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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02131990 - S.2 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on February 13 , 1990 , by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Powers, Schroder, McPeak, Torlakson, Fanden NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT: Juvenile Hall Overcrowding Issues The Board received the attached report from Phil Batchelor, County Administrator, in response to a request from the Finance Committee (Supervisors Schroder and Torlakson) , relative to problems caused by overcrowding at Juvenile Hall. Supervisor Schroder expressed his concern about alleged incidents of violence and assault experienced at the Hall and noted that steps must be taken to alleviate these problems. He commented on the need for volunteers, and stated that Judge John Minney has expressed an interest in personally working to establish the volunteer program. Supervisor Powers commented on the decreased State funding being allocated to juvenile justice programs, and noted that State legislators must be made aware of the growing problems in the juvenile justice area. Supervisor Fanden commented on the need to rehabilitate the Juvenile Hall facilities and to build a new facility sometime in the near future. She recommended that private funding be sought to assist in meeting these needs. Supervisor Fanden referred to the proposed volunteer program, and recommended that the chaplaincy program at the juvenile facilities be expanded with the assistance of volunteer clerics. Supervisor McPeak referred to a previous program at Juvenile Hall whereby local painting contractors worked with the County, providing training for the residents at the Hall and at the same time upgrading the condition of the facilities. She recommended that a similar program be established to accomplish needed upgrading at the Hall. After further consideration of the matter, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the following actions are APPROVED: 1. ACCEPTED report from County Administrator and APPROVED recommended corrective actions to address overcrowding issues at Juvenile Hall; 2. DIRECTED County Administrator and Probation Officer to investigate the possibility of obtaining private funding for juvenile justice needs; 3 . DIRECTED County Administrator and Probation Officer to seek cooperation of the Central Labor Council and the Building Trades Industry to establish a partnership, similar to the previous one with the painting contractors, to provide training for Juvenile Hall residents and at the same time upgrade the facilities; 4. DIRECTED County Administrator to compile data for a presentation to the County' s Legislators relative to the need to provide more State funding for juvenile justice needs; 5. DIRECTED that the County' s Legislators be invited to attend a briefing session and tour the County' s juvenile facilities; and 6. REQUESTED the Chair to meet with the Council of Churches to request volunteer chaplaincy services at the juvenile facilities. I hereby certify that this Is a true and correct copy of an action taken end entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: � �' � /J, 90 PHIL BATCHELOR, Jerk of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator cc: County Administrator Probation Officer By Judge Judge John C. Minney Supervisor Fanden TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator Costa o. r Count DATE: February 13 , 1990 `rq o_4u + SUBJECT: APPROACH TO PROBLEMS AT JUVENILE HALL SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION• Accept this report and approve corrective actions to address overcrowding issues at Juvenile Hall. BACKGROUND: Population in Juvenile Hall had been at acceptable levels during the first half of the fiscal year. On November 1 , the Boy' s Center closed. In January, Juvenile Hall experienced overcrowded conditions. As a result of the January increases, several instances of assault were experienced at the Hall. On Monday, the Finance Committee heard in some detail about the recent incidents as well as about funding and workload issues. As a result, they asked that I prepare this report to inform the Board about what ' s being done to. address these problems. The Probation Department has already taken several actions which should alleviate the problem almost immediately. They are: * Provide for opening of the Monte Cello unit from 3pm to 7am on days when crowding is the worst. * Add 10 beds to the Boy' s Ranch, effective today, so that 10 boys can be moved to the Boy' s Ranch, relieving the overcrowding at the Hall. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: /}/6qm XWW RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): A -ON OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HER CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORR COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED O E MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN. CC: ATTESTED PHIL BATCHELOR.CLERK OF E BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMI TRATOR M382BY PUTY (10/88) -2- Fill vacant group counselor positions to intensify the home supervision program. This will also reduce the population of the Hall. All of the above actions can be taken within the existing budget of the department. Longer term solutions will require additional funds. A number of alternatives are available to address the overcrowding issue on a longer term basis. The ones that are preferred would remove children from the Hall and have supervision occur at home or in a home-like setting. Use of the electronic home supervision program is seen as the most cost effective and would address the greatest number of children. For an investment of about $100 , 000 for staff and hardware, 20 children could be supervised. This would relieve the Hall population on a sustained basis. We feel this will help lessen the problems of assault resulting from overcrowding. In addition, the Probation Department is working with the Berkeley Academy, a private service provider to establish a transition center which will be used to house up to 20 youth awaiting placement. The Academy hopes to remodel the old Boy' s Center for use as a transition facility. Staff will intensify their efforts to make this happen. Also, further use could be made of volunteers if coordination activities could increase. It is our recommendation that the Board request the Probation Department to work with the Social Services Department, which has several full time volunteer coordinator ' s, to help screen and place Probation volunteers. Finally, the update for the Juvenile Correction Master Plan is currently underway and should be completed this summer . This update should provide further guidance regarding the most appropriate way to house juveniles. With these actions being taken, the Department is confident that the overcrowding which has led to the incidents recently reported will be significantly alleviated.