Hope Kiwanis Hears Larry Johnson for First Program of 2026

The Hope Kiwanis Club heard from Larry Johnson who works with Southwest Arkansas Mental Health and Counseling as well as serving as a probation officer for the courts at the first Kiwanis meeting of 2026.  Johnson has been serving in this capacity for right at 40 years.  He noted the courts dealt with 264 juveniles that went through the juvenile court system in Hempstead and Nevada County in 2025.  Of these, about 100 were classed as “FNS”, family needs services.  This includes school truancies and family issues at home.  They also have a “diversion” program that works with young people who haven’t previously been in trouble.  In the Division of Youth Services (which is comparable to the adult-oriented Arkansas Department of Corrections) there are 13 young people from Hempstead and Nevada County in various facilities around the state.  Johnson noted 6 of these young people have completed their high school diploma or G.E.D.  He talked about a program called the Civilian Student Training Program which helps keep young people out of DYS.  He notes this is a nine-week program at Camp Robinson.  Johnson said success is often dependent upon parents continuing to hold young people accountable for their behavior.  Juveniles can also be fitted with electronic monitors.  One of the most serious classifications is “Extended Juvenile Jurisdiction” in which juveniles are held until they turn 21.  Johnson said most of these involve gun crimes.

Johnson noted juvenile incarceration can be expensive.  To keep a juvenile in DYS costs the state about $116,000 per year.  It can be higher should there be a medical expense.  He noted the average stay in DYS is 6 to 9 months.

Johnson said supervision is the key in dealing with juvenile issues.  Both counties have parents who are not supervising their children and that’s why you see teenage youths out on the streets at 3am in the morning.  He stressed that there needs to be more parental supervision.

The club had questions for Johnson and enjoyed the program.  He was joined by his colleagues Janalon Marks and Carolyn Hawthorne.