Office of Juvenile Offender Review (OJOR)

AUTHORITY OF OFFICE OF JUVENILE OFFENDER REVIEW

Chapter 938, Juvenile Justice Code, of the Wisconsin Statutes designates the Office of Juvenile Review (OJOR) as the release and decision-making authority for youth placed in a Type One secured juvenile correctional facility (JCI), including; Ethan Allen School (EAS) & Lincoln Hills School (LHS) for male youth and the Southern Oaks Girls School (SOGS) for females. Also designated as a Type One facility are; the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center, the Cadet Achievement Program (CAP) at LHS and the SPRITE Program. Based upon input from the Joint Planning and Review Committee, OJOR issues Department of Corrections (DOC) orders regarding a youth’s movement in and out of a JCI. The OJOR director works out of the Division of Juvenile Corrections' Madison office and supervises OJOR reviewers assigned to a particular Juvenile Correctional Institution (JCI).

JOINT PLANNING AND REVIEW COMMITTEE (JPRC)

OJOR reviewers chair committees called the Joint Planning and Review Committee (JPRC). Formal committee members include:

  • Representative from committing county
  • DJC agent (if assigned)
  • JCI social worker
  • OJOR reviewer

Informal members include:

  • Parent/guardian (non-voting member)
  • Youth (non-voting member)
  • Other formal and informal supports such as a mentor, close relative, therapist or representative from a community service provider (non-voting)

The JPRC meets formally within 35 days following a juvenile’s admission to a juvenile correctional facility and at least every six months thereafter. The JPRC members determine the broad goals for the youth and engage in planning for the youth’s return to the community. They recommend to OJOR when a youth may be ready to return to the community or require a court extension of supervision.

The OJOR reviewer may meet with the youth on a regular basis in between the formal six month reviews. The informal reviews (routines) focus on the youth’s progress in achieving the goals in his or her individualized case plan and appropriateness of release, transfer, discharge or extension.

OJOR DECISIONS: YOUTH IN A JCI

Types of Decisions

Release Authority

OJOR is the statutorily authorized release authority. JPRC members make recommendations to the OJOR reviewer regarding goals, movement of the youth out of the JCI, extension, and discharge from supervision. OJOR reviewer issues the Department Order within 7 days of a formal or routine conference.

Movement Decisions

  • Transfer from "Reception" (unit/cottage where youth stays for initial assessment and evaluation) to a JCI, and subsequent retention in a JCI
  • Administrative transfer to type 2 status in the community (Youth Corrective Sanctions Program (YCSP), Type 2 CCI, or community phase of Serious Juvenile Offender Program)
  • Release to aftercare in the community

Special Conditions of Release

OJOR may set special conditions of community release such as requiring participation in a specific program: for example, OJOR may require a youth to participate in sex offender or AODA treatment in the community. Typically, however, the agent makes decisions regarding community programs.

Category of Placement

OJOR determines, with input from JPRC members, youth and parent/guardian, the type of community placement such as own home, foster home, group home, Child Caring Institution (CCI), type 2 CCI or YCSP.

Extension

A primary DJC goal is for youth to complete a period of successful community supervision (2-3 months) in the living situation in which the youth will remain after the termination of his or her correctional supervision. Some youth require an extension of the initial court commitment to participate in a needed continuum of services and levels of supervision to accomplish this goal.

Primary Contact:

Judith L. Heine, Director
Mailing Address
Division of Juvenile Corrections
P.O. Box 8930
Madison, WI 53708-8930
Phone: 608 240-5918 Fax: 608 240-3370
Email: judith.heine@doc.state.wi.us