Judge Keith J. Leenhouts, Director
Municipal and District Court, Rtd.
830 Normandy
Royal Oak, MI 48073
248/435-5592
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Closing Speaker
Engaging Communities in
Criminal Justice Solutions
It was not until Judge Keith J. Leenhouts of Royal Oak, Michigan began utilizing volunteers in his court in the late 1950's that community involvement in the criminal justice system again began to grow. As a municipal court judge he became increasingly disturbed by offenders who came before the bench, time and time again. Jail time and fines appeared to have little effect. Instead of learning to become law abiding citizens after encountering the justice system, many were going on to commit more serious crimes. As a conscientious judge, he wanted to do something to change the futures of the young offenders in his court.
Research indicated that eight out of ten major crimes of violence were committed by defendants who had previously been arrested for committing misdemeanors, and the majority of these were in the 17 to 25 age group. Clearly the punishments
meted out by the courts were having little impact. Judge Leenhouts felt hopeful that many of these offenders could be diverted from a continuing pattern of crime if they were provided with what he termed "an inspirational personality", a positive role model who would provide guidance and encourage constructive attitudes and behaviors.
He set about recruiting volunteers to work with the young adult misdemeanants in his court. His plan proved to be successful. Not only did rates of recidivism decrease, but improvements in attitudes and social adjustment were being seen. As other courts took up the idea, volunteer programs utilizing these "one-to-one" volunteers sprang up around the country.
In 1969, Judge Leenhouts retired from the bench, formally founded Volunteers in Prevention, Probation and Prisons, Inc. (VIPI and later VIP), and became the Executive Director. VIP sponsored forums on court volunteerism attended by some 2500 conferees from 1970-1973, the conferences continued on into the 1980's. A survey indicated that some 5,657,000 volunteers had gotten involved from 1969 -1987.
In 1994, he became Executive Director of the The Court Volunteer Services of The National Judicial College Court Volunteer Services which disseminates the concept and practice of court volunteerism nationally. He continues in the vocation and avocation at the present time.
During the past 30 years VIP has been instrumental in starting thousands of similar programs in cities and towns across the United States and Canada. The wave of criminal justice volunteerism quickly spread into juvenile courts, felony courts and prisons as well as the original misdemeanor courts.
A history of court volunteerism will be available at the conference.
by Judge Keith J. Leenhouts, JD
1. Robert T. Sigler & Keith J. Leenhouts, Management of Volunteer Programs in Criminal Justice 2. Development - The Roeper Gala
Jesus, Volunteers And Our City Misdemeanor Courts, by Keith J. Leenhouts, Retired Judge, ISBN:1597819735
http://www.xulonpress.com/book_list.php
