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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 01272009 - SD.8 s .L TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ��= 'O�' Contra FROM: LIONEL D. CHATMAN Costa £s COUNTY PROBATION OFFICER r County DATE: November 18, 2008 gco SUBJECT: Juvenile Justice/Delinquency Prevention Commission Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2007/08 SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS) ACCEPT the fiscal year 2007/2008 Annual Report of the Juvenile Justice/Delinquency Prevention Commission, as recommended by the County Probation Officer. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: ❑ YES SIGNATU : REC MENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE ❑ Ld'APPROVE ❑ OTHER l' SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOA APPROVED A IN OMMENDED ❑ OThE.R VOTE OF SUPERVISORS: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND " CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND n v UNANIMOUS(ABSENT 0" ) ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF AYES: NOES: SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED: January 27, 2009 Contact: Lionel D. Chatman, County Probation DAVID TWA, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF Officer 3-4188 SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR cc: JJC-DPC c/o CCC Probation, Martinez CAO-Timothy Ewell By:V_A&(/'tt) d— Deputy CONTRA COSTA COUNTY JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMISSION and DELINQUENCY PREVENTION COMMISSION 50 Douglas Drive, Suite 201 Martinez, California 94553-8500 Phone: (925)313-4188 October 2008 TO: Honorable Terence Bruiniers, Presiding Superior Court Judge Honorable Lois M. Haight, Presiding Juvenile Court Judge Federal Glover, Chairperson, and Members of the CCC Board of Supervisors Lionel D. Chatman, CC County Probation Officer Joe Valentine, Director, CCC Employment and Human Services Department David Twa, County Administrator of Contra Costa County Dr. William B. Walker, Director, CCC Health Services Department Alison Ganter, CSA Field Representative for Contra Costa County FROM: Lois Weyermann, Chair, Juvenile Justice Commission-Delinquency Prevention Commission SUBJECT: Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2007-2008 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 commissions 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. 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. 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 Commission-Delinquency Prevention Commission is to be a public conscience in the interest of justice for children and youth. Membership There are 15 member positions that serve 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 make up of the commission for fiscal year 2007-2008 was: Concord 1 Danville 1 Hercules 2 Martinez 1 Moraga 1 Pittsburg 1 Pleasant Hill 1 Richmond 1 San Pablo 1 San Ramon 1 Walnut Creek 3 The Commission began the fiscal year with 13 adult commissioners and 2 juvenile commissioners and ended the fiscal year with 11 adults and 2 juvenile members. The youth members, two young men and one young woman, were high school students and represented the communities of Pleasant Hill, Hercules and San Pablo. (One juvenile commissioner resigned and was replaced during fiscal year 2007-08.) The Commission has an established list of ten functioning sub committees. Each member serves on several of these committees. The following committees report to the entire commission as needed: Executive, Budget, Inspections, Membership, Juvenile Justice Awards Program, By-Laws, Training, Publicity, Homeless and Runaway Youth. 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 meetings, reports are received from representatives of the Juvenile Court, Juvenile Probation, Employment and Human Services Department, Children's Mental Health and other agencies as requested by the commission. Guest speakers are always welcome. Immediately following the adjournment of the Juvenile Justice Commission meeting, the Delinquency Prevention Commission is called to order. This meeting focuses on reports from commissioners and ad hoc members of the public about ongoing programs or projects that highlight delinquency prevention throughout the county. Some of the programs that are regularly reported on are: The Violence Prevention Coalition, Gang Information Network, Delta Project, Contra Costa County Police Athletic League (CCPAL) and STAND!. -2- Special Programs Annually 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 fine work in helping the county's juvenile population. On May 17, 2008 the JJC-DPC held its annual awards ceremony at the Heald Conference Center in Concord. This year's recipients for awards and recognition were the following: Awards Joe Briseno, Deputy Probation Officer, Pittsburg Probation Office Robbyn-Nicole Livingston, Deputy Probation Officer, Martinez Probation Office Rashawn White, Deputy Probation Officer, San Pablo Probation Office Jerry Johnson, Probation Counselor, Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility Israel Carrero, Probation Counselor, Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility Raul Juarez, Probation Counselor, Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility Stacy McPherson, Probation Counselor, John A. Davis Juvenile Hall Officer Ian Baisas, Hercules Police Department Officer Earnest Taylor, Hercules Police Department Officer Donna Gianfala, Pittsburg Police Department Lt. Michael Booker, Richmond Police Department Officer Mark Louwerens, Brentwood Police Department, SRO, Liberty High School Deputy Matt Hopkins, CCC Sheriffs Dept. Monte Vista High School Lynette Martelle&the Culinary Arts Program, Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility Thea Booker, Community Volunteer Frank Ballesteros, Community Volunteer Harry (Bud) Summers II, Volunteers in Probation San Pablo Youth Services Program Linda Hewitt&Angelo Moreno, Probation Counselors, Visiting Unit, John A. Davis Juvenile Hall Mayor Gwen Regalia&Walnut Creek City Council San Ramon Public Services Girl Scout Troup#524, Jenna&'Julie Famular, Mary Sampson, Alamo Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of CCC Youth Offender Success Story Recipients: Darvone Crenshaw, Joseph D. Burton, Riley Hopkins, Aljour Miles Certificates of Appreciation Kimberly Kee, Deputy Probation Officer, Pittsburg Probation Office Det. Jeff Palmieri, San Pablo Police Department Officer Danny Harris, Richmond Police Department Juvenile Community Service Program—Probation Department, Juvenile Hall -3- JJ-DPC Joint Commission Workshops During this fiscal year, the Commission held two workshops in the form of joint commission meetings with the San Francisco and Alameda County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commissions. The first of these two meetings was hosted by the Alameda County Commission on November 15, 2007. The meeting included a comprehensive tour of the new Alameda County Juvenile Hall and a discussion of truancy issues that all three counties are experiencing. Alameda Probation is considering creating a risk analysis of youth exhibiting truant behaviors and the reasons for truancy. A plan would be developed to provide youth with resources needed to encourage attendance i.e., placing a juvenile on informal probation leading to formal probation with conditions established by the parents and the courts. A juvenile could eventually be remanded for formal probation violation if they did not complete the program that the county put in place. The second joint commission meeting, also hosted by Alameda County Juvenile Justice Commission, was attended by judges, commissioners and probation staff from both counties. A presentation was made by two California Standards Authority (CSA) representatives that service Alameda and Contra Costa County. The focus of the presentation was on the responsibilities of their organization and what is expected to be covered by the individual juvenile justice commissioners during their inspections. An overview of the laws and regulations that govern the incarceration of juveniles was included in the presentation. Inspections by other government agencies such as the Health Department, Fire Department, Grand Jury, Building Safety and Education Department are geared to specific concerns, while the JJ/DPC Inspections are all inclusive. The remainder of the meeting focused on juvenile problems both counties are experiencing in the area of violence, prostitution and mental health services. The joint commission meetings provide an opportunity for commissioners and probation staff to compare notes on their individual county operations and discuss successful programs directed at facing similar problems with their at-risk juvenile populations. Further joint commission meetings are anticipated to develop long-range programs and ideas to deal with delinquency, juvenile crimes, truancy and the funding of current and new programs. 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 2007-2008 the following inspections occurred: Seven police department lock ups Seven group homes Three juvenile treatment centers Three juvenile court rooms It is the intent of the Commission to visit and inspect all juvenile lock up/detention facilities annually and group home and treatment programs semi-annually. 4 Guests The commission always welcomes guests at their meetings. This past year Allison Ganter (CSA) presented valuable information on inspections. Social worker, Geeta Kerawalla, informed commissioners on programs, referrals and available tours of Mi Casa, the recently established transitional housing facility. Fatima Matal Sol, coordinator of Juvenile Drug Courts in West and East Counties reported on the alcohol and drug testing program. Rhonda James, Executive Director of Community Violence Solutions presented "Protecting Children from Violence Over the Internet" a program on cyber space safety. Petrenya Boykins, training and volunteer coordinator for "Volunteers In Probation" informed commissioners of a new program of volunteerism at Juvenile Hall. Detective Jeff Palmieri from the San Pablo Police Department spoke on current gang intervention techniques, working with kids at risk, and the"Zero Tolerance Policy". Facilities The Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation donated $70,000 in October of 2007 to establish a library at the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility. The Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility had significant landscaping improvements supervised by the Discovery Bay Garden Club, including clearing vegetation, decorative landscaping and stocking the pond. The garden club provides the plantings and instruction while the residents provide the manual labor. Renovation of the kitchen was completed and restrooms were brought up to code. Programs With financial help from the Contra Costa Police Athletic Association and the Becklam Foundation in Alamo, the engine repair-training program occurred again this past summer. The instructor is an industrial arts auto shop teacher at two local high schools during the academic year. This years' program was focused on small engine repair and gave ten young men an opportunity, over eight weeks, to get a Briggs and Stratton Small Engine Repair Certificate and high school work experience credit. This program is very popular with the boys and attempts have been made during the fiscal year to get local automotive businesses interested in supporting this program with funding and equipment. One resident was chosen to work at the CCC Garage as an apprentice. Additional training in the livestock program at the facility occurred this year. The program provides the opportunity for teaching responsibility and a therapeutic element. Three cows in addition to the llamas, chickens, goats and horse, were added to the livestock for a short period for nurturing. They were later transferred to Marin County. The establishment of "The First Five" program at OAYRF was initiated in June. This program offers parenting classes to those incarcerated minors who have children. After- care will be provided at one of their county satellite offices,following the minor's release. -5- In July 2007 Contra Costa County Children's Mental Health Services discontinued mental heath services for in-custody boys at Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility due to budget cuts. In August of 2007 a letter from the Commission was written to Dr. William Walker, Contra Costa County Health Services, (copied to the Board of Supervisors and CAO) requesting an explanation for discontinued mental health services to OAYRF. Dr. Walker responded that the elimination of services was due to budget cuts. These services are vital to the rehabilitation program. Events of Interest During the fiscal 2007-2008 year the following events are worthy of mentioning that involved Juvenile Probation Programs and their Facilities. In January of 2008 The Contra Costa Probation Department, through grant funding, hired "New Connections" to restore minimal mental health services. Currently one therapist is providing treatment to approximately 20 boys. This falls short of the needs by 80%. In February 2008 the JJ/DPC made an application to participate as a stakeholder for the Mental Health Services Act, Prevention and Early Intervention Group. The application was denied. A letter requesting informationon exclusion was written to Dr. Walker. He replied that "there were too many groups that wanted to participate... and.not everyone including JJ/DPC could be included." He encouraged the JJ/DPC to attend public workshops and support our position in that forum. Participation in the aforementioned public forum occurred in mid-February giving the Commission an opportunity to express its concerns and position regarding the inadequate level of mental health care and treatment of juveniles in custody. The mental health staffing in Juvenile Hall has also been reduced, and as a result County Mental Health Services are only able to provide crisis counseling and the screening of new offenders coming into the , facility. The Probation Department and Mental Health Services are also working on wrap around mental health services that would follow juveniles after their release from custody. Staff would provide continued care and treatment available and accessible in the youths' local communities. The Mentally III Offender Crime Reduction (MIOCR) Grant from the California Department of Corrections was recently approved. The target for this grant is to treat probation-involved juveniles who are exhibiting a significant level of psychiatric and behavioral tendencies, without keeping them in custody or placing them in out of county group homes. As of February 2008 there were 55 minors in the program. The commission believes this type of program is important in keeping children out of custody while treating their psychological problems, and reducing recidivism. The target areas for this grant are focused on Bay Point/Pittsburg, Monument Corridor/Concord and Iron Triangle/Richmond. -6- East County and West County Juvenile Drug Courts, which are administered by judges and their commissioners, continue to be very successful at, modifying substance abuse behavior and saving hundreds of youth from a life of chemical dependency. As of this date there exists a need in Central County, however, there is still no funding or ability to start this type of service. 11 Chris Adams Girls Center administered by Contra Costa County Mental Health and Probation has yet to be designated as a group home. Passage of the legislation by the state would enable CAGC to be reimbursed'with state funds. EHS and Probation are continuing to work on the change in designation. Effective July of 2007 the State of California Department of Juvenile Justice announced it would no longer accept non-violent commitments from county probation departments. Contra Costa County has responded to this decision with an anticipated October opening of the Youth Offender Treatment Program (YOTP) to be housed at Juvenile Hall. The YOTP program will be for minors who normally would have been sent to CYA/DJJ. The capacity of the program will be thirty, with a minimum stay between nine and twelve months. Life skills, counseling and transitioning into the community will be elements of the program. The Commission continues to be grateful to the many community groups and organizations in the county that fund youth programs to empower youth, fight delinquency and assist in setting positive directions. The Contra"Costa Police Athletic Association (CCPAA) administers Kops for Kids Mentoring and Positive Mental Attitudes Seminars and Sports Clinics. The CCPAA also collaborates with the Violence Prevention Coalition in efforts to suppress teen violence through acceptable alternatives. Additional violence prevention programs the commission supports and commends are The DELTA Project which sends a message to county youth about "zero tolerance" for domestic violence in their homes and relationships and STAND that focuses on the education of our young men in the schools and support for the victims of domestic violence. Additionally, CCPAA has been a supporter of juvenile probation programs by funding ,the auto and engine repair programs for the past two summers at the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility. The staff at OAYRF has completed a program in "Cognitive Behavior Training'. Reportedly, the training has shown a significant improvement in identifying negative and positive behaviors and communication. Residents of OAYRF and the Rossmoor Senior Tutor Program were guests of the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers. The staff at the Conservatory encouraged the two groups to make this an annual event. Conclusions Especially troubling to the Commission is the loss and reduction of mental health services due to Heath Services Department budget cuts last year and again this year. Reduction of MIOCR funding would be devastating. We believe that youth in custody are particularly vulnerable and in need of mental health treatment. Studies we have seen indicate that up to 70% of juvenile in custody are suffering from diagnosable mental disorders that effect their behavior, relationships and activities. -7- Recent budget cuts have also resulted in the elimination or reduction of programs such as: home supervision, weekend work program, electronic monitoring, and mental health care. Home supervision has been reduced by one half. It is also likely that the Mentally III Offender Crime Reduction (MIOCR), OAYRF and Chris Adams Girls' Center will also be affected by these cuts. At the request of the Board of Supervisors the Commissioners viewed two videos "Training for Member of County Advisory Body" and "The Brown Act and Better Government Ordinance..." Additionally, the Commission appointed one member to monitor meetings and workshops for compliance with the Brown Act, The Commission is also concerned about delinquency and the role that truancy plays in that activity. Truancy in West County is believed to account for over 15% of all crimes committed according to police sources. In conversations with juvenile court judges and court commissioners, they express frustration with the lack of meaningful tools they have at their discretion to interdict this behavior. While some school districts work hard to discourage truancy, the facts are that it exists and is a community problem without a satisfactory solution. A change in the state laws on how we treat truants may be needed to empower local authorities to address the problem more effectively. The Probation Department currently participates in truancy sweeps in the East and West portions of Contra Costa County. Talks are currently occurring to include Central County in setting up truancy sweeps. The Commission is researching truancy causes and solutions and will submit its findings to the court. Central County has not been able to fund a juvenile drug court. The Commission believes this is an important tool that is very necessary in making a difference in young people's lives. We urge the county supervisors, the superior court judges and The Health Services (Alcohol and other Drugs) Department to explore different funding mechanisms to make this a reality. The members of the Commission are fortunate to have a strong and positive relationship with the Juvenile Judges and the dedicated staff of Juvenile Probation. The Commissioners are dedicated to being a voice for the young people of Contra Costa County to insure they get the best programs, care and services available. The Commission will continue to strive to identify programs and resources that can be used to mentor and educate our youth;especially youth that find themselves involved in the criminal justice system. -a-