Serious Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Program

The City of Carbondale Police Department is committed to preserving the rights of juveniles in a manner which is consistent with preserving public safety and order. The Department recognizes the need to provide alternatives beyond strict enforcement of the law in dealing with juvenile offenders. Some youth and the community are best served by less formal programs than the Juvenile Justice System may provide.

However, we also recognize there will be cases which would be best served by using the formal juvenile justice system.

The Department's objective when dealing with youth is to choose the best and least coercive alternatives available which act in the best interest of the youth and the community. The responsibility for participating in and supporting the agency’s youth operation shall be shared by all agency components and personnel.

Recognizing that early intervention can be effective in preventing adult criminal behavior, the City of Carbondale Police Department, in partnership with several area agencies, continues its leadership role in the Serious Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Program, commonly referred to as S.H.O.C.A.P, which serves at-risk youth. The goal of the program is to track the activities of juvenile offenders to offer services to those who are repeat offenders.

Efforts to change the course of juvenile behavior away from crime and delinquency involve coordination between all Carbondale School Districts, the Department of Child and Family Services, Jackson County Probation, Jackson County States Attorney, SIRSS Youth Services Bureau, juvenile Department of Corrections, as well as other social service and law enforcement agencies.

The City of Carbondale Police Department utilizes an additional component, which is the Mentoring Program that works with at-risk youth ages 13 to 17. The Department partners with the Psychology Department of SIUC in the Mentoring Program.