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.