The Commissioners of Dauphin County decided early in 2002 that Dauphin County needed to be proactive in intervening with the alarming trend of its young people entering a cycle of juvenile delinquency that may precede adult criminal behavior. Dauphin County has experienced a significantly higher number of juveniles per capita engaged in delinquency behavior and subsequently a disproportionate number of juveniles in out-of-home placements, mostly outside of Dauphin County.