A Kalispell man headed to Helena recently to begin a second term on the Montana Board of Crime Control’s Youth Justice Advisory Council.

Dave Bailon said he was excited to be reappointed by Gov. Steve Bullock. He intends to continue working with the council to advocate for youths who come into contact with the criminal justice system.

Bailon has spent much time working with youths in crisis after one of his own children got into some minor trouble with the law many years ago.

“They didn’t treat me very well,” Bailon said of his interaction with the court system. “They treated my son like a criminal.”

Bailon started working with the Center for Restorative Youth Justice, a Kalispell group that offers an alternative to the traditional court system for youths accused of misconduct.

“Our goal, rather than to punish an offender, is to try to repair the harm that was done,” Bailon said.

Bailon led the organization’s board for many years, which made him a candidate for the Youth Justice Advisory Council. The council is primarily tasked with doling out money for programs across the state that help youths in the criminal justice system.

Bailon said his love of children and families drives him to work with the youth-oriented programs. He said many times an encounter with a justice system is a negative experience that isolates children instead of trying to get them past a bad choice or experience and re-integrated to be a member of the community.

“Kids are not honored and respected,” Bailon said of the system. “They are seen as a criminal or bad.”

Laurie Barron, Evergreen schools superintendent and a member of the Montana Board of Crime Control, said she was thrilled with Bailon’s reappointment.

“Dave is a passionate advocate for our youth, regardless of circumstances,” Barron said. “He has the unique ability to see the big picture, the promise of a positive future for youth, even if current circumstances are difficult. He also understands the importance of our youth having adult advocates to help them navigate challenging circumstances as well as help them learn to take responsibility for their actions and restore hurt relationships and situations. He believes in kids.”

The council also is responsible for supporting Montana’s compliance with the four core requirements of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. It also provides the governor and Legislature with juvenile justice recommendations in an annual report.

“The YJC plays a dynamic role in Montana’s juvenile justice landscape,” Juvenile Justice Specialist Julie Fischer said in a press release.

The group meets five times a year. To learn more about the council and its projects, visit the website at http://mbcc.mt.gov/JuvenileJustice/JuvJustice.asp.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or [email protected].