A teenage girl was taken into custody and charged for defacing property after writing the "F" word on a Newark Police vehicle Thursday morning.
According to Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose, cops arrested the 16-year-old Newark girl for spray painting the expletive on a Newark Police Division Community Service vehicle today.
Ambrose said, at approximately 11:00 a.m., a police officer observed the teen standing near a police vehicle parked on 16th Avenue, across from Westside Park.
Upon further investigation, the officer determined that the teen had spray painted an expletive on the van.
The teen was immediately taken into custody without incident and released to her father after it was determined that she was eligible for a "Stationhouse" adjustment.
A **stationhouse adjustment ** is an alternative method that law enforcement agencies may use to handle first-time juvenile offenders who have committed minor juvenile delinquency offenses within their jurisdiction.
Authorities said the intent of the **stationhouse adjustment** program is to provide for immediate consequences, such as community service or restitution and a prompt and convenient resolution for the victim, while at the same time benefitting the juvenile by avoiding the stigma of a formal juvenile delinquency record. In many instances, this early intervention will deter the youth from continuing their negative behavior and divert the youth from progressing further into the juvenile justice system.
In a **stationhouse adjustment**, the juvenile officer may refer a juvenile for needed services, and, if property has been stolen or damaged, require the juvenile to make restitution in some form.
This process allows juvenile officers to resolve minor disputes without the need to file a complaint with the court.