Tucked away behind the trees on Route 26, off a road called Paradise, is a small, red brick building.

Inside, six volunteers decorate pumpkins with crayons, stickers and stamps, chatting to 14 residents.

Neither the volunteers nor the residents are typical.

The red brick building is the Central Counties Youth Center (CCYC), 148 Paradise Road -- a facility that houses juvenile delinquents as they wait for their disposition, or sentencing, by the juvenile court system. And the volunteers are members of the Penn State Justice Association (JA).

"When you hear 'delinquent' you think murder, rape, violence, these kids could kill me," Treasurer and CCYC chair Nina Joyce said. "I don't want them to be trapped in that name that they can never get out."

The room is yellow and green, decorated by Disney cartoon characters and hand-written posters with inspirational quotes.

Three small bookcases and a television sit unused in the corners.

That's because it's Thursday.

On Thursdays, Joyce said, JA members visit during the residents' free time and play games, cards or a resident-created sport called "VT," or volleyball tennis, in the gym, which is a game that leaves participants jumping, diving and ducking from the volleyball as it whizzes all over the court.

"It's a lot of fun once you catch on to the rules," Jill Whittle (senior-elementary education) said. "They're [residents] good sports."

Whittle was one of several new volunteers for the weekly trip to CCYC. But JA members are active in the community through other group activities.

President April Motto said members also work with The Second Mile, a charity that benefits at-risk children by hosting activities such as cookie decorating at monthly gatherings.

The group also participates in the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, arranges group trips to facilities involved in the criminal justice field and hosts professional speakers at its biweekly meetings. "We're rebuilding right now and getting back on our feet," Motto said, adding that the group is open to all majors but would be of particular interest to people in the crime, law and justice major.

Adviser John Kramer, a sociology and crime, law and justice professor, said the group provides an excellent opportunity for students to integrate their academic experience with real life situations.

"I think if you're going into the field [of crime, law and justice], you should go out and see the world," he said.

Kramer said he believes a lecture cannot convey the real structure of prison or the people within the system.

"They're not all crazy and they're not all weirdos," he said. "They're not that different from us."

First-time CCYC volunteer Derek Crayton (senior-crime, law and justice) agreed.

"They have their problems and they've done something they shouldn't have done, but if you get them the help they need now, hopefully they'll get better," he said.

CCYC Youth Counselor Joel Brinker said the visits help the residents, most of who are in for property crimes like vandalism or burglary, more than most will admit.

But not all.

"This is the most fun I've had all week," one of the residents said with a laugh, as the group was finishing decorating pumpkins.

Residents' names cannot be disclosed because of the center's confidentiality agreements.

Justice Association meetings are at 6:30 p.m. every other Wednesday in 360 Willard.