Juvenile crime is down and teen arrests are lower now than they were 20 years ago. But for kids who are arrested—particularly for nonviolent crimes like shoplifting—intervention can help teach them to make the right choices and get their lives on track.

Across the country, community programs are working with families to help reduce the risk factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency. The Duluth, Minnesota, Neighborhood Youth Services Youth Diversion Program gives first-time nonviolent offenders an alternative to winding up in court—and possibly jail. Instead of scaring them straight, the program gives teens mental and physical challenges to build self-esteem, and helps teens connect to their community through volunteering.

When her 14-year-old son was arrested for shoplifting, one Duluth mother learned firsthand how the Youth Diversion Program could work. Here is her story, in her own words.

As I left the local discount store with my daughter, age 12 and two sons, ages three and 14, a young man wearing the store uniform approached me at the exit doors.

"Ma'am, I'd like to talk with you about some merchandise that your son shoplifted."

My initial reaction was numbness, followed by a sickening feeling of doom and a lump of fear in my throat. I looked at him blankly, and replied in confusion, "I don't know what you mean."

"I know you don't," he said, "let's step inside and I'll explain."

A jumble of thoughts flooded my mind during the short walk to the security office. This couldn't be real; it was all some sort of mix-up. My teenaged son looked as if he had no idea what was going on. Could he be talking about my three-year-old? Maybe he had picked something up and I had accidentally gone through checkout without noticing? But it was for real—and it was serious. Within minutes, I was viewing security camera videotape of my fourteen-year-old son shoplifting. Shocked and embarrassed beyond belief, I could hardly stand to watch. It was a mother's nightmare.

This was the beginning of an ordeal I never dreamed I'd experience. Though my son had gone through his share of normal teenage difficulties, he was a good kid who rarely went against the grain. An honor roll student, who kept busy with extracurricular activities, I couldn't believe he was capable of theft. But now I had to face reality. Any kid, even my own, can struggle with the temptation to steal.

A Community Gets Involved
Two excruciating hours later, we left the shopping center. My son had just experienced what it feels like to be a criminal, and I had witnessed it all. He endured the questioning of two security guards and a rightfully disgruntled police officer, not to mention his mother's hurt and angry looks. He was photographed along with his stolen loot, a thirty-dollar video game accessory, and sent home with a summons to appear in court and a juvenile arrest record. Had I not been with him that day, he would have been taken to jail.

Of course he was punished at home and endured the next month with no video games, phone calls or visits with friends. He never dared complain, he knew he deserved that and more. Weeks passed as we waited for the dreaded call, notifying us of his court date, and I began to wonder how long this would be hanging over our heads.

But before that call ever came, we received a letter from Neighborhood Youth Services, a community program that focuses on strengthening families and preventing delinquency. My son was selected to take part in their Youth Diversion Program—if we were interested. It was an answer to my prayers.

An Alternative to Court
The Youth Diversion Program is for first offenders of non-violent crimes, funded by our local United Way. Through thirty hours of community service, group meetings and asset building exercises, participants are given a second chance at a clean record. I registered my son immediately and he started the program the following week.

There were eight kids in my son's group. They were a diverse group of kids, there for everything from theft to curfew violations. Over the next three weeks, the group would accomplish sixteen hours of community service work, including clean-up projects and a nursing home visit. They would attend group meetings, where they would do such projects as writing an apology letter and a research paper on their crime. They would also face mental and physical challenges presented through activities like rock climbing and group problem solving. It was a lot to accomplish in thirty hours' time.

At the program's end, everyone took part in a "graduation ceremony." The parents were invited to the community center, where the kids were presented with a certificate of completion. As they received their certificates, the adult leader told us something positive that he had learned about each child. Though they were a bit embarrassed by the attention, you could see the pride of accomplishment in their faces.

The Road Less Traveled
Perhaps if we had chosen to take our son to court, the experience would have frightened and humiliated him enough to prevent further criminal behavior. But to me, this was a much better way to deal with a problem. These kids weren't coddled, they worked hard and paid their dues, but they gained so much more. They saw where a life of crime could lead. They saw how their behavior has an effect on others. They saw what they were capable of, by testing their mental and physical strengths.

We were surprised to find that many parents who are offered this program turn down the opportunity. Perhaps they feel that the court system will be a more effective punishment for their child, but the Diversion Program's record speaks for itself. Their success rates for preventing second offenses is right around 85 percent, as opposed to juvenile court's rate of approximately 45 percent.

I never thought that something like this would happen in my family. We've done our best to teach our children right from wrong and tried to provide a good example to our kids. But the reality is that even good kids can give in to temptation in a weak moment. The importance of talking about tough issues can't be stressed enough, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. Temptation is there and it is real—no family is immune.

I've also gained a new appreciation for community programs for kids and the volunteers who care enough to give of themselves and their time. Prior to this happening in our lives, we were unaware that the Youth Diversion Program even existed. I'm so grateful that they were there when we needed them, to offer my son a second chance.