The Detention Alternative Program (DAP) is for male and female juvenile offenders in need of monitoring and supportive services while they await their court disposition for having committed an offense.  DAP operates in collaboration with the Dauphin County Juvenile Probation Department and The PROGRAM – “It’s About Change” has been a community-based treatment provider since November 1998.

Opportunity

The PROGRAM’s Juvenile Case Manager Supervisor assists the juvenile in refraining from committing new crimes pending court.  She accompanies the juvenile and the families to court and provides support services.  DAP provides a detention alternative level of service to juveniles involved in delinquent offenses enabling the juvenile to remain in the community under supervision until disposition. 

Juvenile offenders are also assisted with educational and employment activities to improve their social, educational, and employability status.

Programming/Service

DAP programming and services are provided relative to the Balanced Approach to Restorative Justice (BARJ) principles as stated in the Treatment Alternative Program description.

The following is a list of DAP programming and services that includes (but is not limited to):

1. •Counseling
   

2. •Parent Education Training
   

3. •Curfew Checks
   

4. •Case Management
   

5. •Job Readiness/Job Search
   

6. •Job Coaching/Job Support
   

7. •Court Accompaniment
   

8. •Home Visits/School Visits
   

9. •Tutoring
   

10. •Life Skills Groups
    

11. •Field Trips
    

Eligibility/Referral Process

Eligible referrals will be identified by the Dauphin County Juvenile Probation Department Supervisor of the Community based Supervision Unit and the Court.  All juveniles must be court ordered into DAP.  Referrals from Dauphin County Juvenile Probation Department must include a court order signed by the Judge.

Contact Information

Located at:

1515 Derry Street
Harrisburg, PA  17104
(717) 238-9950
Fax: (717) 236-3585

Hours:

Office – weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Evenings and weekends by appointment

For more information contact Ms. Joe Ann Dillard, Juvenile Case Manager Supervisor at The PROGRAM (717) 238-9950 or email jdillard@theprograminc.org.

Click here to download the one page handout about DAP.