Juvenile Justice Commission Appoints New Superintendent
- Darvin Bethea of South Orange to lead the Essex Residential Group Center -

TRENTON - The Juvenile Justice Commission's Executive Board recently named Darvin Bethea of South Orange as the new superintendent of the Essex Residential Group Center located in Newark.

"The Juvenile Justice Commission is pleased to welcome Darvin Bethea as the new superintendent of the Essex Residential Group Center," said Bruce Stout Executive Director, Juvenile Justice Commission. "In his nearly eight years with the Commission, Mr. Bethea has demonstrated his commitment to serving the troubled youth of this state. Under his leadership, Essex Residential Center will continue its mission to increase public safety and prepare juveniles to return to their communities as active and law-abiding members of society."

Before joining the Commission as a youth worker, Bethea worked as a substitute teacher at Orange High School and for the Township of Orange as a recreation counselor. He received his bachelor of science degree from Bloomfield College in Business Management and Administration.

Essex Residential Group Center serves up to 30 male juveniles from age 16 to 18. The young people at the Essex program actively assist the community by helping to maintain the Community Park on Central Avenue and cleaning local streets and vacant lots through the Fifth Street Block Association.

The Commission provides a continuum of services to juvenile offenders including six secure facilities and 22 community programs. Sixteen of the 22 the community program are residential group centers that typically deal with lower level offenders and prepare them to return to their communities at the completion of their sentences. Residents attend year round education and vocational programs and participate in community service projects and recreation. Juveniles are supervised by trained staff at all times.

For more information on the JJC, please visit www.njjjc.com