Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07092013 - C.86RECOMMENDATION(S): ACCEPT the 2011-2012 Annual Report from the Contra Costa County Juvenile Justice-Delinquency Prevention Commission. FISCAL IMPACT: No fiscal impact. Informational only. BACKGROUND: Section 229 of the welfare and Institutions Code mandates that each county have a Juvenile Justice Commission to inquire into the administration of juvenile court law. The code also allows each county to have a Delinquency Prevention Commission at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors. Contra Costa County has such a Commission with the latter established in 1966. The Commission has access to all publicly administered institutions authorized by the County. It annually inspects jails, lock-ups, institutions and bi-annually county group home facilities. The purpose of the Juvenile Justice-Delinquency Prevention Commission is to be a public conscience in the best interest of justice for children and youth. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: The Board of Supervisors will not receive the Juvenile Justice-Delinquency Prevention Commissions annual report for fiscal year 2011-2012. APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 07/09/2013 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor Contact: Cindy Nieman 925-313-4188 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: July 9, 2013 David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: June McHuen, Deputy cc: C. 86 To:Board of Supervisors From:Philip F. Kader, County Probation Officer Date:July 9, 2013 Contra Costa County Subject:2011/12 Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commission Annual Report ATTACHMENTS 2011/12 JJ-DPC Annual Report   1    CONTRA COSTA COUNTY JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMISSION AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION COMMISSION 50 Douglas Drive, Suite 201 Martinez, California 94553-8500 (925) 313-4188 Date: December 31, 2012 To: Honorable Barry Goode, Presiding Superior Court Judge Honorable Lois M. Haight, Presiding Juvenile Court Judge Federal Glover, Chairperson, and Members of the CCC Board of Supervisors Philip Kader, Contra Costa County Chief Probation Officer Kathy Gallagher, Director of Employment and Human Services Department David Twa, County Administrator of Contra Costa County Dr. William B. Walker, Director, Contra Costa County Health Services Barbara Fenton, CSA Field Representative for Contra Costa County Probation Department From: David Abala, Co-Chairman and Tamara Scott, Co-Chairman, Contra Costa County Juvenile Justice Commission Subject: Annual Report Fiscal Year 2011-2012 __________________________________________________________________________ Section 229 of the Welfare and Institutions Code mandates that each county have a Juvenile Justice Commission to inquire into the administration of juvenile court law. The code also allows each county to have a Delinquency Prevention Commission at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors. Contra Costa County has such a Commission with the latter established in 1966. The Commission has access to all publicly administered institutions authorized by the county. It annually inspects jails, lockups, institutions and bi-annually county group home facilities. Following each inspection, reported findings and recommendations are submitted to the Presiding Juvenile Court Judge and others for review. The Commission also visits Juvenile Court and may hold hearings on matters concerning juvenile custody care or facilities. Members frequently visit Juvenile Hall and the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility (“OAYRF”). The Juvenile Court Judge may issue subpoenas requiring attendance and testimony of witnesses and production of documents at the hearings. The Commission is concerned with policy matters, advises the Juvenile Court, and is responsible for policy-making recommendations. It makes recommendations for administrative body changes it determines beneficial to juvenile justice, and it ensures that the changes are appropriate, safe and include adequate services.   2    The Commission may conduct studies including: review of essential services and budgets to ensure relevant and effective probation services; exploration of matters initiated by commissioners or referred by the Juvenile Court Judge, the Probation Department, the Board of Supervisors, or citizen inquiry. The purpose of the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commission is to be a public conscience in the best interest of justice for children and youth. Membership There are 15 member positions on the commission, all appointed by the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court. Each commissioner serves a four-year term unless filling the unexpired term of a resigned commissioner. At least two commissioners must be youth members. The commission attempts to reflect the racial, ethnic diversity and geographic representations of the county. The geographic makeup of the commission for fiscal year 20011-2012 was: Concord – 2 Moraga – 1 Antioch- 1 Hercules – 1 Pittsburg – 1 San Ramon - 2 Martinez – 1 Richmond - 1 Walnut Creek -4 The Commission always has difficulty recruiting youth commissioners and is currently short one member. The Commission has an established list of six functioning sub-committees. Each member serves on several of these committees. The following committees report to the entire commission as needed: Executive, Inspections, Membership, Special Events/Awards, Grants/Development, Medical and Mental Health. Meetings The Commission meets regularly on the third Monday of every month at 5:30 pm. There is no monthly meeting scheduled in August. The January and February meetings are held on the fourth Monday, due to federal holidays. Meetings are normally held in the Second floor conference room of the Probation Department at 50 Douglas Drive and are open to the public. To conduct official business at these monthly meetings, a quorum of members is required. At the monthly meetings, reports are received from representatives of the Juvenile Court and Juvenile Probation. Employment and Human Services Department and Children's Mental Health reports are presented bi-monthly. (Representation of these two Departments has been infrequent). Reports from other agencies may be requested by the commission as required.   3    Previously the Juvenile Justice and the Delinquency Prevention Commissions met one after the other. This year the meetings were combined into one meeting to save time. Special Programs Once a year, the Commission endeavors to recognize individuals, groups and organizations that have contributed to juvenile justice or delinquency prevention in a significant way. The Commission hosts an awards ceremony in May to recognize those individuals and call attention to their outstanding work in helping the County’s juvenile population. On May 12, 2012 the JJ/DPC held their annual awards ceremony at the Deputy Sheriff's Association in Martinez. Funds for refreshments were made available by the Juvenile Hall Auxiliary. Recipients of this year's awards were: Outstanding Service/Contribution by a Juvenile Probation Officer Award Winner: Keisa Booth, Deputy Probation Officer, East County Ofc Certificate: Erin Wilson, Deputy Probation Officer, OAYRF Outstanding Service/Contribution by a County Juvenile Facility Employee Award Winner: Arthur Fernandez, Institution Supervisor I, OAYRF Certificate: LaTanya Blakney, Probation Counselor, Juvenile Hall Certificate: Rasaan Jackson, Probation Counselor, OAYRF Outstanding Service/Contribution by a Law Enforcement Officer Award Winner: Michelle Wentink, Deputy Sheriff’s Officer, CCC Sheriff’s Certificate: Kathleen Lopez, Police Officer, Antioch Police Dept Outstanding Service/Contribution by a Community Volunteer-Juvenile Award Winners: Camille Hieb & Ryan Allen, Sprouts Garden Club Outstanding Service/Contribution by a Business or Organization Award Winner: Bay Area Rescue Mission, Richmond, CA Certificate: Rooms For Change, Walnut Creek, CA Outstanding Service/Contribution by a Community-Based Organization Award Winner: The RYSE Center, Richmond, CA Certificate: The City of San Pablo Youth Services Division   4    Model Program of Excellence Award Winner: Youth Services Division – Richmond Police Dept Juvenile Offender Success Story Award Winners: Giovanni Cordova Octavio Navarrete A special award of support and outstanding service to the Probation Department was made to Shannon Grossenheider, Executive Director of the Juvenile Hall Auxilary by Probation Chief Philip Kader Inspections Part of the Commission's mandated purpose is to conduct annual inspections of the juvenile facilities within the County. These include lock up facilities as well as group homes and treatment programs. Following each inspection a report is written by the inspection team and submitted to the presiding judge of the juvenile court and others for review. During the fiscal year 2011-2012 seven inspections were completed. The number of inspections varies considerably from year to year since group homes are inspected every other year. Guests The Commission always welcomes guests to their meetings. This fiscal year Che Soto-Vigil from the RYSE Youth Center and Mike Newton, the new Director of the OAYRF made presentations to the Commission. Facilities The Commission supported and facilitated an expansion of the library at the OAYRF. The Office of Education provided paving and a shed for vocational tools/training at OAYRF. Programs The Commission has worked for several years to secure funding for more mental health services at OAYRF. Boys housed at that facility often suffer from mental illnesses that could be helped by adequate assistance. The boys are at the facility long enough to be able to engage in therapy and to begin to see benefits from it. Unfortunately, under current law they are not eligible for Medical assistance and the amount of discretionary funds available in these lean economic times has not permitted staffing at OAYRF at what the Commission believes to be an adequate level. Finally, with the assistance and support of the Department of Mental Health, the Mental Health Commission and the authorities administering the Mental Health Services Act, an additional, much needed position was funded at the OAYRF. All reports are that the boys are taking advantage of the additional mental health services now   5    available. Events of Interest During the fiscal 2011-2012 year the following events involving the Commission are worthy of mentioning. This includes Juvenile Probation Programs and their facilities: The Extension of Foster Care bill (Assembly Bill 12) was implemented January 1, 2012. It is a voluntary program that many foster youth are opting to join. The focus is on permanency and independency with the Deputy Probation Officer or Social Worker treating the participants like adults, helping them find living options, connecting them with community colleges, work training and job. Studies have shown that the Foster Care Extension has produced positive outcomes. Minors in Juvenile and OAYRF again produced a poetry book. This is a result of a program to introduce these young people to poetry and the creative process. Commissioner Karl Livengood has organized an art program at OAYRF. Conclusions The Commission’s mission is to reduce the delinquent population and keep youth out of the juvenile justice system by: 1. Sponsoring and participating in diversion and prevention activities that steer youth away from entering the juvenile justice system. 2. Supporting programs and systems that can assist youth with mental health and substance abuse Issues that may eventually lead to involvement or re-involvement in the juvenile justice system. 3. Promoting education and training for the youth who are involved in the Juvenile Justice System so that they might become responsible citizens, leaving their delinquency behind and becoming successful in completion of their probation as they return and live in their communities. The Commission continues to work closely with the Probation staff, other youth serving agencies and County organizations to advance and promote innovative delinquency prevention programs. The Commission is fortunate to have a positive relationship with the Juvenile Court Judges and the dedicated staff of the Juvenile Probation Department.