Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that the federal government is releasing $265,000 he helped secure in a fiscal year 2010 spending bill for a juvenile prevention and intervention program in Doña Ana County.

Funding was released to the Juvenile Assessment and Reporting Center (JARC), Prevention and Intervention Program in Las Cruces.  The center serves as a central point of entry into the juvenile justice system, where it assesses juveniles who have committed a misdemeanor or non-violent felony and makes a referral to a community program designed to address the specific needs of the juvenile and his/her family.

"JARC helps keep youth out of the juvenile justice system by intervening early on to address behaviors that put them at-risk for getting into trouble.  This funding will help continue this important program," Bingaman said.

The JARC will target: (1) youth arrested for a delinquent act who do not meet criteria for secure detention, and whose parent/guardian is not available to take immediate custody; and (2) youth at-risk of receiving a delinquency referral and are in need of an assessment for services.