Carver County Court Services provides probation supervision for youth ages 10-19 and extended jurisdiction juvenile supervision up to age 21. While the justice system still provides punitive measures, the juvenile justice system aims to promote the rehabilitation and safety of youth. Court Services supervises all levels of offenses a youth may commit; Petty Misdemeanors, Misdemeanors, Gross Misdemeanors, and Felonies. Agents work with medium-high risk youth caseloads to provide case management and supervision. Low risk and administrative probation youth who have been given conditions by the Court are also supervised. The probation agents have further duties and involvements in their individual areas of expertise, including gender specific supervision, trauma-informed supervision, motivational interviewing, youth engagement, restorative justice, and cognitive skills programming. 

Because all youth have complex needs and varying situations, probation supervision is tailored for individual risk reduction. This means that efforts and intervention in supervision, coupled with the enforcement of the Court’s orders aim to reduce the youth’s risk of re-appearing in the justice system. Common areas explored in juvenile probation supervision include substance use, mental health concerns, family dynamics, youth free time, peer relationships, education, and thinking patterns. Probation agents draw from the many strengths each youth possesses to create case plans to reduce risk in these areas.

The Carver County Court Services Juvenile Division recognizes that the public and families are safer when youth reduce their risk of delinquent behavior, recognize their own strength and resilience to impact their outcomes, and are empowered to connect and live well.

Youth Supervision Programming

Ape Siyalu Diyaniyan (All Our Daughters) is a gender and trauma-responsive probation supervision model for girls designed by and for females.  This supervision model was developed in consultation with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network's Essential Elements of a Trauma-Informed Juvenile Justice System and the Eight Principles of Evidence Based Practices in Corrections. Carver County Court Services' gender-specific probation agent and contracted therapist provide supports to equip girls with distress tolerance skills where they are able to manage their conflicts and decision-making with safety and wellness for self and others. Girls and gender expansive youth may qualify for this supervision model if they meet certain factors relating to supervision needs. 

The goal of Diyaniyan is to:

Reduce recidivism by empowering girls to live safe and well with others and themselves through investing in girls and shifting focus from delinquent behaviors themselves to the underlying reasons for their legal system involvement.

STRIVE is an incentive-driven program created to reduce risk of medium and high-risk males through participation in community-based activities and linkage with community-based resources while creating long term positive impacts on both the community and participant.   

The 16-week STRIVE program blends weekly participation in cognitive-based skill-building activities, connection and participation with a mentor, participation in an organized, prosocial community-based activity, such as group community services events, sports, health and wellness, theater and the arts, chess, etc., with an alumni component post-program completion.   

The goal of STRIVE is to: 

Develop social and emotional skills, establish long-term mentor support, facilitate interaction with more prosocial peers, participate in organized and productive leisure time activities, improve school attendance and grades, and ultimately, reduce risk of re-offending and increase public safety.