YES for Juvenile Investigators

& Supervisors

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Course Syllabus

Module 1.  Foundational Building Block: Effective Encounters with Youth

This module establishes the core principles for safe, lawful, and effective interactions with youth, emphasizing communication, rapport-building, and developmentally appropriate engagement. Officers gain a practical framework for conducting youth encounters that reduce risk, increase cooperation, and support defensible decision-making.

Module 2. Understanding Adolescent Brain Development & Trauma

This module explores how adolescent brain development and trauma shape youth behavior during police encounters. Officers learn how these factors influence decision-making, compliance, and emotional responses while providing critical context to prevent misinterpretation and escalation.

Module 3.  Recognizing Youth in a Mental-Health Crisis

This module equips officers to recognize when youth are experiencing a mental health crisis and respond with calm, effective de-escalation strategies. Emphasis is placed on appropriate coordination with local crisis and community-based resources to ensure youth safety and continuity of care.

Module 4.  Trauma-Informed Responses to Child and Adolescent Victims/Witnesses

This module focuses on trauma-informed approaches for interacting with child and adolescent victims and witnesses. Officers learn how to protect youth well-being, preserve investigative integrity, and work effectively alongside victim service providers.

Module 5. Juvenile Detention Decision-Making & Alternatives to Arrest

This module examines juvenile detention standards and the use of developmentally appropriate alternatives to arrest. Officers learn how to make informed, lawful detention decisions that prioritize youth safety, accountability, and community protection while reducing unnecessary system involvement and long-term harm.

YES For Juvenile Investigators And Supervisors Program Overview

Youth encounters escalate fast in investigative settings when communication, consequences, and authority are interpreted differently than intended. Interviews and case contacts with youth victims, witnesses, and suspects require developmentally appropriate methods to avoid resistance and shutdown.

When escalation happens, the impact spreads. Safety risk increases. Complaints rise. Trust drops. And investigative teams end up second-guessing decisions that could have been avoided with clearer communication, trauma-informed practice, and consistent supervision.

YES gives juvenile investigators and supervisors a practical framework for safer youth encounters. YES aligns developmentally appropriate methods with trauma-informed practice and legal standards, then supports implementation with reinforcement and follow-up that improves consistency and case quality.

Why Juvenile Investigators And Supervisors Choose YES

YES supports investigators working with youth victims, witnesses, and suspects where cooperation and trust matter. It strengthens trauma-informed communication, improves consistency across cases, and supports supervisory review and defensibility. Some of the benefits of this program are:

  • Trauma-Informed Practices

  • Improved Youth Cooperation

  • Better Interview Outcomes

  • Reduced Escalation Risk

  • Defensible Decisions

  • Consistent Case Approach

Schedule a consultation to confirm investigative focus, case context, and delivery options, then receive a clear plan that improves consistency and defensibility.

Any Questions? Let’s talk

(817) 502-9197

Our Professionals

Meet the YES Team

Collectively, the YES team brings more than 100 years of combined experience

across policing, juvenile justice, victim services, and national policy leadership.

Theron L. Bowman, PhD

Founder/CEO/Instructor

Jaya Davis, PhD

Contributor/Instructor

James Hawthorne, MS

Contributor/Instructor

Cynthia Erich, MS

Contributor/Instructor

testimonials

What Leaders Say About YES

Our work is focused on one goal: improving outcomes for youth,

their families, and the professionals who serve them.

YES is built for moments that escalate quickly—and are often reviewed later.

Leaders who have implemented the training report that it helps professionals better understand youth behavior and approach encounters differently.

Free Consultation Available

Ready To Strengthen

Youth Encounter Outcomes?

Schedule a free consultation to discuss your current challenges, training goals, and delivery options. We'll recommend a practical approach tailored to your organization that improves safety, consistency, and youth engagement outcomes.

Youth Engagement Strategies gives agencies a practical framework for safer youth encounters and more defensible decisions.

  • Phone: (817) 502-9197

Business hours

monday: 8am - 5pm

tuesday: 8am - 5pm

wednesday: 8am - 5pm

thursday: 8am - 5pm

friday: 8am - 5pm

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