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Receive a presentation from the Solano County Probation Department to review the requirements outlined Senate Bill (SB) 823 regarding the closure of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), key dates and timeframes, and a profile of youth who have been committed to the facility between January 2018 through March 2020
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Published Notice Required? Yes____ No__X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes____ No__X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Probation Department recommends the Board of Supervisors receive a presentation outlining the requirements of SB 823 regarding the closure of DJJ, including a review of key dates and times for implementation, and a profile of youth who were committed to DJJ between the period of January 2018 through March 2020.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On September 30, 2020, Governor Newsom signed SB 823 which requires changes moving forward that will impact the County, Probation Department, and justice involved youth. Effective July 1, 2021, DJJ will no longer accept youth for commitments, and the State facilities will eventually close. Traditionally, youth are committed to DJJ due to their involvement in serious and/or violent delinquent crimes. The closure of DJJ means that these youth will be served locally, which will result in longer periods of detention in the Juvenile Detention Facility (JDF).
One of the requirements outlined in SB 823 includes establishing a subcommittee of members of the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC). The role of the subcommittee would be to develop a plan regarding programs, services, and supervision strategies for this population. The membership of the subcommittee is outlined in the legislation and includes the following: Chief Probation Officer (Chair); District Attorney Representative; Public Defender Representative; Social Services Representative; Mental Health Representative; Schools/Office of Education Representative; Court Representative; and a minimum of three (3) Community Members. The plan developed by the subcommittee must be approved by the JJCC, the Board of Supervisors (BOS), and the new State Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR).
Internally, the Probation Department has established three committees to provide input and information to the JJCC subcommittee. One will address changes to the court process and community supervision elements. The second committee will explore treatment and re-entry services, and the third committee will review operational changes and programming enhancements within the JDF that will be required to successfully implement SB 823.
The Probation Department reviewed data on a group of 23 youth who were committed to DJJ during the period of January 2018 through March 2020. This profile will be used to develop programs, services, supervision strategies, and re-entry needs for these youth who will now be served at the local level, utilizing local community-based services. Based on the data collected, all 23 youth were male, the average age of commitment was 17 and the age at release was 20. Of the 23 youth, 13 were African American, 3 were Caucasian, 5 were Hispanic, and 2 were Pacific Islander. A total of 19 were committed for serious/violent felony offenses, 15 had previously received services through the Probation Department and 8 did not. Finally, 12 out of the 23 youth received their high school diploma from the Evergreen Academy at the JDF.
At its November 19, 2020 meeting, the JJCC will receive a presentation on SB823, and member agencies required by the statute will identify representatives for the subcommittee, as no official appointment is necessary. Moving forward, the Probation Department, in concert with the JJCC Subcommittee, will begin working on the development of the Solano County Plan. The plan will be presented to the full JJCC and the BOS in Spring 2021, as required, to receive the funding allocation for FY2021/22. Future due dates include filing the plan with the OYCR by January 1, 2022, and filing the most recent plan annually thereafter by May 1, regardless of changes.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The State has allocated funding through FY2023/24 to serve this population. The funding allocation is as follows: Year One (FY2021/22) $496,773; Year Two (FY2022/23) $1,471,567; and Year Three (FY2023/24) $2,437,942. The JJCC and BOS must approve the plan for Year One by the end of the current fiscal year to receive funding from the State in Year One. Failure to comply with deadlines may result in loss of funding.
It is difficult to the determine costs to provide detention and re-entry services to the youth prior to establishment of the plan to know if there will be any General Fund cost not covered by State funding. Additionally, because of the nature of the crimes, it may be necessary to house the youth in separate units from the other youth awaiting judicial processing at the JDF, which may require alterations to the facility.
The cost of preparing this item is minimal and is absorbed in the Department’s FY2020/21 Adopted Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors could choose:
1. Not to receive the presentation from the Probation Department. This is not recommended as this is an opportunity for the Board of Supervisors and the public to receive information on the requirements outlined in SB 823 which was signed by Governor Newsom on September 30, 2020.
2. Not to receive the information related to the profile of the youth who have been committed to DJJ between the period of January 2018 through March 2020. This is not recommended as it is important for the Board of Supervisors and the public to receive information on the population that is impacted by the closure of DJJ.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION