorities. The students also have to follow up with the district's chemical dependency counselor." Ziebarth indicated there are between five and 10 chaperones at each school dance watching the bathrooms and monitoring the crowds. ©Isanti County News
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