Operation 2nd Chance
Deemed G.R.E.A.T. Success
On Saturday,
September 29, 2007 a powerful new initiative took place at the
Boy’s and Girls Club of Cleveland, Mount Pleasant Facility.
Operation 2nd Chance was a pilot program based upon the idea of
United States Marshal Peter J. Elliott. Marshal Elliott worked
with a collaboration of community partners to identify youths in
Cleveland’s Ward 4 who were having behavior problems that may be
a result of learning disorders. The program identified specific
families in Ward 4 who had outstanding truancy and curfew
warrants.
Twenty six families, about 30% of those targeted, showed up at
the Boy’s and Girl’s Club this past weekend to have their cases
heard before Cleveland Municipal Judge Marilyn Cassidy, who set
up her court within the club. Judge Cassidy dismissed the
warrants and fines, and each child was then screened for
referral of potential disabilities by the Learning Disabilities
Association of Cuyahoga County (LDACC) and the Cleveland
Municipal School District, who were both present at the facility
that day. LDACC also interviewed each parent/guardian to gather
other pertinent information for follow-up.
Nearly all of the participating truant children who were
screened were identified with possible disabilities. LDACC and
the Cleveland Municipal School District will now follow up to
address the needs of the children. Judge Cassidy also ordered
each family to participate in the Gang Resistance Education and
Training Program (G.R.E.A.T), a six week course led by the
United States Marshals Service that builds strength within the
families.
“It was a remarkable day not only for the children but also for
each parent who never before knew their child may have a
learning disability”, said Ellen Fishman, Director of LDACC.
“I am happy that the families took this as the first step for
the children to get the help they need”, said Cleveland
Municipal Judge Marilyn Cassidy.
Cleveland City Councilman Zack Reed, who spearheaded this effort
within his ward, stated “We are trying to be proactive instead
of reactive before it is too late. It is too late when they end
up in jail. There is a direct correlation between children with
disabilities and criminal behavior. I believe this program was
very beneficial to my ward and will be very beneficial to the
entire city and other cities”.
“In all of our programs we need to continue to get to the root
of the problem in a community. This program gets to the root,
and if we can deter criminal activity by diagnosing problems
early then not only the child and the parents benefit, the
entire community as a whole benefits for years to come”, said
Peter J. Elliott, United States Marshal for the Northern
District of Ohio.
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott started the Fugitive Safe Surrender
Program and brought the G.R.E.A.T Program to the United States
Marshals Service both which are now national programs of the
United States Marshals Service.
Collaborative Partners included the United States Marshals
Service, the Cleveland Police Department, Cleveland City
Councilman Zack Reed, the Cleveland Municipal School System,
Learning Disabilities Association of Cuyahoga County, Cleveland
Municipal Judge Marilyn Cassidy and the Boys and Girls Club of
Cleveland, Ohio. |