HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05071991 - 1.68 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Contra
FROM: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator
V 'S
Costa
DATE: May 1, 1991 cOTra���N�`A Count r
SUBJECT: LEGISLATION - SB 676 (PRESLEY)
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a position in SUPPORT of SB 676 by Senator Robert Presley
which would create a new, intensive correctional program for
wards of the court through the California Youth Authority. The
program would provide for a 12 month program, with the ward
spending six months in a CYA institution and six months in the
community being supervised by the CYA. At the conclusion of the
12 month program, the ward is released from the custody of the
CYA and returned to the probation department and juvenile court
in the committing county.
BACKGROUND:
Under current law, a court may commit a minor adjudged to be a
ward on the basis of criminal conduct to the Department of the
Youth Authority. There has been criticism of the California
Youth Authority (CYA) on the basis that minors are held too long
in confinement and that the recidivism rate has escalated
substantially over the past several years.
In response to these concerns, Senator Presley has introduced SB
676, which, as introduced, would do all of the following:.
1. Adopt findings regarding the overcrowding, extended
commitments and recidivism rates in CYA facilities.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMEA�PS YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON May '7 , 1991 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
`"' I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.]
CC: ATTESTED MAY • V91
Please see Page 3 . PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
DEPUTY
M382 (10188) BY '
2. Establish a new, intensive correctional program within the
CYA. Among the features of the new program are the
following:
* The program would be strictly limited to a 12 month
period.
* The first six months of the program would be spent in a
CYA institution.
* The second six months of the program would be spent in
the community, supervised by the CYA.
* At the conclusion of the 12 month period, the ward
would be released from the custody of CYA and returned
to the probation department and juvenile court of the
committing county.
* The institutional portion of the commitment would be
focused on intensive training and treatment programs,
including substance abuse therapy, academic and
vocational education, work experience, victim
awareness, public service, physical activity, and the
development of self-discipline.
* The community portion of the commitment would provide
for the close and continued supervision and monitoring
of the ward to facilitate the successful return of the
ward to the community.
* Wards in this program are not supposed to come in
contact with wards committed under other provisions of
law.
3 . Wards who are eligible are the following:
* Someone who would otherwise have been committed to the
CYA.
* Someone the judge feels is amenable to the program.
* Someone the Department believes is suitable for the
program.
4. Wards who are ineligible include the following:
* Any ward whose commitment offense includes any of a
variety of specified serious offenses such as murder,
arson of an inhabited building, armed robbery, forcible
rape, assault with a firearm, etc.
* Any minor who has previously been committed on the
basis of a felony offense.
* Any minor who has less than six months of physical
confinement time remaining.
5. At the completion of the 12 month intensive program, the
CYA' s custody and control of the minor ends and the minor is
returned to the probation department and juvenile court of
the committing county. Thereafter, the court may either
release the ward without further supervision or may order
that the ward be placed under the ongoing supervision of the
probation department.
The Juvenile Court Judge and County Probation Officer have
recommended that the Board .of Supervisors support SB 676 as one
possible means of helping to relieve the overcrowding in the
juvenile hall and try to avoid the negative consequences of
commitments to CYA.
This office concurs with this' -recommendation and, therefore
recommends that the Board of Supervisors indicate its support of
SB 676 (Presley) .
SB 676 is currently on referral to the Senate Judiciary
Committee.
CC: County Administrator
Judge John Minney
County Probation Officer
Senator Robert Presley
Room 4048, State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Les Spahnn, SRJ. Jackson, Barish & Associates