May, 2018
Juvenile offenders are a huge problem in our country and in the world. SERIOUS juvenile offenders are the ten percent of the criminals who commit ninety percent of the crimes in the USA.
I’ve dedicated much of my life to understanding how they think and the best ways to help them change. I am devoting significant resources to continuing this effort through the Shea-Hellervik Global Foundation.
Studies show that one third of the most serious offenders will spend their life in prison, one third will die young – usually in a crime-related incident – and only one third will change and become productive members of society.
We defied those odds while working at the Hennepin County Home School in Minnesota. Researchers followed 184 juveniles for a year after they were released from our institution, and almost 75 percent of the most serious offenders were not seen in court for any offense during that follow-up period. Based on those numbers, we believe we know what works!
We founded the Shea-Hellervik Global Foundation to:
- Support families of serious juvenile offenders, many of whom are victimized and devastated by their own children’s crimes;
- Work with professionals and researchers in the justice system, continuing our efforts to understand serious offenders as completely as possible and help define best practices in the change process;
- Help millions of young criminals change to being the incredibly valuable citizens they can be;
- Reduce financial and emotional costs to victims, the justice system, and societies around the world.
There is much to be done. Few foundations are focused on doing this work, yet the need is great. It may be that the public and donors do not have a lot of sympathy for these offenders. Many feel that the offenders have had chances and have not changed. Many believe it is the fault of the parents, school, drugs, all myths we are trying to change.
However, when you consider changing the criminal behavior the ten percent who commit ninety percent of the crime, it is certainly worth the investment.
Please join me, my Board, and the Shea-Hellervik Global Foundation in accomplishing our vital goals.
Peace,
Cay Shea-Hellervik