The Juvenile Transfer Offender Program (JTOP) is hosting its second annual resource fair at the South Court Tower in Phoenix to help young offenders find housing, land a job and more.
“Many of the JTOP participants struggle with lack of support,” Superior Court Judge Max Covil said. “The resource fair will connect them to many different resources all at one location.”
The second annual JTOP Resource Fair will take place on November 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Young offenders will have the opportunity to meet with community resource providers to help them complete probation and succeed in their transition to a successful life outside of the justice system. JTOP is a therapeutic treatment court, that aims to reduce recidivism and provide an alternative for sending young offenders to prison. The participants are between the ages of 16 and 25.
The participants are juveniles who have been found guilty on adult charges. The resource fair will provide them with an opportunity to connect with community organizations offering information about career training, housing, education, sobriety, mental health treatment, financial responsibility and other services.
To be eligible for JTOP, participants must be screened, complete the JTOP orientation and enter into a behavioral contract with the Court that includes probation supervision, treatment, drug screening and other services.
Judge Covil and Judge Todd Lang, who organized the resource fair, have overseen JTOP cases since 2025.
“The JTOP program is rewarding to me as a judge because I see how effective it is. Recidivism rates are substantially reduced, and the participants leave the program with the life skills, mental health treatment, and sobriety that enables them to have the best chance to be law abiding and ready to make the best of future opportunities,” Judge Lang said.
The program consists of two judges, defense attorneys, a clinical coordinator and adult probation officers. There are three phases to the program. If participants perform well and follow the rules of the court, they promote to the next phase. At promotional hearings, probationers are praised for their progress and awarded gift cards. If participants do not meet expectations, they receive consequences such as community restitution hours, writing assignments or jail time.
JTOP helps participants build the basic skills and confidence to handle adversity and conflict without resorting to violence or substances. Since 2020, a total of 179 participants have graduated from the JTOP program with only 26 of the graduates involved in new criminal cases.