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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 05052009 - SD. 9 (2) CONTRA COSTA COUNTY JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMISSION AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION COMMISSION 50 DOUGLAS DRIVE,SUITE 201 MARTINEZ,CALdFORNIA 94553-8500 Phone.(925)313-4188 March 25, 2009 Leslie Lea, Foreperson Contra Costa County Grand Jury Court Administration 649 Main Street Martinez, CA 94553 Dear Ms, Lea, The Contra Costa County Juvenile Justice/Delinquency Prevention Commission was greatly disappointed in the 2008-2009 Grand Jury Report#0905 regarding the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility. The report was incomplete, superficial and in some cases inaccurate including the name of the facility. OAYRF is not a youth center - it is a minimum security facility for male youth offenders under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court. The report does a great disservice to the community and to the Probation Department by projecting false impressions regarding a tenured and vetted program, The Juvenile Justice Commission looks forward to submitting a response'to the allegations in the named report correcting misinformation, providing inspection reports, and an in-depth review of the offered programs. I am available by e-mail at Iweyermann@sbcglobal.net or telephone @ 925-935-4701. Sincerely, Lois B. Weyermann, Chairperson cc: David Twa, CCC Administrator CCC Board of Supervisors Julie Enea, Sr, Deputy County Administrator CONTRA COSTA COUNTY RECEIVED MAR 2 7 2009 OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR vl;� W@ VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE U.S. SGT.CHARLES R.MC CURTAIN POST NO.10789 P.O.Box 1325 Brentwood,California 94513 Contra County County April 27, 2009 Board of Supervisors 651 Fine Street Martinez, CA 94553 Members of the Board: We, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #10789 and the Ladies Auxiliary are opposed to the closing of the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Center in Byron. Lynette Martelle's cooking class prepares meals for our Officers Installation in May, Firefighter of the Year Award in October, and the Voice of Democracy Scholarship contest, an annual Nationwide audio essay competition designed to give 9' through 12'' grade high school students, ages 15-19, the opportunity to voice their opinion on their responsibility to our Country. This is held on the first Friday in December. It is also our annual Christmas Rinner. The youth from the Ranch are real gentlemen. They are dressed like waiters, white shirt and black ties. They are all highly complemented by all who attend. It would be a big loss for us and the youths if the Center was closed. This experience helps to prepare there for their return to their communities. We have been using their service for approximately 8 years. Lynette will recommend a few choices for our dinner and we pick one. Our attendance runs from 60 to SO people at each function. After dinner, Lynette gives us a bill and we give her a check. The second check is a tip for the boys. �Aickapad os Commander of VFW Post#10789 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY RWEIVED MAY 0 4 2009 OFFICE OF CCJLlNTY AOMINfSTIRATOR VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE U N I T E D S T A T E S BOS District3/BOS/CCC To Lea Castleberry1B0S/CCC@CCC f 04/30/2009 02:09 PM cc bcc T Subject Fw: Byron Boys Ranch For Julie Enea Office of Supervisor Mary N. Piepho Contra Costa County, District 111 309 Diablo Road Danville, California 94526 Ph: (925) 820-8683 Fax: (925) 820-6627 1200 Central Blvd., Suite B Brentwood, California 94513 Ph: (925) 240-7260 Fax: (925)240-7261 email dist3@bos.cccounty.us SUPERVISORIAL STAFF: Tomi Van de Brooke, Chief of Staff Lea Castleberry, Deputy Chief of Staff Amy Prentice, Scheduler/Office Operations Karyn Cornell, l=ast County Field Representative Gina Ferretti, South County Field Representative Stacey Martin, Administrative Assistant -----Forwarded by BOS District31BOS/CCC on 04/30/2009 02:09 PM----- bob ellsworth" r,,.`• <bobter'l@sbcglobal.net> To <d1st3@bos.cccounty.us> 04/19/2009 11:54 AM cc Subject Byron Boys Ranch Dear Ms. Piepho, After reading the CC Times article regarding closing the Byron Boys Ranch and your support of keeping it open, I felt I should tell you our story. Two years ago one of the boys escaped from the Ranch, stole a car, drove to Brentwood where he crashed the car on Walnut Ave and took off running through the neighborhood on Balfour Rd. My daughter and son-in-law were living in our rental at 4350 Balfour Rd at the time. As my daughter went to check that the back door of the house was locked, she encountered a young man crouched in the laundry room by the door, she yelled out and he told her to be quiet and began to reach toward her. She turned around to run and fell over the doorway, got up and ran out the front door where the police were assembled with guns drawn. At this time she was 7 months pregnant with twins. The next morning her water broke and she was rushed to the hospital where they tried to prevent the babies from being born that early but they were delivered prematurely and needed oxygen and were hospitalized for almost a month. One of the twins had bruises which apparently were from the fall my daughter took while trying to get away from the escaped criminal from the Byron Boys Ranch. Needless to say a happy family event became a traumatic nightmare thanks to this convicted criminal escaping the Byron Boys Ranch. Down the road, after the insurance dust settled, my daughter and her husband still owed $13,000 for the traumatic birth and hospitalization of the twins. I think the time has came for the Ranch to close. It is no longer in an unpopulated area where the inmates are not a threat to the community. Young inmates are now doing much more dangerous crimes and need to be incarcerated appropriately, not in a minimum security type situation. It is just too dangerous now. Luckily, our situation did not result in tragedy, but it's only a matter of time before a tragic situation will occur. Please protect the community that you represent, we need your attention to this situation and hope you will listen to our concerns. Thank you for your time, Terrie Ellsworth Discovery Bay 925-634-6294 BOS D1strict3/B0S/CCC To Lea Castleberry/BOS/CCC@CCC ^� 04/30/2009 02:09 PM cc bcc Subject Fw: Byron Boys Ranch For Julie Enea.. Office of Supervisor Mary N. Piepho Contra Costa County, District III 309 Diablo Road Danville, California 94526 Ph: (925) 820-8683 Fax: (925) 820-6627 1200 Central Blvd., Suite B Brentwood, California 94513 Ph: (925) 240-7260 Fax: (925) 240-7261 email: dist3@bos.cccounty.us SUPERVISORIAL STAFF: Tom! Van de Brooke, Chief,of Staff Lea Castleberry, Deputy Chief of Staff Amy Prentice, Scheduler/Office Operations Karyn Cornell, East County Field Representative Gina Ferretti, South County Field Representative Stacey Martin, Administrative Assistant -----Forwarded by BOS Disthct3/B0S/CCC on 04/30/2009 02:09 PM--- - SVereeke@aol.com 04/13/2009 11:13 AM To dist3@bos.cccounty.us cc Subject Byron Boys Ranch Dear Mary, I was absolutely shocked to read the article in today's Contra Costa Times regarding the Grand Jurys recommendation for closure of the County Boys' Ranch. After working 20+ years as a probation officer in Alameda County, I came to the Contra Costa Probation Department in 1999 and was assigned as a court officer to represent the department in Juvenile Court. During my five years in Contra Costa, I was impressed with the Ranch Program and I continually compared it to the Alameda County Boys'Camp residential program. In today's, article it mentioned that , in the past year, nine wards have gone AWOL from the Ranch. That is nothing in comparison to Alameda County where the detainees regularly run from the program by simply walking down the hill to the Bay Fair BART station. I would guess that their "runaway" rate is 30+ per year. I also feel that the grand jury needs some basic training regarding Juvenile Law in the State of California which mandates that youths be rehabilitated in the"least restrictive environment"closest to their homes. A long term detention in a locked facility is only appropriate after all other efforts or programs have failed. In other words, it's not just about money. Should the Ranch close, it would be a tragic loss for this county. The program is impressive and is run by highly-qualified staff. I have personally seen countless kids graduate successfully from this program and continue to do well after being returned to their communities. Your support and assistance in "Saving"this program is greatly appreciated. Shirley Vereeke Alamo, Ca 9 The Avera a U5 Credit Score is 692. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! Email: sgbuckeye@aol.com`' Street..:Address: 9005,Alcosta R1#194, C1ty: San Ramon State: ybcrlf ® California Please de.scribe:your issue;here:�',: I am a longtirx:e volunteer at CCC.Juuen�le Hall{Part of Betty Fransden's Late Show Reader) Ineed to know; what to do;.to oppose the closing of the Boys;RanchiDAYRF,THEF2t 1S N9 ROOM at JuvenHall. Overcrowding there willJestrny the benefit the naw tacldy provGdes The Ranch needs fixed, riot closed Please-tell me who to direct-my,comir>ents ia, Thank`you, * indicates required fields. The following form was submitted via your website: Constituent Services Name:: Susan Grice Telephone Number:: Email:: sgbuckeye@aol.com Street Address:: 9005 Alcosta Bl #194 City;: San Ramon State:. CA Please describe your issue here:: I am a longtime volunteer at CCC Juvenile Hall(Part of Betty . Fransden's Late Show Readers),I need to know what to do to oppose the closing of the Boys Ranch/OAYRF, THERE IS NO ROOM at Juvenile Hall. Overcrowding there will destroy the benefit the new faclity provides. The Ranch needs fixed, not closed. Please tell me who to direct my comments to. Thank you Additional Information: Form submitted on: 4/13/2009 8:49:52 PM Submitted from IP Address: 207.200.116.10 Form Address: http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/forms.asp?FID=43