Building character key to successful juvenile justice system

(Updated Saturday, October 16, 2004, 5:45 AM)

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed Oct.17-23 as
"Character Counts" week.

This program was implemented in the county Juvenile Justice System with
the leadership of the Juvenile Court, Probation Department, county
Office of Education and the county's Children's Mental Health Services.

Character Counts is a core values program that provides a blueprint to
influence our children to become good citizens and to remind ourselves,
as their role models, of the importance of what are referred to as the
Six Pillars of Character — trustworthiness, respect, responsibility,
fairness, caring and citizenship.

In the Juvenile Hall, Elkhorn Correctional Facility and in the court
schools this program serves as a foundation for principles of basic
behavior, expectations, counseling and curriculum development.

Our young people will be the stewards of our communities, nation and
world, and the present and our society's future well-being requires an
involved, caring citizenry with good character.

The character of a nation is only as strong as the character of
individual citizens, and the public good is served when young people
learn that good character counts in personal relationships, in school
and in the workplace.

Congratulations to all of the partners that have devoted the time and
energy to bring this program forward to help make our juvenile justice
system more responsive to the needs of our community.

Larry R. Price
Chief Probation Officer
Fresno County