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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12041990 - H.2 1 H.2 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on December 4, 1990, by the following vote: r. AYES: Supervisors Mcpeak, Torlakson, Fanden NOES: None 4: ABSENT: Supervisor Powers, Schroder ABSTAIN: None i ----------- ---------- SUBJECT: Juvenile Corrections Master Plan Update The Chair convened the hearing on the Juvenile Corrections Master Plan Update. The Board received a report dated November 15, 1990, from Richard Rainey, Sheriff-Coroner and Chairman of the Criminal Justice Agency of Contra Costa County, settin'g forth the purpose of the Update which was to identify the program and facility needs of youth involved in the justice system over the next five to tenjjyears and to maximize the use of State bond money available to Contra Costa County. Sheriff Rainey's report provides an overview of the scope of the update. Gerald Buck, Probation Officer, briefly commented on the history and scope of the Master Plan Update. The Chair opened the hearing and the following persons spoke: John Minney, Judge, Superior Court, spoke on the appropriateness of the findings and recommendations set forth in the Update. He recommended that the Juvenile Correctional Facilities Task Force be retained so that they can continue to meet every six months to determine the progress of the recommendations contained in the Update. He commented on the need to enhance juvenile facilities,j! particularly Juvenile Hall. Judge Minney expressed support for a volunteer coordinator for the Probation Department to administer current volunteer services and coordinate the role of volunteers in the juvenile justice system. Carol Kizziah, ', Project Director, directed the Board's attention to the Executive Summary in the Update which summarizes the key findings relative to population trends and felony arrests of juveniles, family preservation and placement, in-custody programs, the role of volunteers in the juvenile justice system, a facilities�jreview, revenues received from Proposition 52 (County Correctional Facility Capital Expenditure and Youth Facility Bond Act) , and a procedure to facilitate future Master Plan updates. Ms. Kizziah called attention to the fact that work on the Plan Update covered the period January to June 1990 and that some changes have occurred since then. Mardelle Shepley, Architect, Design Partnership, commented on the condition of Juvenile Hall and the excessive cost that would be involved with remodeling it. She recommended replacement of the Hall as being more cost effective. James Frank, Chief of Police, Brentwood, expressed his support for the recommendations contained in the Plan and stressed the need for planning to address the needs oflyouth, particularly in the area of prevention and diversion. He spoke�lon the need to make prudent and proper use of available resources and to develop programs that minimize the need for long-term detention in a county facility. Chris Adams, Chair, Correctional and Detention Advisory Commission, advised of her endor'sement of all aspects of the report, especially the Family Preservation Program'. She called attention to the Guide Program which was aimed at keeping youth in their own homes. Ms. Adams recommended that the Board retain the Master Plan Task Force so that it can continue to monitor and advise the Board on Juvenile corrections issues. P Talia Hasan, Youth Service Bureau, West County, cautioned that the Family Preservation Program should not be construed as the panacea to all problems associated with youthful offenders. She expressed a preference for more alternatives to,, incarceration and diversion programs. Mr. Hasan expressed the belief'; that the Plan should be used as a basis for helping the youth in Contra Costa County. Ruth Ormsby, ADAMH Division Children Services Program Chief, spoke'about children with emotional and drug related problems in juvenile facilities. She also endorsed the Family Preservation Program. Eva Wilson, representing Earnest Clements, Chief of the Richmond Police Department, expressed support for the recommendations made in the Update and of the need to expand some of the programs to help youth with drug abuse problems and emotio�;ally disturbed youth. r. i r ' Orene Hopkins, ','Court Schools and representing the Superintendent of Schools, expressed her concurrence with the recommendations of the Task Force. She spoke about programs she is trying to implement and of the good cooperation she has observed between the Probation Department, the Sheriff, and the Health Services Department relative to institutional programs. She commented on the need for programs for minority youth. j; Dick Coleman, Program Manager, Sherman House, spoke about the shortage of beds for runaway kids. l Tanya Hudson, Director, Right Direction Project, expressed support for the Plan. She commented on the need to continue to look at ways to help families. Natalie Russell, Vice President, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission, stated that the Commission has been in touch with each city council throughout the County and that each city council has passed a resolution establishing a youth development task force and indicating interest in developing partne'r'ships with other government entities for programs for at- risk youth. Susan Cinelli, �I,Director of Bi-Bett, pointed out that the Update indicated that 65 percent of the youth incarcerated should be in alternative programs. She recommended that the Board accept the report and refer it back to the Task Force forfurther development of alternatives to incarceration. Elizabeth Hutc'lins, representing Friends of Pride House and Lions Gate, 3109-2 Lakemont Drive, San Ramon, expressed concern that comments in the Plan appeared to reflect unfavorably on Pride House. She noted that in the past ten years approximately 3,000 youngsters have been referred to either Pride House or Lions Gate, ;facilities with certified treatment programs in the State. Ms. Hutchins expressed concern that Contra Costa County has not referred any minors to either of these facilities for some time. She requested the Board to encourage referrals to these facilities. Cynthia Miller, Expanded Youth Services Board, requested an inquiry as to why the County isInot making referrals to Pride House or Lions Gate. She expressed support for the Plan and its use as a beginning basis for future planning. She also spoke on the need for a children's coordinator. l' Supervisor McPeak expressed her appreciation to the Task Force and invited them to attend the January 15, 1991, hearing on SB 2557 which if implemented will allow the County to be reimbursed for booking fees and the administrative costsj, association with the collection of property taxes. She spoke on the need todirect our energies to looking at revenue sources to fund county programs. All persons desiring to speak were heard. Board members 'expressed their appreciation to the Task Force for their participation and work on the Plan Update. The Board then: 1. ACCEPTED the 1990 Juvenile Corrections Master Plan Update; i, 2. REFERRED the Update and comments presented at the hearing to the County Administrator and Finance Committee to review implementation of the recommendations contained in the Master Plan; and 3. REQUESTED the County Administrator to develop a definitive statement of the County's goals relative to juvenile corrections. 1 hereby certify that this b e NO and ONIOd Copy►Of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supeytson an�-©_ ATTESTED: `CWk ofi�@I$ so ;;WAdministrator cc: Finance Committee County Administrator or DePtdl► 1!